Actions taken during the Sikeston City Council meeting held Monday, April 29, 2024, were:

• Sikeston Department of Public Safety Capt. Ryan Smith was presented with the 2024 Radio Technologist of the Year award from Angie Rodgers, executive director of the Scott County 911 Emergency Service Board.
• A public hearing was held for the city’s FY2025 budget. The budget provides significant investments in infrastructure that support job creation and housing construction, continues the replacement process for Fire Station 2, and provides employee salary adjustments to maintain competitiveness in a tough labor market. Additional public hearings on the budget are scheduled to be held on May 20 and June 3.
• Council approved a request to rezone a 1.44-acre tract of land, located at the southeast corner of W. Murray Lane and Roth Street, from Heavy Industrial to Single Family Residential. Housing will be built on the land for Bootheel Behavioral Health.
• Council approved a request to subdivide a 1.44-acre tract of land, located at the southeast corner of W. Murray Lane and Roth Street, to be known as Cheryl Jones’ Estates. The land will be split into seven parcels with four one-bedroom houses and two two-bedroom houses. Some of the housing will be permanent and some will be temporary. Bootheel Behavioral Health will oversee the housing.
• Council authorized city staff to move ahead with equipping city council chambers for the purpose of live streaming city council meetings.
• Council approved executing a contract with Safe Haven Baby Boxes, to install a box in the new fire station that is being constructed in the city. Local advocates would raise funds for the initial purchase and installation of the box and then the city would pay $500 every five years and $300 in annual fees to Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc.
• Heard from Sikeston resident Kathy McClellan about her wanting the city to get involved in an anti-litter campaign. She said the city should post signs, levy fines, and draw attention to the littering problem through posts on social media.
• The next city council meeting will be held on May 20.