| Regular meetings: Third Thursday - 6:30 p.m Greenwood Cemetery Board meeting: Third Thursday - 10:00 a.m. Planning Zoning - Third Sunday, 5:30 p.m. |



Clarksville City Hall proudly displays a new City Seal. (adopted by Ordinance on February 22, 2007 and received March 13, 2007) The new City Seal now hanging in the Community room of Clarksville City Hall is the design and creation of Mike Brewer. At the center of this art piece is a carved Eagle backed by clear skies and the mighty Mississippi River. As Missouri was the 21st state of the union, there are 20 stars in the outer circle and one large star above the eagle representing the state with a smaller inner star representing the City of Clarksville. Below the eagle, grasped in its’ talons, is the 1817 date of establishment surrounded by an oak leaf wreath symbolizing strength, stability, honor and endurance. Around the entire seal is a rope frame tying all of Clarksville together. |

| Clarksville City Seal |
| Reports from Mayor Smiley City of Clarksville, Missouri |




During the past few decades, Clarksville has used generations of infrastructure investment for necessary purposes but in the meantime has substantially underinvested in its maintenance. If the City addresses the present situation properly and makes adequate investment in the critical infrastructure needs (water and sewer lines, streets and sidewalks, storm water drainage, lift stations, lagoon etc.) jobs can be created, a boost to business development can result generating long-term revenues that can jump-start this City’s economy and produce lasting effects. Taking a long-term view of infrastructure investment is not new, easy or inexpensive. It is however, a necessary step if the future of Clarksville is to be as bright as many residents desire. The efforts in which the City is now engaged can perhaps best be summed up in the following quote: “Master plans are like road maps. They chart a hopeful course between the present and some intended destination, with milestones along the way. Planning is an adventure in communication as well as in design and policy development. It is a process of compromise and collaboration in support of valued goals” – Jon Coe In meetings during the past few weeks with Residents of Clarksville, Pike County Commissioners and Mayors, and Representatives from State and Federal Offices, specific interest has been generated as attention is directed to the Clarksville Master Plan. Having such a document prepared indicates that the residents of the City are interested in progress and stability for the community. Those persons who have voiced their opinions, attended meetings relative to planning for the future, shared in the enthusiasm generated by the positive direction in which Clarksville is moving, and contributed money and time to the effort are making a difference for the whole community. As the City engages in soliciting funding, seeking sources for implementing choices, growing governmental and institutional and marketing relationships, and driving forward to a sustainable community, there is much to be done by every single individual in Clarksville. Your counsel and consideration are important. Your willingness to listen and to respond is critical. Your pride in and enthusiasm for a healthy future for Clarksville is necessary. You are important in every aspect. Jo Anne Smiley, Mayor February 14, 2009 |
| April 11, 2009 Along the River Our recent election brought to mind several questions regarding priorities for Clarksville’s future. What can we expect? What can we believe? How do we know what is fact and what might not be? Questions like these are often in our thoughts and on our lips these days as we face uncertain financial times and political upheavals, which impact all of life. For Clarksville we can expect that left “as is” the aging infrastructure will fail to adequately support the citizens of the Clarksville community. Clarksville can believe that hard work and dedication to securing the appropriate solutions to these challenges is essential. We all know for fact that meeting the regulations required by law and providing better services for the residents will present additional financial strains. Clarksville’s size is both a challenge and an opportunity: a challenge because the city does not have ample resources to solve the problems before us, but an opportunity because change can be implemented relatively quickly when working at this smaller scale, with a plan of action and secured resources. Hopefully this administration is committed to doing what is best for all Clarksville citizens and doing it well. Every effort should be directed toward providing clear vision into all aspects of each project consideration along the way. It is obvious that community support will assist each step of progress. It is also evident that all who work to implement changes must have the courage to deliver on commitments, while at the same time assuming responsibility for the actions. Flexibility needs to be an integral part of the process, so that leaders and followers will be more proactive in both heading off crises and in dealing with those that do occur. Planning and training are critical of course, but they both require building a tradition of informed dialogue, reasonable debate and civility in discourse that promotes collaboration across the board. I appreciate the continuing opportunity to serve as Mayor. In this role, I’ve tried to keep a finger on the economic pulse by attending meetings on Federal, State, County and local municipal levels as I believe that successes are connectional for Clarksville. Since most campaign promises are out-come based, I spoke to what I believe Clarksville deserves and desires. In this term the projects which I hope to see ongoing include River Front Park, Storm Water and Street projects, Sewer System upgrades, and Flood Mitigation endeavors. I’d rather be thought of as one who “attempted” successes than the alternative which is “play it safe and do little or nothing”. Jo Anne Smiley, Mayor |
January 22, 2011 From the Desk Why the need for a Bond Issue for Clarksville on the April Ballot? The passage of the proposed bond issue will allow the City of Clarksville to obtain financing to meet deadlines in making required and necessary waste water and water infrastructure improvements: 1. DNR (Department of Natural Resources) required discharge permit ……..deadline is March 2012 for Clarksville. 2. Next permit cycle … ammonia effluent limits for lagoon. 3. Compliant Sewer System requires inflow & infiltration reduction. 4. Replacement of cast iron and galvanized water mains. 5. Replacement of 50 year old concrete water storage reservoirs. In a recent interview, American Water President and CEO Donald Correll said, “ Our country’s water and wastewater infrastructure is in serious need of repair. Both recently received a ‘D-’ from the American Society of Civil Engineers.” There are three primary funding sources paying for the majority of water infrastructure across the country: bonds, loans, and available cash on hand. Some municipalities choose to pay for infrastructure improvements from annual operating funds rather than borrowing. While this option is available to larger communities/operations Clarksville like most municipal water providers cannot bankroll the necessary infrastructure improvements. Thus, the necessity of the Bond issue on the April 5, 2011 Ballot. In the meantime, requests are being presented to granting and lending agencies in order to move forward quickly when the Bond issue is approved. Clarksville has already received notification that the Missouri Clean Water Commission has approved a small borrow loan in the amount of $94,300. Four grant applications, submitted through Joe Bannister of CGR to the Department of Economic Development more than 18 months ago, are still valid, in process and awaiting funding. The continuing Clarksville membership in Mark Twain Regional Council of Governments provides opportunity to seek funding with their assistance. And most importantly, Mark Bross from Klingner and Associates is working closely with every aspect of these projects including design and funding. Jo Anne Smiley, Mayor |

| My report this evening is primarily directed to reminders concerning current issues about which we need to be fully informed, not only to be able to vote as citizens, but to be able to share the information with our constituents and help them be prepared to vote. First of course is our own Bond Issue. We have flyers that provide both questions and answers. You also have the communication from Mark Bross that he uses in his presentation at the scheduled meetings. The next meeting is next Tuesday the 22nd at the Visitor Center. If you have any questions, Mark is available. The Tipping Fee proposed by the Pike County Commission will also appear on the April election ballot. Pike County is seeking a fee of $1.50 per ton on all waste deposited in the Pike County landfill. This includes waste from outside the County as well. I am told that the figures indicate that as much waste from outside the County is deposited in the landfill as is collected and deposited inside the County…perhaps more. The Tipping fee will increase costs for citizens less than $4.00 annually. The monies raised are to be used exclusively in Pike County for economic development purposes. The commission will be meeting with City administrators and publishing additional information in the coming weeks. The Enhanced Enterprise Zone Tax Benefit Program is another effort being pursued by Pike County. This is a Missouri Department of Economic Development Program. The EEZ offers state tax credits accompanied by local real property tax abatement to NEW or EXPANDED businesses. Initially the concept is to include the whole County, but Louisiana will be establishing an EEZ of their own. That being said, the rest of the County will be a contingent Zone as required. In addition Plan H and the organization Neighbors of the Mississippi should be forward in our thinking and in our discussions. Clarksville and other communities in 3 counties will not be free of the need to be diligent in our FLOOD concerns in the foreseeable future. Thus, we must not only address the present but plan for the future. As I left to go to Jefferson City for the Legislative Conference on Wednesday, Bud Garrison was meeting with Emergency Management personnel, Engineers, and staff to review plans for action when and if flooding becomes eminent. While at the Capitol I met with legislators from both the House and the Senate and visited with Mayors and Board Members from around the state who are also dealing with the promise of and problems related to flooding. In the Governors’ message we were reminded that 54 counties were in the SNOW emergency area with all time high levels of snow and dealing with similar problems. He further recognizes that many of us have very similar challenges, as it relates to flooding and other disasters and the legislators need to understand the problems and the needs. He believes that the face to face conversations are paramount. The MML sessions were packed with valuable information providing guidelines for conversations with the legislators. I have copied for your review a few of the outlines that could have impact on Clarksville. I would urge you to sift through them and prepare questions for discussion at our next meeting. February 17, 2011 Jo Anne Smiley, Mayor |
February 19. 2011 From the Desk This week has included deeper concerns caused by the predictions of flooding along the Mississippi River. The Clarksville Emergency Management team led by Bud Garrison convened to review the continuing plans of action and consider additional concerns and methods of defense. The St. Louis office of the National Weather Service provided a webinar with specifics for the Clarksville/Lock & Dam #24 area. All information, maps and charts indicate that preparations for flooding are in order. Attending the Legislative Conference presented by Missouri Municipal League in Jefferson City provided opportunities to meet with City Officials from across the State, and to hear from the House and the Senate. Reports from committee hearings turned attention to subjects involving Public Construction Bidding, Fair Tax, Streamlined Sales Tax, Billboard Regulations, and Missouri Tax Credit Programs, to name a few. In meetings with individual Legislators I was allowed to engage in discussion of flood control (methods and cost) and the greater requirements for Water and Sewer management being imposed on communities. While all the subjects mentioned above could have impact on Clarksville at some time, none is as important for this community to understand as is the passing of the Bond Issue on the April election ballot. State and Federal law requires that improvements be made in the City Lagoon, Waste Water and Water systems. Most immediate is the lagoon disinfection effluent regulation deadline of March 2012. Meeting this deadline allows the City to avoid fines for non-compliance. Working together we can be successful in accomplishing the necessary and required improvements. In order to access grants and low interest loans through government entities, public approval is required to authorize the City to seek the financing. Many government agencies will not provide grant funding unless some funds are also borrowed. The City can borrow money without the approval of voters, but with a voter approved bond issue the City can go to funding agencies and access loan money at lower interest rates. Subject to availability and with the successful vote on the Bond issue, the City may be eligible for up to $1.5 million in grant funds…no guarantees. The City is working for the least cost to the customers while making DNR mandated improvements. Passing the Bond issue is the most prudent thing to do, because it allows the City to finance improvements at the lowest cost thus increasing the user rates in the lowest possible amounts. Jo Anne Smiley, Mayor |
July 1, 2011 From the Desk For elected officials in a small community, one of the prime responsibilities is to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of residents, including reliable drinking water. Safe drinking water is central to our well-being and our economic viability, now and in the future. Most persons take for granted that a turn of the tap in the kitchen or bath will instantly produce water. However, having good drinking water requires work. When the water is clean and safe, we can drink it, cook with it, wash with it, and play in it. Nothing is more important than a clean, safe supply of water. It directly affects quality of life, public health, environmental protection, and economic development. Accompanying the responsibility to provide reliable drinking water is an equal obligation to be compliant with regulatory requirements for waste water treatment. Onsite wastewater treatment systems collect, treat, and release multi gallons of effluent each day. Failing or faltering systems can pose a serious threat to public health, drinking water resources, and aquatic life. Failing septic systems are a significant source of ground water contamination. The City of Clarksville operates a sewer collection and treatment system that consists of several miles of clay pipes, manholes, two lift stations and a lagoon. A large portion of the City lies unprotected from flooding of the Mississippi River. When flooding occurs, flood waters enter into the sewer pipes through the tops and sides of submerged manholes. The City’s two lift stations then pump the combined flood waters and sewage continuously toward the lagoon treatment system. Because the flood waters carry large amounts of silt, this sediment can become entrapped in the pipes and the lift stations. The volume of flood water can effectively render the entire sewer collection system useless. The lagoon disinfection project meeting the 2012 regulatory requirements is the first step in facilitating corrective procedures for improved waste water service. Comprehensive planning includes dealing with collection, treatment, manholes, flow monitoring, sewer mapping, and distribution lines and researching all possible alternatives for the future. The first storm water drainage project which is scheduled to begin this fall will assist greatly in each rain event and will be particularly helpful during flooding events. Each of these projects, though specifically separate, impacts the other. The coordinating efforts of engineers, employees and regulating agencies are moving ahead and the end results will be improved service throughout the community. Jo Anne Smiley |



