Sikeston City Council awards bids for tornado debris removal

SIKESTON — Following widespread damage by an EF3 tornado May 26 in Sikeston, the City Council awarded bids for the removal and disposal of all eligible residential debris during its meeting Monday, June 17 at city hall.

“On May 26, there was a lot of damage to residential customers and to the city facilities and those types of areas and commercial damage as well, but what we are focusing on today is the cleanup of the residential areas and the public rights of way,” said Sikeston Finance Director Amanda Groves.

Groves said the bid documents were created using State Emergency Management Agency, or SEMA, bidding guidelines and divided the town into six sections, with contractors allowed to bid on each section individually.

“We chose the hardest hit areas of town and divided it into six sections,” Groves said. 

According to Groves, the sections are: north section; southwest section No. 1; southwest section No. 2; southwest section No. 3; southeast section No. 1; and southeast section No. 2.

Groves said Asmus Trucking LLC of Benton, Missouri, was awarded the bids for the north section of Sikeston ($5,600) and southeast section No. 1 ($6,800), while Murdock Excavation and Tree Service of Sikeston was awarded southwest section No. 3 ($10,800); Southern Tree Care LLC of Caruthersville, Missouri, won the bids for southwest section No. 1 ($4,500); southwest section No. 2 ($13,600); and southeast section No. 2 ($14,200).

James Crowe Sr., a Sikeston resident, asked when SEMA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, would make an appearance and declare the area a disaster zone.

Groves responded by explaining that the city has been working with SEMA since the beginning.

“We already have done that,” Groves said. “We have been working with FEMA since the day of the tornado. They have been here, and our SEMO representative has been here and was here on May 26 with us. We have been in communication with them throughout the entire process.”

Groves also said they met with FEMA representatives who came and conducted a site review of the entire town about two weeks ago.

“They came through and looked at all of the damage in town and we have been working with them,” Groves said. “That process is ongoing; it just takes time.” 

According to Sikeston City Manager Jonathan Douglass, the debris removal will only involve moving debris from the right of way to the curb.

Sikeston resident Crowe asked Council if they could remove debris in backyards other than the right of way to the curb.

Douglass said the city has no idea whether or not FEMA will assist, but felt it was necessary to proceed and assist individual residents in removing debris.

According to Douglass, situations involving debris or tree limbs in residents’ backyards will take longer to resolve.