Poplar Bluff council adopts FY2025 budget, appoints city manager and approves multiple grant applications

The Poplar Bluff City Council unanimously approved a package of actions at its evening meeting, adopting the fiscal year 2025 budget, appointing a city manager and authorizing multiple grant applications.

The council approved Bill 8600, an ordinance adopting the FY2025 budget for the City of Poplar Bluff and its municipal utilities for the period Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025. After first and second readings the ordinance passed on a unanimous roll-call vote; the clerk announced seven yes votes and declared Bill 8600 adopted.

Council members also adopted a set of land-use ordinances denying a rezoning request and a conditional-use permit for property at 925 Benton Street. The council denied the rezoning request (Bill 8601) and denied the conditional-use permit to allow a modular home at the address (Bill 8602); both actions were approved unanimously on roll call.

On personnel matters, the council adopted Resolution 2046 appointing Robert Nodell as city manager. Earlier in the meeting a member moved to select "Robert Rodell" and place that name on the resolution; the formal resolution reading and adoption used the name "Robert Nodell." The council approved the appointment by unanimous vote.

The council also authorized two grant-related actions. It approved Resolution 2045 to submit an application to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) mitigation program to fund installation of a new water well on Alice Street and authorized the mayor and city officials to execute the related documents. And it adopted Resolution 2047 authorizing the mayor to apply for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant to replace engine-room exhaust systems at city fire stations.

Fire Chief Mike Moffett told the council the department had received a single bid of about $43,000 for the exhaust-system work and that the local match would be approximately 5%, "so we're looking at just a little over $2,000." He said the current system was installed in 2009 and is not well suited to newer systems that use DEF fluid.

On staff matters, Manager Phelps briefed the council on the nondiscrimination policy requested by the planning commission and said the Title 11 civil-rights policy "simply states that we will provide our programs and services without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, [age] or religion." The council voted to move that policy onto the January 6 voting agenda. The council also heard a presentation and moved an amendment to the city code on sick-leave procedure to a January 2 voting session.

Manager Phelps gave a brief year-end message encouraging residents to shop local and thanked city staff for year-end work; council members recognized interim staffer Lori for her work during the management transition. A council member praised Parks & Recreation's Santa Land event, reporting attendance figures in the meeting that ranged from 1,300 to more than 2,000.

The meeting ended after a motion to adjourn carried on a voice vote.