Sikeston City Council authorizes agreement with MoDOT

SIKESTON — On Tuesday, Sept. 3, the Sikeston City Council authorized the execution of a municipal agreement, deed and donation letter with the Missouri Department of Transportation at their regular council meeting.

“This bill covers a few different things,” said Jay Lancaster, city of Sikeston public works director. “MoDOT is preparing to advertise for bids for a project to improve the intersection of HH and North Ingram.”

Lancaster said that this includes working on city right of way and the need for MoDOT to acquire additional right of way.

At the meeting, council approved the purchase of a skid steer for Sikeston Community Development.

“We are asking for money that was budgeted for the 2025 fiscal year of $100,000 dollars to purchase a skid steer,” said Barry Blevins, the city of Sikeston’s community development director. 

Blevins said the government bid will cost $80,656.93, and that LCRA will reimburse the city for the funds. 

“This skid steer will also be used as needed by public works and other departments within the city but all the money will be returned back to us,” Blevins said. “We’re going to pay for it, and they are going to reimburse the city back.”

Council also approved a $136,000 bid from McCoy Construction and Forestry of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for a John Deere backhoe. 

“John Deere was the lowest bid,” said Brian Dial, city of Sikeston Street Superintendent. “This does exceed the city’s budgeted amount but the sale of our 2014 cat backhoe will put it back within our budgeted amount.” 

Lancaster also, at the end of the meeting, introduced the city’s new grant writer, Zach Buckler. 

“This is Zach’s first day today and for some time now we have been trying to add a grant writer/grant administrator to our staff and that is the role Zach is going to be playing and we are excited to have him,” Lancaster said. 

The Sikeston City Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, Sept. 16 to award contracts for residential tornado debris removal. The next regular city council meeting will be on Monday, Sept. 30.

Also during the council meeting, appointments were made to city boards and commissions, including:

• Board of Adjustments: William Nance 

• Board of Appeals: William Watson

• Board of Municipal Utilities: Cal Crader

• Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board: William Watson, James Mller

• Housing Authority Board of  Commissioners: Brenda Robinson-Echols, Patricia Willis 

• LCRA Commission: Michael Harris

• Park Board: Pershard Owens, Alison Romine, Blake Bain

• Planning and Zoning Commission: Missy Marshall, Rob Murphy, Jessica Merideth, Jim Copeland (filling the unexpired term of Gordon Jones)

• Public Safety Advisory Board: Jeff Hay, Karen Evans, William Watson (filling unexpired term of Gordon Jones)

• Sikeston P.A.W.S. Board: Madeline Bell, Jessica Merideth

• Tax Increment Finance Commission: Matt Marshall, John “Matt” May

• Tourism Advisory Board: Mandy Leible, Ryan Merideth

• Traffic Committee: Fred Thornton, Missy Marshall, Emory McCauley, Jim McClure, Wanda Harrington.