DPS’ Smith earns award

SIKESTON — Sikeston City Council members presented an award to Capt. Ryan Smith of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety at the start of their regular meeting Monday, April 29 at City Hall.

Angie Rodgers, executive director of the Scott County 911 Emergency Service Board, presented Smith with the 2024 Radio Technologist of the Year award. 

Rodgers said Smith received with the award during a recent conference and read Smith’s nomination. 

“Ryan has consistently demonstrated expectational skills, dedication and innovation in the field of radio technology,” Rodgers said. “Capt. Smith’s technological proficiency is really commendable.”

According to Rodgers, what distinguishes Smith is not only his technical knowledge, but also his dedication to continuous improvement.

Smith thanked everyone for their support and expressed gratitude for the recognition.

Also on Monday, Council approved a request to rezone 1.44 acres of land at the southeast corner of West Murray Lane and Roth Street from heavy industrial to single-family residential.

Barry Blevins, Sikeston community development director, said the city staff received a request from Lambert Engineering and the housing will be built on Bootheel Behavioral Health’s land. 

Council then approved the request to subdivide a 1.44-acre parcel of land located at the southeast corner of West Murray Lane and Roth Street, which will be known as Cheryl Jones Estates.Blevins said the land will be divided into seven parcels, with four one-bedroom houses and two two-bedroom houses, with some housing being permanent and others temporary.

Bootheel Behavioral Health will manage the housing, according to Blevins.

David Terrell, executive director of Bootheel Behavioral Health, was also present at the meeting and explained why it will be known as Cheryl Jones Estates.

“As the third executive director of the organization, I had two great directors before me,” Terrell said. “The second executive director, Cheryl Jones, passed away not long ago.” 

Jones, who passed away in August 2023, was employed for 33 years at Bootheel Counseling Services/Bootheel Behavioral Health, retiring as its executive director in 2015.

Blevins expressed how he appreciates Bootheel Behavioral Health for their participation.

The Council approved a contract with Safe Haven Baby Boxes to install a box in the city’s new fire station, which is currently under construction. Jonathan Douglass, the city manager, explained the baby box to everyone in the meeting. 

“The baby box will open to the outside of the fire station, and on the inside of the box, it will set off a silent alarm that will notify the fire station and if it’s not silenced within a number of seconds, it automatically calls 911,” Douglass said. “It’s climate-controlled and there is a camera in the box so they can see the baby and that it is safe.”

Douglass said this will be the second box in Missouri, but they exist in other states, and that the purpose is to allow a parent in crisis to leave a baby 45 days or younger in the care of a law enforcement officer or firefighter.

“This also allows it to be a little more anonymous and to also leave the baby in a safe place,” Douglass said. “And of course, if that were to happen, we would transfer custody of the baby immediately to the Division of Social Services.” 

Douglass said local advocates would raise funds for the box’s initial purchase and installation, after which the city would pay $500 every five years and $300 in annual fees to Safe Haven Baby Boxes Inc. 

A public hearing was also held for the city’s fiscal year 2025 budget.

According to Douglass, the budget’s highlights include investments in infrastructure that support job creation and housing construction, the continuation of the Fire Station 2 replacement process, and employee salary adjustments to remain competitive in a tough labor market.

Additional public hearings on the budget are scheduled for May 20 and June 3.

In other actions by the council:

– The Council authorized city staff to proceed with equipping City Council chambers for live-streaming of council meetings.

– Kathy McClellan, a Sikeston resident, told Council that she wants the city to participate in an anti-litter campaign. She suggested the city post signs, levy fines and use social media to raise awareness about littering.

– The next city council meeting will be May 20.