Key Decisions
- The council approved moving Shannon Midyett's appointment to the Housing Authority Board to a vote at the meeting, filling the vacancy left by the passing of Billy Cobb. The resolution passed unanimously (7-0).
- The council moved consideration of a $1 million bid from Hessling Construction for industrial park paving improvements to the February 2, 2026 voting session. The project is funded by a Delta Regional Authority grant, with the city contributing 10% in-kind work.
- The council moved consideration of record destruction for Black River Coliseum and its Aquatics and Fitness Center to the February 2, 2026 voting session.
- The council voted unanimously to enter closed session after the city manager's report.
Budget & Finance
- The city expects to receive approximately $1.2 million from FEMA for tornado debris removal from last year. After receiving federal funds, SEMA will cover an additional 15%, leaving the city responsible for 10% of costs.
- The city will make a $400,000 interest-only payment on a bridge loan taken for tornado cleanup work. The full loan will not be paid off with FEMA reimbursements, leaving the city liable for the remainder over several years.
Other Business
Shevon Young of Savage2Saint Ministries requested $10,000 from the city's opioid settlement fund to purchase 150 stackable chairs for Compass Recovery meetings. The Saturday night meetings have grown from 12 attendees to over 120 and provide meals, transportation, and support for people struggling with addiction. The council asked for a quote and indicated the request aligns with the settlement fund's purpose.
Stephanie Knoppe presented information about Grow Our Downtown, a newly formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to support downtown Poplar Bluff businesses and plan for growth. The organization filed incorporation papers and held its first official board meeting, with full 501(c)(3) filing expected by the end of the week. Council members expressed support for the organization filling the gap left by the dissolution of the previous downtown nonprofit.
A council member questioned the city manager about conditional use permits and variances issued for a recycling center on Park Street and Gospel Rescue Mission. The city manager clarified that variances approved by the Zoning Board of Adjustment do not require council approval, unlike conditional use permits.
Recaps are based on the official meeting recording and may contain errors or omissions. Always refer to the full recording for authoritative information.