Looking to the future

Jennifer Allgood-Nigut was recognized at Tuesday evening's meeting of the Kennett City Council for being named Southeast Region Counselor of the Year by the Southeast Missouri School Counselors' Association. Today has been declared "Jennifer Allgood Nigut Day" in the city in recognition of Nigut's achievements.

Staff photo by Deanna Coronado

A more concerted economic development effort may soon be felt throughout Dunklin County thanks to a proposal outlined at Tuesday evening's Kennett City Council meeting.

Economic developer and Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jan McElwrath reported to council members that an effort will begin to coordinate economic development in the county. She said the move follows a recommendation of a site consultant who was hired by the city a few years ago. McElwrath explained the recommendation

"One of his recommendations was that if we were serious about economic development it needed to be done on a county-wide basis," she said. The Kennett Chamber of Commerce officially agreed to begin work with the other communities in the county to organize and begin a coordinated county emphasis. "What we would like to do with the City of Kennett is to demonstrate we are the county seat, provide leadership for our county and work toward uniting our county."

McElwrath told the council that the chamber would begin to work with other communities in Dunklin County and the work might evolve into the organization of a Dunklin County development group. Kennett and Malden are the only two communities in the county that have organized chambers of commerce and economic development efforts.

"What happens anywhere in our county affects all of us," she said. One of the goals would be to have the entire county declared an Enhanced Enterprise Zone, which would then be able to offer enhanced incentives to companies to expand or locate business in the county. "We want to unite everyone working in an united effort."

Mayor Roger Wheeler, Sr., took time at the beginning of Tuesday's meeting to recognize a Kennett educator for her accomplishments.

Wheeler presented Jennifer Allgood Nigut a proclamation and designated today, Wednesday, March 17 as Jennifer Allgood Nigut Day in the city. Nigut was recently named Counselor of the Year by the Southeast Missouri School Counselor's Association. Nigut is a counselor in the Kennett Public Schools. Accompanying Nigut for the presentation were her husband Roman, children Maddy and Brooks, and her mother Jan Allgood.

A recent rezoning request for the construction of duplexes on Independence Circle was on the agenda for reconsideration by council members. The request by for "spot zoning" by James Westbrook was presented to the council last month and was tabled after debate at the March 3 meeting. However, a motion to consider the proposal was not made by a member of the council so the matter died.

Council members Darrell Wheeler and Tracy Smith, who both represent the residents on Independence Circle noted that a number of residents in the area of the proposed duplexes had expressed concern and opposition to the project. A petition signed by opponents of the project was presented to the council at its last meeting.

"If there had not been the opposition, I would have voted for the zoning change," said Smith.

However, when Wheeler called for a motion to approve the zoning change, no council member offered such a motion. Without a motion the request died without council action.

"I understand what you all did tonight and I accept it," Westbrook said. "But I took a big risk. Spot zoning does work."

Wheeler suggested that Westbrook talk to the residents in the neighborhood.

"My recommendation is that you go back to those people who signed the petition and if you can convince them to revise the petition then we would be for it," Wheeler told Westbrook. "I know you did a lot of work. But the feeling of the council just now is not to approve."

In other business Tuesday night, the council:

* Reminded by McElwrath the annual Chamber of Commerce Banquet is Monday, March 29; Director of Economic Development David Kerr will be the guess speaker;

* Learned from Police Chief Barry Tate a total of 18,974 miles were during February, officers responded to 623 dispatched calls resulting in 219 reports filed, and there were no curfew violations for the month.

* Tate also reported the department received a $1000 grant from Walmart which will be used to purchase bicycles for an education project in the schools;

Councilman Larry McDowell reported residents on Crawford Street complained about loud music and speeding in their neighborhood.