Key Decisions
- Council approved a verbal request from Grow Our Downtown Inc. to discharge fireworks inside city limits on Saturday, July 4th, 2026. The event will use Rainbow Fireworks as the vendor. Briggs & Stratton pledged $15,000 toward the $20,000 total cost; the organization is still fundraising the remaining $5,000.
- Council moved a proposed ordinance restricting aggressive solicitation and roadway solicitation to a voting session scheduled for June 15th. The ordinance would prohibit soliciting from vehicles in travel lanes, standing in medians or traffic islands for solicitation purposes, and aggressive solicitation tactics including touching people without consent or blocking pedestrians. First-time violators would receive warnings; subsequent violations carry fines starting at $50. The ordinance does not ban all panhandling — passive solicitation such as holding signs remains legal, and it does not cover private property like store parking lots.
- Council approved moving a proposal from Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission for professional grant administrative services for the historic Frisco Depot restoration project to the June 15th voting session. The planning commission scored highest among two bidders.
- Council approved moving qualifications from Dille Pollard, a local architectural firm, for professional architectural services on the Frisco Depot restoration project to the June 15th voting session. Dille Pollard was the only firm to submit qualifications.
- Council approved moving addendum number one to the engineering services agreement with S.H. Smith and Company for the industrial park paving project to the June 15th voting session. The addendum adds $56,000 in engineering design fees and $44,000 in construction phase services to expand the project scope using surplus grant funds. Additional work includes pavement removal and replacement on Harlow Dunn Road, milling and overlay on Rowe Parkway, and stormwater upgrades. The total grant award was $1.9 million with the city contributing approximately $220,000 in in-kind work.
- Council approved moving an application to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for replacement of exhaust systems at all three fire stations to the June 15th voting session. The total project cost is $50,000 with a 5% city match of approximately $2,500. The current systems are 20 years old and incompatible with newer fire trucks.
- Council unanimously agreed verbally to waive delinquent taxes totaling approximately $160,000 on the old Doctors Hospital property to facilitate its sale and demolition. The waiver requires approval from multiple taxing entities including Butler County, the college, Butler County Health Department, Butler County Senior Services, the sheltered workshop, and the school district (which would waive the bulk of the money). The new buyer, FCC, plans to demolish the building and convert most of the space to green space with some parking and possibly an administrative building.
- Council adopted Bill 8693 (7-0 vote), authorizing issuance of taxable industrial revenue bonds for Legacy Fasteners LLC in a principal amount not to exceed $2.5 million to purchase a facility for an industrial development project.
- Council adopted Bill 8694 (7-0 vote), repealing Ordinance 2407 dated August 7, 2023, related to a waiver granted to Empire Comfort Systems Inc.
- Council adopted Bill 8695 (4-3 vote), vacating a platted and developed portion of Cross Street running north and south between Arthur Street and Nickey Street. Councilman Depew, Councilman Boyer, and Councilwoman Horton voted no.
- Council adopted Resolution 2070 (7-0 vote), making appointments to the Airport Advisory Board, Municipal Utilities Advisory Board, Tree Advisory Board, Residential Housing Advisory Board, and Zoning Board of Adjustments.
- Council adopted Resolution 2071 (7-0 vote), making appointments to the Animal Control Advisory Board, Arts and Museum Advisory Board, Fair Housing Committee, Historical Preservation Commission, Housing Authority Board, Library Board of Trustees, Park Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Disabilities Advisory Board, Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, and Black River Coliseum Advisory Board.
- Council adopted Resolution 2072 (7-0 vote), making appointments to the Plumbing Board, Electrical Wiring Board, Building Standards Board, and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Board.
Budget & Finance
- The industrial park paving project received bids significantly below the engineering estimate of $1.4-$1.5 million, allowing the city to expand the project scope. The total Delta Regional Authority grant award was $1.9 million with approximately $220,000 in city in-kind contributions. Additional engineering and design work will cost $56,000, with construction phase services adding $44,000.
- The fireworks display for July 4th will cost $20,000 total. Briggs & Stratton pledged $15,000. Grow Our Downtown is responsible for raising the remaining $5,000 and must provide a 50% deposit soon.
- The fire station exhaust system replacement project has a total estimated cost of $50,000, with the city providing a 5% match of approximately $2,500 if the federal grant is awarded.
- The city and multiple taxing entities agreed to waive approximately $160,000 in delinquent taxes on the old Doctors Hospital property to facilitate its sale and demolition.
Watch This
- The proposed solicitation ordinance will come to a vote at the June 15th council meeting. The ordinance addresses aggressive solicitation and solicitation in roadways but does not ban passive panhandling such as holding signs.
- A fiscal forum is scheduled for Thursday, June 4th at 6 p.m. at the Police Department. Department heads will present an overview of the 2025 budget and discuss future goals and projects.
- Several contracts and proposals related to the Frisco Depot restoration project and industrial park paving will come to votes on June 15th.
Other Business
City Manager Phelps announced that the Poplar Bluff Boys track and field team won the Class 4 state championship for the first time in school history and received a police escort into town at approximately 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
Four Poplar Bluff police officers — Sammy Scherning, Adam Miles, Kenneth Carpenter, and Dusty Johnson — have been chosen to receive the Missouri Medal of Valor from the Governor for their bravery during the tornado last year. They will be honored at a ceremony in Jefferson City later this year.
Manager Phelps announced that the city is working on a "Return to Home" program to help homeless individuals and those struggling with addiction return to their home communities. The program will be funded by private donations run through a charitable organization and will provide transportation assistance to those who want to leave Poplar Bluff but lack the means.
The All-American Weekend celebrating America's 250th birthday will take place Friday and Saturday at Clinton Park, featuring a 5K run, demolition derby, drone show, monster trucks, food trucks, dog show, and live music. Admission is $5 on Friday and free on Saturday.
Resident Jim Chrisman addressed the council during public comment, asking how many council members communicate between meetings and encouraging them to spend more than an hour every two weeks on city business. He also asked about the status of trash can discussions with the Chamber of Commerce; the city manager reported the Chamber will not contribute funding. Chrisman expressed interest in the proposed solicitation ordinance from a public safety perspective, citing his age, hearing difficulties, and night vision challenges.
During discussion of the solicitation ordinance, City Attorney Richardson clarified that while he supports the ordinance and believes it is legally defensible, it will not eliminate all panhandling in Poplar Bluff. The ordinance addresses specific safety concerns such as aggressive behavior and solicitation in travel lanes, but does not prohibit passive solicitation like holding signs on medians, which is protected speech. He noted that the issues many residents have complained about for years — such as people sitting on medians with signs and dogs — are not addressed by this ordinance and cannot be banned under First Amendment case law.
A resident named Greg West asked whether the ordinance would apply to private property that is publicly accessible, such as Walmart or Dollar General parking lots. Richardson confirmed it would not apply to private property.
Manager Phelps confirmed that the Chamber of Commerce will not provide funding for downtown trash cans, responding to a question from resident Jim Chrisman.
Recaps are based on the official meeting recording and may contain errors or omissions. Always refer to the full recording for authoritative information.