NEW MADRID, Mo. - New Madrid residents will see little change in their 2022 tax bills.
At the Aug. 22 meeting of the New Madrid City Council, the tax rate for 2022 on all real and personal property was unanimously approved. The rate will be $.6168 per $100 valuation.
Also during the meeting, Sue Lowrey, a local business owner, expressed her concern to the Council about the number of food trucks coming into the community. Lowrey said she has had to call the police because of the trucks blocking entry into her business..
She told the Council she wasn’t opposed to the food trucks but that she believed they were coming into town too often.
“I know they pay some taxes. But we contribute to the community and other things around here. They don’t contribute anything. They take your money and go away,” Lowrey said.
Mayor Donnie Brown said he will ask the city’s attorney to look into the matter to see if there was something that could be done.
Approval was given for three mayoral appointments. City Alderman Tommy Chism was named mayor pro tem, Chance Hunter will continue to serve as city attorney and Paige Keene was appointed as New Madrid’s new city clerk.
City Administrator Richard McGill updated the Council about two grants.
The city will again work with the New Madrid County Community Resource Center to apply for a law enforcement grant. Last year the community was one of three in the state to receive a similar grant and is using the funding to install surveillance cameras.
McGill said the city is also seeking a grant through the Missouri Land and Water Conservation Fund. The money would be used to replace the wood on the observation deck overlooking the Mississippi River.
Brown advised the Council that New Madrid County is one of the regions featured in a video which will be played for 10 visiting CEOs. The short video will feature the New Madrid County Port and industrial park along with interviews of those involved in business and industry.
Describing it as a unique opportunity, Brown said the New Madrid County Mayors Association will ask for all the footage filmed in hopes of creating a longer video which could be used as a marketing tool to prospective industries. Filming is slated for Sept. 8 and 9.
AUG. 8 COUNCIL MEETING
At its Aug. 8 meeting, the New Madrid City Council provided what McGill described as a “jumpstart” for the new industry CST-New Madrid with a $4.5 million loan. McGill explained the company plans to use funds to get their financial assurance through the Department of Natural Resources permitting process.
As the waste-to-renewable chemicals facility has worked through the permitting process, McGill said the project has grown. In turn that meant more financing was needed.
Since the city’s commitment to the company, McGill said all other necessary funding for the entire operation was acquired.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled that they are 100 percent fully-funded. We see this as an investment in our community,” McGill said of the loan. “We will not only get our money back with interest but (the company) will transform the community.”
According to McGill once the permit is filed with DNR, construction could begin in approximately 60 days.
Also during the Aug. 8 meeting, the city paid $118,772 to Vandevanter Engineering of Fenton for a two-pump control panel replacement.
The replacement is needed at the stormwater pump station across from the New Madrid County Club. McGill explained one of the pumps was broken and would only run on manual creating the risk of it becoming clogged and breaking. The new panel will have an updated security system with an emergency shutoff and will alert officials to any problems.
In response to the Council’s concerns of a lack of housing to meet the needs of those interested in moving to New Madrid to fill jobs at CST-New Madrid and a second company officials are working with, two resolutions were approved.
The Council entered into an agreement with Kolwyck Development LLC which has begun construction of new housing in town. Under the agreement, the city would purchase a house which does not sell within a year, according to McGill.
City officials also contracted with Cooksey Construction in the development of new housing.
“We want to see New Madrid become a place where people want to live,”McGill said. “With these new jobs, we want as many people as possible to work and live here.”