[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6025127,"mediaKeyId","5756372-98bc0f83a7dd37c7831a308556c654d4","parentId",5756372,"title","Council moves nepotism policy amendment to Aug. 18 vote to allow relatives in same department under limits","audioSeconds",114,"startMs",3484000,"endMs",3598000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5756372-98bc0f83a7dd37c7831a308556c654d4&start=3484&end=3598","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5756372-98bc0f83a7dd37c7831a308556c654d4/thumbnail_3484000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6025127/Poplar-Bluff-City/Butler-County/Missouri/Council-moves-nepotism-policy-amendment-to-Aug-18-vote-to-allow-relatives-in-same-department-under-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6025127-a3d71395a81534a3176dab6a744a000b/orig.mp4?Expires=1775209972&Signature=NAEDVuLs8CH-5abv9tzlQc~M8iEeuKmYDWt7Aef8gNZK2qJu-SLd9LapyR9VDHqWcuAmxdSRZpbYp679qKhHPgaaySZX-qr6oUEaMGg2UwRoa9ccBThKrEAL11EMxGDZOHNLJCUGEDXtVgLEf~NZm4~0pe5fH50Ng45ZhZ1dxB8g17FvxTT4ENOyRMO0hOXG5XOtuDrCsPtr5bAbQyTjOnLZM-lPJCp2YBHEsweJpd2-oUhgNGLnQsdTfgTPXsgS33VnnluNC5McX3kI3HhRi1t91UJNNNhIULXSgSucqZPcYoxnADBDMdBld8NSljItyRlGweK~RAWhwQ6HBYJ8Iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Poplar Bluff MO","date","2025-08-05T13:22:13Z","article","City Manager Nodell told the Poplar Bluff City Council on Aug. 4 that a proposed amendment to section 1-20.240 of the code of ordinances would permit family members to be employed in the same city department so long as the existing relative does not exercise direct supervision, hiring, disciplinary, performance evaluation or auditing authority over the relative.
Nodell said the change is intended to broaden the applicant pool in a tight labor market and align the city’s policy with the State of Missouri and other municipalities that use similar rules. “Quality applicants would be turned away due to existing policy,” he said, and the amendment would allow second- and third-generation public-safety families to be considered.
Council members asked whether the change could affect advancement and promotions if family members worked in the same division; Nodell replied promotions or transfers that would create a supervisory conflict would need to be considered and avoided in keeping with the ordinance. He said the ordinance’s effect is similar to state practice though not verbatim in wording.
Action: the council voted to move the amendment to the Aug. 18 voting session for final action. No final adoption occurred on Aug. 4.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Poplar Bluff City Council August 4th 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City Manager presented an amendment to the city ordinance that would permit immediate relatives to work in the same department provided no direct supervisory, disciplinary or auditing relationships exist; council moved the item to the Aug. 18 voting session.","taxTitle","Poplar Bluff City, Butler County, Missouri","taxId",72262,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6025132,"Council schedules public hearing after petition to form downtown Community Improvement District",1671,1789000,3460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5756372-98bc0f83a7dd37c7831a308556c654d4&start=1789&end=3460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5756372-98bc0f83a7dd37c7831a308556c654d4/thumbnail_1789000.jpg","/articles/6025132/Poplar-Bluff-City/Butler-County/Missouri/Council-schedules-public-hearing-after-petition-to-form-downtown-Community-Improvement-District","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6025132-eecaeda9d73ee8a92686446258c0805a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775209972&Signature=aNrjAcau51JCV5YDHkbABcVefimu9c4iesJt7seP4UAIajrTZIWLcCsmwUqT0th8TM4Z1xyd9OwFdtYD8eGAHVvximX6h3-3u4ro6EGZMEl-nLRprwHdhLfMF6JtzRZR7pGdajaZ1oRUjl8cIG8RG9RJXZabhM3VvfIJgsrw9qRSibuzoZMXKC5V7U-T7yJnSkbJ9k1qkehqLhs3HgUk6QGGgoXSgmzYiUpOtDnm-IdkLkmkl4LIHy2X7sju5GqrLQocBIHFTOdmuWsvpBJIkEmbQCiKWNyeeBqkL93kPqQHue7HhZA2od3OIg-I3vApfh0I6vxX0wrVC-u9wT-Qmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and downtown business owners told the Poplar Bluff City Council on Aug. 4 they have petitioned to form a downtown Community Improvement District (CID) and presented a five-year plan that would restrict spending to projects benefiting the downtown area.
Steve Halter and Morgan McIntosh of the Chamber said the petition process followed guidance from legal counsel and that property owners in the proposed district must sign the petition under state law. “We got well over 50% of the property owners down there to approve,” Halter told the council, describing outreach and notarized petitions from downtown property owners.
How the CID would work: petitioners described a district in which businesses that charge sales tax would collect an extra 1% local sales/use tax on qualifying transactions within the CID boundary; that revenue would be placed in a dedicated fund and used only for the types of projects specified in the CID plan, such as infrastructure, façade grants, events, public safety and beautification. Petitioners said initial receipts would be modest—about $35,000 a year at present activity levels—and could grow if new businesses locate downtown.
Public comments and concerns: several downtown business owners and property owners spoke. Jeffrey Canel, owner of Miniprint, said he had not received petition notice and expressed concern about specific plan elements—such as closing Vine Street to vehicle traffic—that could impede deliveries to his business. “I didn’t receive a letter or a petition, and the first notification I got was the agenda for tonight,” Canel said. Morgan Taylor, who helped implement the Sycamore CID, spoke in favor and said the Sycamore experience had been positive.
Legal and procedural points: petitioners and the council noted that state statute requires property-owner petitions and sets eligibility rules (citizenship and age for board members were cited). The council discussed whether the petition represented property owners or revenue-generating businesses; petitioners said state statute uses property-owner signatures. Halter and McIntosh said they worked with counsel Shannon Creighton (Gilmore & Bell) and a consultant on a blight/study process and that specifics on demolition or street closures would require subsequent approvals and public input.
Council action: a motion to schedule a public hearing on the petition for the council’s Aug. 18 meeting passed after roll call. The public hearing will give additional opportunity for affected business owners and residents to comment and for city staff to provide details on the proposed district and its boundaries.
Next steps: if the CID is established, the mayor will appoint a five-member board (petitioners said the city manager will likely be a member). That board would decide whether to levy the 1% sales/use tax; establishment of the CID does not itself automatically impose the tax.","Petitioners representing downtown business interests presented a plan to form a Community Improvement District (CID) that could impose a 1% sales/use tax inside the district; council voted to set a public hearing for Aug. 18.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6025136,"City auditor gives clean opinion on FY2024 statements, flags material weakness for unrecorded transactions",747,791000,1538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5756372-98bc0f83a7dd37c7831a308556c654d4&start=791&end=1538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5756372-98bc0f83a7dd37c7831a308556c654d4/thumbnail_791000.jpg","/articles/6025136/Poplar-Bluff-City/Butler-County/Missouri/City-auditor-gives-clean-opinion-on-FY2024-statements-flags-material-weakness-for-unrecorded-transactions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6025136-a25c8cbd3439c8dc4176241fa547db33/orig.mp4?Expires=1775209972&Signature=JqTld-z2xJQx~jeG0heEMmuDJHfV4CN5bdMWxzSYUTdzzwjPtyexq5Jfjx83FSqeeOXeWy2eR0MpnjT7kxI2omSpt5yoskP~3Erf4q7CGu~3xiOTVqaEYS15FHsCTHEuXXagQUcVov6VSq1eC~NsjmAW2WW5JuWq1lsGfW3hbm~a2rIPEFosPdR-5Blg2sEnxLb-3plkxcMT0zTO372tWa0b2QvNoAkLvZdwI6Z1YXKTJpjsUpPfBNxuwp2IGhd93OhJisBgFnqs6KMbeAJlyMbCfkBXKyHAbjROLFUDULzCvwVq4b2w6Zfr5jIcplH4~hNrJgNAzW1Ha7EEN7edNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeff Schroeder of Bucinec, Hay, Roe and Schroeder LLC told the Poplar Bluff City Council on Aug. 4 that the firm issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the city and municipal utilities’ FY2024 financial statements but identified a material weakness related to recording errors.
In his presentation, Schroeder said auditors recommended significant adjustments because about $233,000 of capital improvements had not been recorded in the capital improvements fund and loan proceeds and capital expenditures associated with a Highway 67 fund—totaling a little over $11 million—had not been recorded in the financial statements. “The transactions were done right. They were handled properly. They just weren’t recorded in the financial statements the way they needed to be,” Schroeder said.
Why it matters: the unmodified opinion means the statements fairly present the city’s finances under the modified cash basis of accounting, but the material weakness indicates deficiencies in internal controls over financial reporting that the city should correct.
Schroeder also reported that several funds had either overexpended their budgets or had no adopted budget for the year; he recommended that the city amend budgets as appropriate or keep expenditures within approved limits. He said those budget-comparison findings are a common audit result and that the state auditor’s office might take a more conservative interpretation if it reviewed the matter.
On federal awards, Schroeder said the city expended about $4.8 million in federal funds in FY2024 (approximately $3.2 million of which was ARPA coronavirus funds) and that auditors found no instances of noncompliance in the tests they performed. He did note a control weakness: staff had not always checked the federal suspension/debarment status of vendors before making payments to five vendors; the vendors were later found to be acceptable.
Council action: the council moved, seconded and voted to accept the audit report during the meeting. The motion was approved; the meeting record does not show a recorded roll-call tally or the individual names of the mover and seconder.
Next steps and city response: Schroeder recommended establishing or strengthening controls to ensure transactions are properly recorded and that staff check vendor debarment status when federal funds are involved. Council members asked about potential ramifications for budget noncompliance; Schroeder said to his knowledge there is no direct statutory penalty for the item but the state auditor might take a stricter interpretation. The council accepted the audit and will proceed with recommended corrective actions.","City auditor Jeff Schroeder reported an unmodified opinion on the fiscal year 2024 financial statements but identified a material weakness for unrecorded debt and loan transactions and recommended budget amendments for funds that overexpended their appropriations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6025140,"Resident reports repeated vehicle break-ins, makeshift encampment behind Skate City; council members promise review",425,153000,578000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5756372-98bc0f83a7dd37c7831a308556c654d4&start=153&end=578","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5756372-98bc0f83a7dd37c7831a308556c654d4/thumbnail_153000.jpg","/articles/6025140/Poplar-Bluff-City/Butler-County/Missouri/Resident-reports-repeated-vehicle-break-ins-makeshift-encampment-behind-Skate-City-council-members-promise-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6025140-151565588416027c33ea1552e0c029d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775209972&Signature=IMzH1xjG48F6vSYnUmjQAYmf48ld~7XnzhLAvt-k-HnhwWOjfeDrHqfRfa3zfUSQXYqz7PwW7mqbg0qa8aymZdbUXkelUce8PsMA4g1RTSt3b4D0cYZ7c~IKxEAeToAiedO2cbaADbBdcsujNGGp9bHi6CuCvnVCe2NgoJdZJ5YK7jf2maI7TALyvrfM041IvlGkagd4iUFiHuRh-GXoeMfnMEf7765EkOnRYXXMn9JmxfFsSn0vvc6v0NrhmcpNxm7RoeqZ3B4GzD19KZTy4cA7CcAJ9YLmaotgGHeJb6cy3HBNM0Z2R~yCjDw4cab1wA9BseKyw3G7uBGII8vrWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Resident Steve Harris told the Poplar Bluff City Council on Aug. 4 that three vehicles on his street have been broken into since July 4 and described a makeshift shelter behind Skate City that he said was constructed from pallets and covered with tarpaulins.
The council heard that at least one person had been arrested after an officer visited the site. “Since July 4, we've had three vehicles broken into on our street,” Harris said, noting one of the incidents occurred on the night of a wedding celebration. He added that neighbors now lock car doors and that a neighbor who placed a “no trespassing” sign was intimidated by people at the site and no longer walks near it.
Why it matters: the report raises public-safety and quality-of-life concerns for residents near West Pine and the Skate City area and prompted council members to discuss code enforcement and contacting the landowner.
Council members and staff discussed next steps but did not take a formal vote. A council member told Harris the city would pursue a combination of code enforcement and contact with the property owner or her guardian; the council member said the report from Harris provided “enough that we can move on it.” Harris said the property owner is an elderly woman who lives elsewhere and is in a nursing home.
Harris described the site as a brush-filled lot about 75 yards off West Pine on the north side of the street, near a cell tower. He told the council he had reported the situation previously and that an officer named Sutton had returned and made at least one arrest. Harris also said he was told by others that an ordinance exists prohibiting tents without permits.
What city officials said: a council member said they would begin by inspecting the site and try to contact the owner or guardian; the mayor offered to visit the location the following day. No formal directive or motion was recorded; the discussion was treated as a citizen input item and a staff follow-up was promised.
Details and limits: speakers described theft of several shopping carts and an allegedly stolen grill; Harris said Walmart had declined to prosecute thefts of carts, and he estimated the carts at about $900 each as a retail value per cart. The council did not provide a timetable or specific code-enforcement action at the meeting.
Next steps: a council member said they would start with a site visit and follow-up with code enforcement and owner contact. The meeting record does not show a formal complaint filed by the property owner or a formal enforcement action taken at the Aug. 4 session.","Resident Steve Harris told the Poplar Bluff City Council that three vehicles on his street were broken into and described a makeshift homeless encampment behind Skate City. Council members said they will investigate through code enforcement and attempt to contact the property owner.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council moves nepotism policy amendment to Aug. 18 vote to allow relatives in same department under limits

Council schedules public hearing after petition to form downtown Community Improvement District

City auditor gives clean opinion on FY2024 statements, flags material weakness for unrecorded transactions

Resident reports repeated vehicle break-ins, makeshift encampment behind Skate City; council members promise review