Kirksville council approves floodplain rewrite, parking limits, grants and equipment purchases

Kirksville's City Council on Feb. 17 approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and appointments that included a rewrite of the city's floodplain code, new parking restrictions for large trucks, authorization to apply for multiple state and federal grants and purchases of public-safety and public-works equipment.

The actions, taken largely by voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript, affect stormwater and floodplain management, city parking rules, airport and water-system grant applications, a housing rehabilitation loan, police equipment and several board appointments. The council also approved administrative updates to a contract with the city's regional economic development partner and amendments to the city employee handbook.

Why it matters: The floodplain ordinance update aligns Kirksville with the National Flood Insurance Program and keeps residents eligible for flood insurance and grant programs. Planned grant applications and purchases are intended to maintain compliance with federal standards (airport marking, EPA lead-service-line inventories) and to modernize public-safety and utility infrastructure.

Key council actions and outcomes

- Floodplain management ordinance (Bill No. 2025-02): The council read and approved an ordinance "replacing Chapter 44, Article 9, Floodway and Floodway Fringe Districts with Article 9, Floodplain Management." The item passed first reading and was approved on second reading later in the meeting. Outcome: approved.

- Parking ordinance amendment (Bill No. 2025-03): Council approved changes to Chapter 38 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles), Article 6 (Stopping, Standing and Parking) to take effect May 1, 2025. The ordinance creates reserved parking spaces for resident owner-operators of tractor-trailers (two-year permits), reserves a few spaces for adjacent commercial occupants and establishes time limits for other vehicles. Outcome: approved (first and second reading approved that evening).

- Amendment to economic development agreement (Bill No. 2025-04): The council authorized an amendment to the agreement with Kirksville Regional Economic Development…