SIKESTON - Armed with maps showing interstate traffic flow and the history of the community as developing from railroad commerce, Mike Marshall, Sikeston's executive director of Economic Development and Tourism, set out a road map for a growing community in Sikeston.
The future growth of the country is projected to be in the southwest portion of the United States, according to Marshall.
Currently, Interstate 57 runs from Chicago and terminates at Interstate 55 which is just east of Sikeston. According to Marshall, future Interstate 57 bridges the gap from that point to Walnut Ridge, Ark.
"With this connection between Interstate 30 from Dallas to Little Rock, and Interstate 57 from Sikeston to Chicago, we are in a position to supply the growing southwest United States.
"The section of roadway from I-55 to Poplar Bluff is already four lane and the proposal would upgrade that section to interstate standards" said Marshall. "Fifty-four miles of two-lane from Poplar Bluff to Walnut Ridge would be built to interstate standards to complete the gap."
The Sikeston City Council approved a resolution to designate the section of roadway as future interstate 57. Marshall said this is an important step to show legislators that the proposal has broad support. Marshall said the Poplar Bluff City Council approved a similar resolution on Monday as well.
Arkansas Senator John Boozman is pushing a bipartisan measure in the President's 2017 Infrastructure Bill to designate the proposal as "Future Interstate 57."
In other business Monday, the Council approved a 10-year airport hangar lease with Jeff Hux. Discussion from Board members showed concern as to the use of leased hangar space, and the Council wanted assurance in the actual written lease the hangars are for storage of airplanes only. In the past, some have used the leased hangars to store RVs and other items not associated with airport, a Council member said.
The Council unanimously approved amendments to the 2017 Fiscal Year budget and adopted an Operating Budget for 2018. In its budget items, the council approved a self-contained breathing apparatus and two new patrol cars for the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.
The City Council approved staffing levels and compensation for city employees for Fiscal Year 2018 which included raises for city employees.
In accordance with a Department of Natural Resources requirement, the City Council adopted a Lead Ban Ordinance for public and private drinking water.
The Council also approved creation of the Friends of the Sikeston Pet and Animal Services (PAWS), which will be an advisory and fundraising board for the animal shelter to be administered by the city.
In other business, Jay Lancaster notified the Council that the city was duly licensed by the Department of Agriculture to operate an animal shelter, and that the city was finishing the clean up and furnishing necessary to open the facility.