title
Minutes for the Public Services Committee meeting on December 11, 2006.
body
Public Services Committee Minutes
Monday, December 11, 2006
4:30 p.m.
Members present were: Judy Furr, Mitch Johnson, Tim McCall, Cecil Province and Ann Williams. Councilman Ashley was unable to attend. Also in attendance was Mr. Tony Thomas from the Mayor’s Office.
MINUTES
Councilman McCall motioned, seconded by Councilman Johnson, for the approval of the minutes for the special meeting on November 15, 2006, as written. All voted aye. Copies were provided to all in attendance.
PARKS
Mowing contract: Mr. Jason Wilkie discussed the bids they received for mowing services. He noted there were only three bidders, with Sartin Services being the only company who bid on the whole package. Councilwoman Furr questioned whether the City bids out the chemical services. Mr. Wilkie explained they do all the chemical work in-house. Discussion was held regarding the number of bidders. Councilman McCall questioned how they advertised the project. Mr. Brad Welbourne stated they advertised the bid in the newspaper, put it on the City’s website and sent packets to five or six contractors. Councilwoman Furr suggested splitting up the mowing so companies won’t bid on everything. Discussion was held concerning whether the mowing should be re-bid. Councilwoman Furr questioned why the Parks Department handles the mowing for the retention ponds, which should be Public Works. Mr. Wilkie explained Street Superintendent Teddy Hooton asked him if the Parks Department could help with the mowing and they agreed to help. Councilwoman Furr then questioned whether any restitution is made from other departments to the Parks Department for handling the mowing. Mr. Wilkie stated the other departments do not pay them to mow; the money is taken out of the Parks Department budget. Mr. Tony Thomas stated they have talked about the mowing, but it will take time to restructure some things and correct them. He added he thinks the main issue is personnel. Mr. Wilkie suggested putting $32,000 in the 2007 budget for mowing to cover bidding out the mowing for City offices, vacant lots, retention ponds and the fire stations. He added they will continue mowing the parks and cemeteries. He also suggested bidding each portion out separately, so they would have four projects going out for bids. Councilman McCall motioned, seconded by Councilman Province, to reject all the bids for the mowing and re-bid the four separate projects, which are City offices, vacant lots, retention ponds and the fire stations. All voted aye.
Bono Lake resolution: Councilman McCall discussed the Council passing a resolution showing support for the Bono Lake project. He explained several Quorum Court members will be going to Washington D.C. in February with the Chamber of Commerce trip to try and get funding for the project. He then presented the committee with a resolution supporting the project. Councilwoman Furr questioned whether City Attorney Phillip Crego has reviewed the ordinance. Councilman McCall stated he would have Mr. Crego review the ordinance and they could vote on the resolution at the January regular meeting.
Construction report: Mr. Wilkie noted they will be preparing the bid documents for the greenway project on the east side of the Mall at Turtle Creek.
CEMETERIES
Cemetery Department plan: Mr. Wilkie discussed the recommendations he had for Cemeteries. He explained Finance Director Don Ray indicated it was too late to separate the Parks and Cemeteries budgets for 2007, but that he had no problem separating them in the 2008 budget. Councilwoman Furr questioned whether they would need another full-time employee to help supervise the inmates and seasonal workers. Mr. Wilkie stated he had put the extra employee in his budget request, but it was not in the Mayor’s budget that was presented to the Council. Cemetery Sexton Steve Penny stated he would like another full-time person to help free up time to take care of other duties as well as help with work done on the weekends. Mr. Wilkie added he would ask for the extra person in his budget meeting. Councilman McCall motioned, seconded by Councilwoman Furr, to accept Mr. Wilkie’s recommendations and proceed with his suggestions for Cemeteries. All voted aye.
Bid documents for Oaklawn expansion: Mr. Wilkie explained he found out NRS Engineering has not been hired to do the bid documents for the Oaklawn expansion project. He added he and Mr. Hooton will be meeting with NRS next week to talk with them. He further explained he would also like NRS to do the construction oversight of the project since they made the engineering design.
Ordinance setting policy on spending the Perpetual Care Fund: Mr. Wilkie noted Mr. Crego reviewed the ordinance as to form. Councilwoman Furr motioned, seconded by Councilman Johnson, to approve the ordinance and pass it on to the Finance Committee. All voted aye.
Ordinance directing cemetery revenues: Mr. Wilkie stated Mr. Crego reviewed the ordinance as to form. He added after Mr. Crego reviewed the ordinance it was brought to his attention by Mr. Thomas that the Jonesboro Municipal Code would also need to be changed, so he added Section 2 to the ordinance. Councilman McCall motioned, seconded by Councilman Province, to approve the ordinance pending Mr. Crego’s review of Section 2 and to pass the ordinance on to the Finance Committee. All voted aye.
OTHER
Councilman Province discussed the property on Cemetery Lane that the City sold to City Water and Light so they could build a water tank there. He explained it’s his understanding CWL is now putting the water tank near Neely Road. He suggested asking CWL for the land back if they were not going to use it for what they told the City they needed it for. Councilman Province noted the land is next to the land where the City will be expanding Oaklawn Cemetery, so the it could be used in for future expansion of Oaklawn. It was asked for Mr. Wilkie to contact CWL and verify whether or not they will be using the land for a water tank.
Chairperson Williams discussed the Fire Department’s future plans to build a fire station on Patrick and Word Streets. She explained the land the City is looking at is four acres, but only an acre and a half would be needed for the fire station. She added it was suggested to her that a park could be built on the remaining portion of land. Mr. Wilkie stated they have discussed the proposal before, but he did not see a need for another park in that area of town. Councilwoman Furr expressed concern over having a park next to a fire station, noting kids might play with the fire equipment or be too close when the fire trucks leave the station. Councilman Province also stated he’s not sure the City needs to explore that option because the money might be needed for other purposes. Mr. Thomas added they are currently negotiating to purchase just the amount of land that is needed.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, Councilman McCall motioned, seconded by Councilman Province, to adjourn. All voted aye.