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Minutes for the City Council meeting on August 18, 1986
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - AUGUST 18, 1986
The Jonesboro City Council met at 7:30 p.m. Present were Mayor, City Clerk, City Attorney, and all Aldermen.
The minutes of August 4, 1986, were approved as mailed on motion by Mr. Hannah, seconded by Mr. Stricklin. All voted aye.
Mr. Evans presented a resolution praising members of Kids in Community Service (KICS) at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church for helping the indigent, elderly, and handicapped through a summer program.
RESOLUTION COMMENDING KIDS IN COMMUNITY SERVICES (KICS) FOR THEIR SUMMER WORK PROGRAM BENEFITING THE INDIGENT AND HANDICAPPED
Mr. Evans moved, seconded by Mr. Stricklin to adopt the resolution. All voted aye. The resolution was given the number 1986:24.
The following ordinance was on second reading: (Annexation - J. Gamblin & other, S. of 63 Bypass, W. of Willow Rd.)
AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING CERTAIN LANDS ANNEXED TO THE CITY OF JONESBORO, ARKANSAS BY ORDER OF THE COUNTY COURT OF CRAIGHEAD COUNTY, ARKANSAS ; ASSIGNING SAID ANNEXED TERRITORIES TO WARD 5; DECLARING THE ZONING FOR THE ANNEXED TRACT; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Attorney Charles Frierson stated the property owners had presented a letter to the City Clerk complying with the stipulation of placing a fire hydrant as needed for fire protection to service the property being annexed. He also stated the owners agreed to changing the words “if needed” to “as needed” in said letter. Mr. Stricklin then moved, seconded by Mr. Culpepper to suspend the rules and place on third reading. All voted aye. Mr. Park moved, seconded by Mr. Stricklin to adopt the ordinance. All voted aye. The ordinance was given the number 1991.
The following ordinance was on third reading: (Rezoning -R. White - C-3 to R-2 - Fox Meadow)
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 954 KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR CHANGE IN ZONING BOUNDARIES
Attorney Skip Mooney presented a revised legal description and asked the ordinance be amended to include same. Mr. Sanderson moved, seconded by Mr. Stricklin to accept the amended legal description. All voted aye. The amended ordinance was read for the third time. Mr. Sanderson moved, seconded by Mr. Evans to adopt the ordinance. All voted aye. The ordinance was given the number 1992.
The following ordinance was on third reading: (Traffic Control- Speed limit & Stop Signs in N. Jonesboro)
AN ORDINANCE FOR CERTAIN TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Mr. Hinson moved, seconded by Dr. Strauser to adopt the ordinance. All voted aye. The ordinance was given the number 1993.
Dr. Robert Flournoy, President of EnviroMed Laboratories, Inc. addressed the council and stated there is no evidence to indicate the landfill is contaminating groundwater or the environment. He stated he will inform PC & E that the site is adequate for a landfill. He added that the city must take water samples from the monitoring wells once a quarter for a full year, then semi-annually thereafter. The Mayor announced he had received a letter from Phyliss Garnett of PC & E acknowledging receipt of the final report from EnviroMed and would need 30 days to review the data before making a reply. Dr. Flournoy asked the city to appropriate $225 thousand to EnviroMed for work done on the project. The Mayor suggested that Dr. Flournoy submit the bill to the Finance Committee for review.
Ruby Chittenden, representing Jonesboro League of Women Voters addressed the council regarding update of the Code of Ordinance digest. Mr. Park moved, seconded by Mr. Stricklin to accept Mrs. Chittenden’s recommendation for the appropriation of $3,000 and to refer the matter to the Finance Committee for inclusion in the budget, and to authorize a contract with the Arkansas Municipal League to print 50 recodified copies of the Digest All voted aye. Mrs. Chittenden stated the Mayor should appoint a committee to review the antiquated ordinances. (Following the meeting the Mayor appointed City Clerk, Ouida Puryear, City Attorney Jim Burton, Chief Fred Rorex, Chief Ed Cunningham, Building Inspector Joe Tomlinson, and Director of Public Works Jeff Gibson to the committee. The members will select a chairman at first committee meeting). Mr. Culpepper noted the fine work done by the League on this project.
Robin Nix, Chairman of the By-Ward Election Committee presented a report stating that the committee was unanimous in recommending that the current method of electing aldermen at large remain unchanged whereby aldermen must reside in the ward they represent, but be voted upon by all electors. He stated that aldermen should be accountable to all citizens of Jonesboro and not just 1/6th of the city. He added that he personally had favored one alderman elected at large and one by ward from each ward, but after several months of consideration and research of the matter had changed his mind. He further stated that the question of by ward elections not providing minorities a voice on the council is invalid since a current alderman represents a minority and was elected from a mostly white ward. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Nix requested a roll call vote regarding the issue. Mr. Shelton moved, seconded by Mr. Sanderson to accept the committee recommendation retaining the present method of electing aldermen at large. All voted aye.
Mr. Shelton offered a resolution approving application for low-rent public housing,
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JONESBORO, ARKANSAS, APPROVING APPLICATION FOR LOW-RENT PUBLIC HOUSING, JONESBORO, ARKANSAS
Mr. Shelton moved, seconded by Mr. Hannah to adopt the resolution. All voted aye. The resolution was given the number 1986:22.
Mr. Shelton offered a resolution approving application to the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development for rental rehab grant and deleting house trailers from the rental rehab program.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JONESBORO, ARKANSAS, AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR A RENTAL REHABILITATION GRANT
Roger Watkins addressed the council regarding the section of the resolution regarding the exclusion of house trailers in the resolution. After much discussion, Mr. Hannah offered an amendment to the resolution. After much discussion, Mr. Hannah offered an amendment to the resolution deleting the part of the resolution that deletes house trailers from the rental rehab program. Dr. Strauser seconded the motion. All voted aye. Mr. Hannah then moved, seconded by Mr. Culpepper to adopt the resolution as amended. All voted aye. Mr. Hannah asked Jim McKinnon for a copy of the rules and regulations regarding the rental rehab program. The resolution was given the number 1986:23.
Mr. Nix moved, seconded by Mr. Evans to accept the Mayor’s recommendation for the appointment of Keith Blackman to the Civil Service Commission with his term to expire 4/1/91. All voted aye.
Mr. Hannah moved, seconded by Mr. Nix to accept the appointment of Myra Buhrmester to the Park and Recreation Committee with her term to expire in 1/87. All voted aye.
Mr. Hannah moved, seconded by Dr. Strauser to approve the request of a leave of absence from Joe Tomlinson from September 8, 1986, until November 5, 1986. All voted aye.
Mr. Bridger stated that the proposed street improvements were distributed to the aldermen and asked them to review the revisions and the matter would be reviewed at the next meeting.
Mr. Hannah asked Jeff Gibson and Asst. Chief Cook to research the bridge railing at the intersection of W. Nettleton and Broadmoor. He also stated that since the city lost a lawsuit pertaining to overtime payment to uniformed policemen, the figures were being assembled and the matter of other police officers deserving overtime pay is being researched.
Mr. Sanderson asked that attention be given to municipal property that is overgrown with weeds and grass and to pursue the cleaning up of other individual’s property also. He asked that alley closings be researched. The Mayor announced that the City Attorney was researching the matter.
The following bids were up for review:
86:23 - Sanitation - Trucks - Mr. Sanderson moved, seconded by Mr. Hannah to accept the low bid meeting specs. All voted aye.
86:24 - Packer Repair - Mr. Shelton moved, seconded by Mr. Hannah to accept low bid meeting specs. All voted aye.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned.