Process to split parcels of land revised by Scott City board

The Scott City Council unanimously passed an ordinance Monday night to streamline the process of creating a subdivision for small property owners.

The new ordinance sets up definitions for minor and major subdivisions, with small subdivisions being defined as land divided into less than three lots, with no street or utilities dedicated to the public.

Large subdivisions will be four lots or larger, with dedicated utilities and streets.

The new law was designed to make the process easier for people wanting to split a parcel into just a few parts when no utility or street work is required. Now those landowners only have to submit one plat -- with one public hearing -- to the planning and zoning commission, instead of the preliminary and final plats required for major subdivisions.

Major subdivision owners are still required to have two public meetings and city council approval for any utilities or streets dedicated to public use.

In other action, the council voted unanimously to adopt the Scott County emergency plan. The plan helps coordinate disaster response between communities and rural areas in the county and will replace Scott City's former emergency response plan, said fire chief Jay Cassout.

Before adoption of the plan, Scott City and Sikeston both had their own separate plans, but smaller towns in the county were part of a county-wide plan.

In other business, city administrator Ron Eskew announced the city had been reimbursed $27,310 from a government grant for repairs made on the city pool.