Perryville board approves grotto sculpin plan

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Perryville Board of Aldermen on Tuesday unanimously approved a conservation plan designed to protect an endangered fish believed to exist only in Perry County.

The move allows the city to enter into an agreement with county, state and federal entities to implement the Perry County Community Conservation Plan.

Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the grotto sculpin as an endangered species.

The conservation plan is meant to protect the small fish -- which is believed to be found exclusively in five Perry County caves -- from water-quality issues while keeping the federal government from declaring Perry County "critical habitat" for the grotto sculpin.

Community leaders have expressed concern that a critical habitat designation could hurt efforts to attract business by bringing increased scrutiny from regulators.

The plan, which was the product of six months of study and community meetings, documents actions the community has taken or will take to protect the fish.

One of those actions is Perryville's management of hundreds of sinkholes -- many of which have been used as trash dumps in the past -- to prevent groundwater contamination that could kill the fish.

City administrator Brent Buerck said Fish and Wildlife Service officials had scheduled a community meeting for next week to discuss the next steps in implementing the plan, but the federal government shutdown forced the agency to postpone the meeting.

Also on Tuesday, the board:

• Accepted a request for voluntary annexation of three parcels on North Kings­highway and set a Nov. 6 date for a public hearing on the matter.
• Approved an ordinance entering into a contract with National Playground to resurface a playground.
• Approved an ordinance entering into a contract with BBL Construction to build a pole barn for the city's public works department.
• Heard the first reading of an amendment to an ordinance relative to unfit buildings. The amendment expands the definition of an unfit building to include structures that have been damaged by fire or other calamity, have been vacant for six months or more and would cost more than 33 percent of their own value to restore.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Perryville, Mo.