School district asks Poplar Bluff council to vacate Cross Street for classrooms and FEMA storm shelter; council refers request to June 1

The Poplar Bluff City Council on May 18 referred to its June 1 voting session a request by the Poplar Bluff R‑1 School District to vacate approximately 275 feet of Cross Street between Arthur and Nickey streets to allow an addition and a FEMA‑style storm shelter at an elementary school.

City Planner James Sisk told the council the school district requested the vacation for possible future development, but noted overhead power lines and a main feeder sewer line run under the street; Municipal Utilities and the Fire Chief oppose the vacation. Planning and Zoning approved the request with stipulations that the school district would be responsible for all costs associated with any impacted sewer and power infrastructure.

Dr. Aaron Cornman, superintendent of Poplar Bluff R‑1, told the council the district seeks to provide FEMA storm shelters at each elementary and that combining Lake Road and Eugene Field campuses could be a solution; he said Lake Road is ineligible for FEMA grants because it lies in a floodplain. Mayor Robert L. Smith said the proposed project would be an asset to the community but acknowledged fire‑department concerns.

Councilman Shane Cornman moved and Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Parson seconded placing the Cross Street vacation request on the June 1 voting agenda; the motion carried. The referral does not itself vacate the street but schedules formal consideration and any required utility‑relocation stipulations for the next voting session.