Sikeston City Council considers an April election

SIKESTON, Mo. — Sikeston City Council is considering a general election in April.

On Monday, Nov. 27, Council held its regular meeting and heard the first reading of a bill to call for a general election to be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

The purpose of the general election is to elect a mayor, Councilman Ward 2 and Councilman Ward 3 for a three-year term. Mayor Greg Turnbow, Ward 2 Councilman Vest Baker, and Ward 3 Councilman David Teachout were all candidates for re-election. When the filing period closed on Oct. 31, each candidate filed for their respective position and was unchallenged.

Also on Monday, Council heard the first reading of a bill to bring the terms of the library board of trustees into compliance with state law.

Sikeston Public Library Director Ron Eifert contacted City Staff to inquire about the number of terms a member may serve on the Library Board.

According to City Clerk Rhonda Council, city clerks and library board members may serve no more than three consecutive full terms and may not be reappointed until two years following the expiration of the third term. 

“We were under the impression it was two terms, so this bill will bring them into compliance with state statutes,” Council said. 

The city council agreed to update the floodplain laws as needed by the State Emergency Management Agency. According to Barry Blevins, community development director, the update was necessary due to various revisions to state statutes and Federal Emergency Management Agency standards. 

The Council also authorized the surplussing of equipment by the Department of Public Works. According to Jay Lancaster, the public works director, the equipment consists of two 2008 utility trailers and one 2005 Swenson salt spreader. In the future, plans will be made to auction and sell the equipment. 

The 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan was adopted by the city council following a presentation by City Manager Jonathan Douglass.

“The City Charter requires that the city manager submit a five year capital program to the city council at least six months prior to the start of the new fiscal year,” Douglass said. 

Douglass said the 2025-2029 CIP was developed with municipal officials in October and that the plan will guide decisions made in the FY2025 budget process, which will begin this spring. 

The next meeting for city council will be held on Dec. 4 while the next meeting will be held on Jan. 8, 2024.