Letter to the Editor

Your View 6/13: A message from Sikeston's mayor

Monday, June 13, 2005

On June 15, the City Council will be taking formal action on the FY

-06 budget. This action follows three public hearings where citizen input has been requested on the proposed FY-2006 $12.3 million dollar budget.

It should be noted, the City's revenues are in a transitional stage. The general sales tax, adopted by voters in February 2004, went into effect October 1, 2004, providing nine months of revenue during fiscal year 2005. Sikeston's one-quarter cent capital improvement sales tax expires Dec. 31, 2005, and will provide six months of restricted revenues for capital purchases during this budget year. It will not be until fiscal year 2007 that the full impact of the February 2004 tax issue will be experienced.

In 2004, the City Council and I made a solemn promise to the taxpayers of Sikeston . . . that the revenue stream created by the 1 cent sales tax would be dedicated to three distinct areas: Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority (LCRA), Sikeston Area Higher Education Center (SAHEC) and Sikeston Public Safety. We have delivered on that promise.

In the FY-06 budget, $500,000 will be appropriated for the operation of the Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority. As a result of the funding received thus far, the LCRA owns 55 properties, and has a total of 94 properties in various stages of acquisition or rehabilitation. Ten structures have been removed by the LCRA. Two property owners, working in conjunction with the LCRA, have removed privately owned dilapidated buildings. Removal of the former First Baptist Church, a longtime goal of the community, was accomplished in FY-05 at a cost of $155,175. Funding for this project was provided by the City/LCRA and a State Community Development Block Grant.

From the FY-06 budget, $2.48 million has been earmarked to fund expansion of the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center. With construction already under way, the 27,000-square-foot addition will provide four additional classrooms and a child-care center. Construction should be completed and the facility operational by January 2006.

In FY-05 actions were taken to significantly increase DPS staffing. A communications supervisor, CIU sergeant, Fire Division sergeant, three public safety officers and three school resource officers were employed. Sergeants' compensation was increased by $2,000, and all officers received an increase in their annual uniform allowance. The City's financial commitment for these DPS staffing and compensation changes totaled $325,000. Funding for the DPS positions, salaries, and benefits provided in FY-05 have been retained in the FY-06 budget.

A number of tangible projects were also completed in FY-05 to improve working conditions at DPS Headquarters. To provide additional office space, Municipal Court Offices were relocated to City Hall, and the former MAB Paint Building was renovated to create a dedicated Courtroom. The Department of Public Works devoted more than 500 man-hours and $29,000 in materials and supplies on this project. Additionally, $70,000 was expended for long over due roof repairs to Public Safety Headquarters, and $98,000 was expended to improve the building's heating/air conditioning.

In the new budget we added a captain's position and the position of emergency management coordinator to DPS staffing. $5.7 million or 46 percent of the City's total FY-06 budget has been appropriated for Public Safety personnel services, operations, and capital expenditures.

No significant staffing changes will be made in FY-06. Total full-time staffing increased by two public safety positions, for 127 full time positions, as compared to 125 in FY-05. Seven part-time positions will be retained: five in Public Safety and two in Public Works.

From the FY-06 budget $1.3 million has been identified for the City's 2005 street improvement program. The City continues in its efforts to improve streets in all areas of the community. Significant projects for FY-06 include the asphalt overlay of Harry, Kinder, First, Fuchs, Young, Trotter and portions of Murray Lane. Concrete reconstruction will be made at the intersections of Selma/Matthews and Selma/Gladys, Lynual, Harlene and Plaza, with spot replacement on Kennedy, Mimosa, and Hickory Streets.

Capital improvement expenditures for FY-06 are estimated to be $958,000. No significant new projects are being undertaken this fiscal year.

City Staff will be working on a number of new projects in the coming year. In an on-going effort to assist landlords with Sikeston's Zero Tolerance Property Maintenance ordinances, the City is creating a telephone notification program. Under this program qualified landlords will be notified, via a recorded telephone message, if their rental property has been identified as being non-complainant with property maintenance ordinances.

Targeted to begin in early July, this system will allow Sikeston's Code Enforcement Staff to record a message indicating where the property is located with a brief description of the compliance issues. Using the information provided on the property's registration form, the system will dial and deliver a recorded message. Three attempts will be made to notify the property owner by this automated telephone system. Upon receipt of the call, the property owner has only to dial "1" at the prompt to hear the message specific to his property. Landlords have seven days from the date of the recorded message to abate the property violation. If no action is taken on the violation during this period, the landlord and tenant will be cited and ordered to appear in Sikeston Municipal Court. Additionally, the property owner will be removed from the telephone notification program.

Another new program, Youth Offender Community Service Program, will be undertaken in the coming year. Modeled after the successful program in Jackson, the program is voluntary, using first-time, youth, offenders. Eligible defendants are placed on probation, ordered to attend traffic school and serve a stated amount of time in community service. Individuals in the community service program pick up litter along Jackson's major thoroughfares. Sikeston's Municipal Court will be working with the Department of Public Works to design a similar community service work program to remove litter in Downtown Sikeston and other areas of the City.

Speaking of Downtown Sikeston, a new organization has formed out of what was previously known as the Sikeston Downtown Merchants Association. The Historic Midtown Development Group Inc., (a not-for-profit corporation) is composed of business operators, property owners and interested citizens with a strong desire to see Downtown Sikeston become another viable center of commerce within our community. HMDG is looking at a multi-faceted approach for revitalizing Downtown Sikeston, using many of the programs offered by the State. I strongly urge you to become involved with this organization as it seeks to retain the historic charm of Sikeston's Downtown District, while attracting new and varied businesses to this area.

In closing, FY-2005 has been a very good year for the City of Sikeston. The Land Clearance Redevelopment Authority has taken major strides in removing dilapidated buildings that were hazards to the health and safety of our residents. Public Safety is at full staffing levels, and is receiving the tools necessary for the protection of our citizens. Administratively, the City is maximizing the efficiencies of technology to provide more and better service to our taxpayers. And very shortly, SAHEC will have the necessary classrooms to serve its ever growing student population. Momentum is growing in Sikeston, as the City remains committed to providing the infrastructure and services necessary for the future prosperity of this community.

I'm Sikeston Proud.

Mayor Mike Marshall