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 (K Ready) to permit the deputy city manager to serve in the absence of the city manager. The council noted the change had also been approved by the K Ready board. Outcome: approved.

- Housing rehabilitation loan program approval (Bill No. 2025-05): The council approved a housing rehabilitation loan application for 1517 E. Washington Street. Staff reported a total project cost of $31,197.16; under program income guidelines the applicant will reimburse 50% of cost over 60 months, with a monthly payment of $278. Outcome: approved (first and second reading approved that evening).

- Employee handbook amendments (resolution): Council adopted a resolution approving amendments to the employee handbook. Staff said the changes mirror the study-session discussion and include minor and a few major clarifications. Outcome: approved.

- Midwest Public Risk representative appointment (resolution): Council appointed Rodney Sadler as the city's Midwest Public Risk member representative, transferring the role previously assigned to another staff member. Outcome: approved.

- Airport runway remarking grant (resolution): Council approved a resolution stating the city's intent to submit an airport grant application to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and to accept federal airport grant funding administered by MoDOT for a runway rubber-removal and remarking project at Kirksville Regional Airport. Staff estimated the project at approximately $400,000 with an anticipated local match of just over $19,000, funded through multiple FAA/non-primary entitlement and bipartisan infrastructure grants. Staff said bidding could begin within weeks and work could occur in spring or summer. Outcome: approved.

- Lead service line inventory and replacement planning (resolution): Council authorized pursuing funding from the Missouri DNR Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for lead service line inventory and replacement planning. Staff reported more than 490 surveys completed to date and said the city would apply for up to $123,000 in combined inventory and planning funds; the community hopes for a disadvantaged-community designation that would eliminate the local match. Outcome: approved.

- Steer Creek stormwater study (resolution): Council authorized intent to apply for Missouri DNR Clean Water State Revolving Fund Integrated Management Plan grant funding (up to $100,000) to study stormwater infrastructure in the Steer Creek watershed. The city noted potential match requirements depend on disadvantaged-community classification. Outcome: approved.

- North Baltimore Street CID reimbursement (resolution): Council authorized reimbursement payments from the North Baltimore Street Community Improvement District Fund for improvements in the Kirksville Commons development. Finance staff estimated a current-year remittance of $237,000. Outcome: approved.

- Axon TASER package purchase (resolution): Council authorized the purchase of a TASER 10 package (including training and duty cartridges, accessories and training suits) from Axon Enterprise over a five-year period. Police Chief Scott Williamson said the replacement improves range (up to ~45 feet), multi-shot capability, training options and officer safety compared with the department's older X26 units. Outcome: approved.

- Police pursuit vehicles (resolution): Council authorized purchase of four 2025 Dodge Durango pursuit vehicles from Love Green Ford for patrol and K-9 replacement. Staff said the purchases replace aging units and that the department fleet will include both Durangos and Ford Explorers after the buy. Outcome: approved.

- Water treatment plant programmable logic controller (PLC) replacement (resolution): Council authorized replacement of the PLC that automates processes at the water treatment plant with Microcom (Olathe, Kan.). Staff said the current controller has been in service since about 2006 and replacement is planned to avoid reliance on secondary-market parts. Outcome: approved.

- John Deere track loader purchase (resolution): Council authorized purchase of a track loader (model listed in the agenda as a 2025 John Deere 330 P track loader) using the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program; staff said the unit will replace a forklift and a tractor at the wastewater plant. Outcome: approved.

- Multiple board and commission appointments: The council approved a series of appointments and reappointments across community improvement districts and advisory boards, including appointments to the South 63 Corridor CID board, Affordable Housing Board, Lakes/Parks & Recreation Commission, Board of Adjustment, Adair County Extension Council, Franklin Street CID and the Airport and Transportation Commission. Outcome: approved.

Discussion highlights and staff comments

- Finance recognition: Mary Maycomber, city staff, opened the meeting's reports by announcing the city again received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for financial reporting, marking the fortieth year of recognition. "We again have received the GFOA, Government Finance Officers Association, recognition for our financial reporting," she said.

- Parking rules: Police Chief Scott Williamson described the parking ordinance as a local response to citizen complaints about long-term tractor-trailer parking; the ordinance creates resident permits and time-limited spaces and schedules implementation for May 1 to allow painting and signage.

- Airport timing and service interruptions: Rodney Sadler, deputy city manager, said the runway rubber removal and remarking project would be performed in phases to minimize service interruption; staff estimated an eight-day project overall, with phased closures and advance scheduling to avoid ticketing conflicts.

- Taser justification: Police Chief Scott Williamson outlined technical differences between the department's X26 devices and the TASER 10 package, emphasizing increased effective range, multi-shot capability, training tools and reduced need for close contact.

Next steps and schedule

Council members noted multiple grant application deadlines (staff cited March 1 for Missouri DNR grant packages). The council set its next regular meeting for March 3 and adjourned into an executive session on legal matters at the end of the public meeting.

(For full vote text, ordinance/resolution numbers and staff reports see the meeting packet and the posted minutes.)