Actions taken during the Sikeston City Council meeting held Monday, March 25 were:

• Council held a public hearing on the readoption of the floodplain ordinance. The changes to city’s floodplain ordinance were made to stay in compliance with FEMA and SEMA regulations. There were no comments during the public hearing.
• Council approved the readoption of the Floodplain Regulations Ordinance.
• Council approved a bill that established protective covenants for the South Industrial Park. The covenants are largely based on the covenants already in place at the North Industrial Park. Marcie Lawson, executive director of the Sikeston Regional Chamber and Area Economic Development Corporation, said they wanted the covenants in place before other property is sold. The covenants do not include property purchased by Carlisle Construction Materials.
• Council voted Cal Crader to fill an interim appointment on the BMU Board. Crader will fulfill the term of Chad Crow, who will be moving. The term expires in October of 2024.
• Council readopted the Fair Housing Policy. The annual readoption is required to maintain compliance with State CDBG funding requirements.
• Council approved changes to the city’s code on keeping livestock, domestic animals, and fowl. The updated ordinance will allow for six chickens to be kept and change the boundaries to 25 feet from a principal structure or adjacent property. Also with the change, roosters are not allowed, and chickens cannot be slaughtered within the city limits.
• Council approved the adoption of the Redevelopment Plan for the LCRA for a 10-year period.
• Council heard the first reading of a bill that, if approved, would update changes to the types of industries and facilities that are required to have a backflow prevention device. The change is consistent with DNR requirements and will make the city’s codes compliant with regulations. Representatives from Sikeston BMU were on hand and said some facilities, like dentist offices and veterinary clinics, will be notified they have to install the devices.
• Council heard the first reading of a bill that, if approved, would require inspection companies or persons conducting inspections to backflow prevention devices in the City of Sikeston have a plumber’s performance bond and a city issued license.
• Council awarded the bid for mowing approximately 135 LCRA and City nuisance lots to Grow-N-Mow for $3,500. The payment for the mowing services will be billed by the City of Sikeston and paid by the LCRA.
• Council approved the purchase of an ABI Force Groomer for $36,446 from Turfwerks of Hazelwood, Missouri. The equipment is used for grooming baseball fields and will help with the quick grooming of infields during tournaments. This was a budgeted item.
• Council approved the purchase of a commercial electric roof top air conditioner unit for Sikeston DPS headquarters for $13,976 from Marty Presley Heating and Cooling. The item was budgeted and there is an estimated 10-week build time on the unit from the manufacturer.
• Council also heard from Sikeston resident James Crowe asking for a splash pad at Montgomery Park with the increased housing being built in that area. Mayor Greg Turnbow said they would consider it when deciding where to put the next splashpad.
• Council also heard from Tiffany Vaughn who wants power to a shed on her property that is in a flood zone. She took issue with the Floodplain Ordinance saying it was “overly restrictive.” Vaughn was told the ordinance comes from FEMA and SEMA and if Sikeston is not in compliance with it, Sikeston residents could lose the ability to have flood insurance.