Customers using the city of Dexter sewer service will see a planned rate increase beginning August 1, 2024, in order to pay for the replacement of the city's non-compliant sewer treatment system.
A new wastewater treatment plant is being designed to replace the two aerated lagoon systems currently being used by the city. This new treatment plant is necessary to remain in compliance with federal Clean Water Act regulations and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The city of Dexter contracts with Continental utility Solutions, Inc. for sanitary sewer services billing. Customers will start to notice a change on their August bills.
Sewer rates are based on a combination of a flat fee plus a component of water consumption calculated each month from the water meters located at each tap into the water supply system. This is because most of the residents water goes down drains and toilets and ends up in the wastewater system.
On April 2, 2024, the voters of Dexter approved a proposition for the issuance of bonds for this improvement with a 72.7% approval rate. During the July meeting, the Dexter City Council approved the sewer rate increase. The city continues to work with USDA Rural Development to secure the best funding package available for th planned improvement.
“To avoid burdening the citizens of Dexter with a significant increase to their bill all at once, the city is taking a considerate approach to our citizens’ finances by implementing the voter-approved increase gradually,” said City of Dexter Administrator David Wyman.
For more information about city improvements, Dave Wyman can be reached at 573-624-5959 or visit www.cityofdexter.org="">
The City of Dexter will have their annual Spring Cleanup during th month of April.
Bulk trash pickup is being offered by the city each Friday in April.
"Red Tags" may be purchased at City Hall or Harp's Grocery Store for furniture or other bulky items for $1.00 each.
Major appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, and hot water heaters require a "Blue Tag" and can also be purchased at City Hall or Harp's Grocery Store. the cost for Blue Tags are $10 each. There is a limit of four (4) items to be picked up.
Red Tags may also be purchased for Yard Waste pickup.
You MUST call the Water Department at (573) 624-5527 by Thursday of each week to schedule either the bulk trash or yard waste pickup (one call per household please).
The Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission, or BRPC, received word that the Stoddard County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update for 2023 has been approved.
Approval was designated by State Emergency Management Agency, or SEMA, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. Updates are required every five years for participating communities to be eligible for certain types of FEMA funding. SEMA estimates that every dollar spent on mitigation planning saves $8 in disaster recovery funds.
The planning process began with a kick-off planning meeting in February 2023. A series of three meetings was held in Bloomfield, Missouri, in the County Commissioners’ Chambers. County commissioners, mayors, city clerks, emergency personnel, economic developers and the public were all invited to be part of the update process, voicing their opinions on what mitigation projects should be prioritized with limited resources. A public survey gathered opinions from others throughout the county.
Beau Bishop, Stoddard County Emergency Management Director commented on the importance of the plan.
“Hazard Mitigation planning reduces loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters,” Bishop said. “All applicable stakeholders within a community should be represented during this process. BRPC provided a very thorough planning process which ensured that all hazards were considered and discussed, and that all voices were heard. In doing so, they took the lead in completing a comprehensive Mitigation plan for the citizens of Stoddard County.”
Besides the content of the plan, the process of updating it created an opportunity for BRPC to meet with county and community leaders as well as stakeholders.
Jim Grebing serves as the executive director of BRPC.
“Hosting community meetings allowed members of our staff to meet with community members and hear their needs,” Grebing said of the process. “We look forward to assisting communities with projects they designated themselves to make their communities safer and more resilient to natural hazards.”
Stoddard is the first of six county plans that will be updated in the coming months in the Missouri Bootheel. The plan will serve as a resource to communities for years to come. To access a copy of the plan, go to https://bootrpc.com.
Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission exists to promote and support the economic development of the region and to guide local units of government in a coordinated effort to develop the region in a way which would best promote public health, safety, general welfare and economic prosperity in accordance with existing and future needs. This is accomplished by providing technical assistance to cities, counties, businesses and other development organizations in the area, and by networking extensively with state and federal resource agencies. BRPC works with Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott and Stoddard Counties.
The Missouri Department of Revenue has announced the upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP) of the license office in Dexter, Missouri, located at 119 Vine Street, Dexter, MO 63841. Bids will start being accepted May 10, and must be submitted by May 23.
For a list of bid opportunities and bid response instructions, please visit Missouri’s statewide electronic procurement system, MissouriBUYS, at https://missouribuys.mo.gov/. Interested groups or individuals who wish to bid to operate the Dexter License Office must have an active Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) and must submit the proposal under the legal entity name for which the FEIN was assigned. The Missouri Department of Revenue, through the Office of Administration, is posting an RFP for the Dexter License Office contract, since the current contract is close to expiring. Interested bidders have approximately 10 business days to submit their proposal for the operation of the license office in the competitive bid process, as outlined in the RFP. A scheduled tour of the current location may be requested by emailing the procurement contact listed on MissouriBUYS.
Proposals will be evaluated on items as outlined in the RFP. All of the proposals will be evaluated by a review team at the Department of Revenue, and the proposal that scores best in the areas outlined in the RFP will be selected to operate the office.
Resources to Help Guide Potential Bidders:
Missouri License Office Locations - https://dor.mo.gov/license-office-locator/
Estimated Transactions and Processing Fees Collected at Missouri License Offices FY22 - https://dor.mo.gov/contact/documents/FY2022MVandDLEstimatedTransactionsandProces...
Recent Evaluations of Awarded Bids - https://dor.mo.gov/resources/purchasing/
License offices are operated by independent contractors and are overseen by the Missouri Department of Revenue. All license office contracts in Missouri are awarded through a competitive bid process.
The Dexter Board of Aldermen passed multiple resolutions and the newly elected aldermen were sworn in at Monday’s meeting.
Terry Battles representing Ward I, Tim Aslin representing Ward II and Glen Robinson representing Ward II took the oath of office which was administered by city clerk Crystal Bishop. Tim Aslin was then elected president of the board of aldermen.
The first resolution passed allowed the city to join the county’s hazardous mitigation plan. This will allow the city access to hazardous mitigation funds for the city should a disaster occur. This allows the city administrator David Wyman to apply for a loan/grant with the State of Missouri. The loan/grant will be for the construction of lead service line inventory, lead service line replacement plan and lead service line replacement.
The aldermen then passed an ordinance for the purchase of outbuildings from Rosemary Ford. One building measures 30 feet x 100 feet and the second is 30 feet by 40 feet. The total cost of the purchase is $6,000.
Wyman delivered the Economic Development report due to Alisha Trammell being unable to attend the meeting. Wyman said the chamber golf scramble is May 12, the chamber luncheon is May 16 and the Farmers Market begins this Thursday at 4 p.m. at East Park.
There are two upcoming ribbon cuttings, the first at the Meadow on May 24 and the second at the Regional Healthcare on May 30.
Wyman is working on a city action plan so the city can apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation grant. This grant will assist with any projects related to transportation, such as the new cross walks being discussed near the schools.
Wyman has been in contact with engineers to do water/sewer testing in town. He said a facility plan for the new water plant must be sent to the state by the end of June.
Wyman said the employee performance reviews for the city are being completed.
The Dexter Police Department received a Bullet Proof Vest 50/50 grant. Five vests were purchased with the grant. A mini click it or ticket will be held May 22 through June 4.
Dexter Fire Chief Don Seymore said hydrant testing is completed. The fire department will have a list of needed repairs ready later this week.
Crews are still removing sludge from the east lagoon. The first cell has had sludge removed down to 112 inches and crews are working on the second cell. Overall the project is about 50 percent done.
Sewer pipes are being run to the new Gill Group building. Water is hooked up but the building is still using a temporary tank until the sewer can be hooked up.
El Cabrito was granted a temporary liquor license for the Grille It Up event in July. Greg Mathis was reappointed to the cemetery board, Larry Thompson and Tom Love were reappointed to the airport board, Marissa Mills, Chris Warren and Adam Sadler were reappointed to the parks and recreation board and the standing committees were appointed following some corrections. The corrections were not released.
Article and photo provided by Josh Ayers, Editor of the Dexter Statesman.
