City manager says former Doctors Regional Medical Center site is a safety hazard; staff to use enforcement tools

City Manager Nodell reported to the Poplar Bluff City Council that the conditions of the former Doctors Regional Medical Center campus are unacceptable and that city staff regard the site as a safety hazard and "an eyesore for the city of Poplar Bluff." Nodell said the city is "using each and every tool at our disposal to bring that situation to a conclusion to protect the safety, the health, and the condition of our community," and that he will continue to update the council as the process moves forward.

Nodell’s report was part of a broader city manager update that also included reminders about bulky item tag sales, the Parks and Recreation master plan public comment deadline (Friday, Sept. 12) and a Missouri Department of Transportation open house about the Highway 53 improvement project scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The manager also noted that the September 15 council meeting is canceled and the next regular meeting will be Oct. 6.

Why it matters: The city manager framed the former hospital property as a public safety and code‑enforcement priority. The council can expect future agenda items or reports as staff pursues code enforcement and remediation options.

Discussion vs. action: At the meeting the city manager provided an update and said staff are pursuing enforcement steps; the transcript does not record a formal council directive or specific enforcement action taken at that meeting.

Next steps: Staff will continue code enforcement work and report back to the council. Nodell also said the city’s code enforcement working group is wrapping up recommendations and that those recommendations will be presented to the council at the Oct. 6 meeting.