City Council has public hearing on FY25 budget

SIKESTON — Sikeston City Council began its regular meeting Monday, May 20 with a public hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget followed by scheduling a final hearing on June 3.

The Council held the first reading of a bill regarding FY25 spending by fund. The bill’s second reading and ultimate adoption are expected for June 3. 

The City Council also heard the first reading of a bill that sets personnel and salary levels for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1.

Carrie Burgfeld, the city of Sikeston’s human resources director, said staffing for FY2025 will include 130 full-time employees, 21 part-time employees and 33 seasonal employees. 

“This ordinance is basically requesting a $3,000-across-the-board wage increase for our full-time employees,” Burgfeld said. “We are also requesting a few additional positions in anticipation of taking over Bootheel Golf from BMU: one being a full-time position secretary, two seasonal ground maintenance, and two part-time building attendants in the Parks Department.”

Burgfeld said they are also searching for a part-time secretary and one part-time lineman for the airport fund.

“Also, we are reclassing our communications officer grade from 10 to 14, which will bring the starting salary to $45,000,” Burgfeld said.

According to Rhonda Council, city clerk, the Council heard the first reading of a bill to re-adopt the ethics ordinance, also known as the conflict of interest code. 

“This is required by state statute to be on file with the Missouri Ethics Commission and is renewed every other year,” Council said. “And it requires the city manager and city treasurer to file a personal financial disclosure statement with the ethics commission on an annual basis.”

She said the ordinance also exempts the City Council from the same requirement unless a councilman receives more than $500 in remuneration from the city. 

At the council meeting, the city approved Waters Engineering as the engineer for the Rail Trail’s Phase 4 design and construction services.

According to Jay Lancaster, head of the Department of Public Works, MoDOT has received a request for a quotation for design and construction inspection services. 

Lancaster said Waters Engineering of Sikeston, Bacon Farmer Workman of Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Paducah, Kentucky, as well as SAM LLC of Texas, had all submitted statements of interest and qualifications.

The council also approved Waters Engineering to provide design and construction services for the replacement of the bridge south of the power plant. 

The council approved of Mitzi Dell as the grant writer and administration for a proposed Anderson and Linn Drainage Project, for phase 1 and phase 2. 

According to Lancaster, approval was needed to apply for the community development block grant funding. 

Council also heard from Lancaster praising the baseball tournament that was held over the weekend. 

“We had about 60 teams from several states come in for our first large baseball tournament of the season,” Lancaster said. 

Lancaster said around 5,000 people came into Sikeston and the concessions stand made around $10,000.

In other action by the council:

— The Council voted to rezone 491 Davis Blvd. from light industry to heavy industrial. Previously, an ordinance was enacted that made fences a requirement for certain businesses and addressed the issue of an easement near the property.

— Council authorized a conditional use variance for a vehicle wrecking, car and parts storage and selling business to operate in a heavy industrial zone at 491 Davis Blvd.