Poplar Bluff City Council moves downtown apartment plan, driving-device ban and court code changes to Nov. 18 vote

Poplar Bluff City Council on Nov. 4 advanced four items for formal votes at its Nov. 18 session, including a conditional-use permit for a downtown building conversion, several board appointments, amendments to municipal court code and a proposed ban on handheld electronic devices while driving.

City Planner James Sisk told the council that applicant Stephanie Noppe has purchased the former Faith's Business building at 416 Vine Street and seeks to renovate the upstairs into five apartments; he said the board of adjustments approved reducing unit size from about 1,000 square feet to roughly 750 and planning and zoning subsequently approved the conditional use. "She's wanting to do 5," Sisk said. A council member moved to advance the item to the Nov. 18 voting session; the motion carried.

City Manager Lori Phelps recommended appointments to the HVACR and animal control advisory boards, and noted continuing vacancies on the planning and zoning commission and the land clearance for redevelopment authority, which require city residency. A motion to advance those appointments to the Nov. 18 vote carried.

Phelps also said the Office of State Court Administrators reviewed the municipal court and recommended updates to local ordinances to mirror state statute; the council moved the amendments to the Nov. 18 voting session and approved the procedural motion. She presented a separate code amendment to prohibit use of electronic communication devices while driving, saying, "This just gets us in line with state statute," noting the law now applies to all drivers rather than only those 21 and younger; that item was likewise advanced to Nov. 18.

Votes at a glance

• 416 Vine St. conditional-use permit (applicant: Stephanie Noppe) — motion to advance to Nov. 18 voting session; motion carried. • Board appointment recommendations (HVACR, animal control advisory board; vacancies noted for planning and zoning and land clearance authority) — motion to advance to Nov. 18 voting session; motion carried. • Municipal court code amendments (to mirror state statute) — motion to advance to Nov. 18 voting session; motion carried. • Ordinance adding prohibition on electronic device use while driving — motion to advance to Nov. 18 voting session; motion carried.

Next steps: Each item will return for a formal vote at the Nov. 18 council meeting. The council did not take final action on any of these items at the Nov. 4 meeting.