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Minutes for the City Council meeting on March 15, 2005
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PUBLIC HEARING - 6:00 P.M.- A public hearing was conducted for the purpose of vacating and abandoning a seven and one half foot utility easement lying adjacent to the west side of a ten foot drainage easement which lies along the east property line of Lot 31 Block “B” of Griffin Park Phase III Subdivision. The request for a public hearing was made by Mr. Brandon Hogan. No opposition was voiced.
PUBLIC HEARING - 6:15 P.M.- A public hearing was conducted for the purpose of vacating and abandoning a ten (10) foot utility easement located along the south line of Lot 4, Abernathy Lake Estates and Re-Plat of Lots 1 and 2, Nix Lake Estates, Third Addition. The request for a public hearing was made by Ms. Kitty Ledbetter. No opposition was voiced.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - March 15, 2005
The Jonesboro City Council met Tuesday, March 15, 2005, at 6:30 p.m. A full quorum was in attendance. Present were: Mayor Doug Formon, City Clerk, Donna K. Jackson, City Attorney Phillip Crego and ten council members. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall. Councilman Perrin and Councilman Ashley were unable to attend.
Councilman McCall moved, seconded by Councilman Moore to approve the minutes of March 1, 2005, as provided. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall.
A presentation by Mr. Cody Hiland of the Arkansas Public Service Commission regarding a proposed rate increase by Center Point Energy Arkla was provided to city council members. Mr. Hiland explained Arkla has requested an increase on its distribution rates to reflect the increase cost in delivering natural gas to its customers. Opposition was voiced by several council members regarding Arkla’s customer service office being closed and as well as increases to the gas rates. Councilwoman Furr explained while she can afford to switch to electric, those on fixed incomes cannot. Mr. Hiland explained the commission takes in account public opinion as part of its rate evaluation, and stated many quorum courts and city council’s pass resolutions in support or opposition to a rate proposal. He provided his office number (501) 682-5797.
City Attorney Crego gave the monthly legal report pointing out set trial dates for HAML and the Willett property. He also reported further extensions were being requested for the ADA lawsuit. Lastly, Attorney Crego stated the Supreme Court had denied a request for further review of the Bingham case, and information had been provided to the Finance Department for payment.
The following ordinance was on second reading:
ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 2035 REQUIRING RIGID OUTSIDE CONTAINERS MADE OF CONCRETE, METAL OR FIBERGLASS FOR ALL BURIALS IN THE CITY OF JONESBORO
At the recommendation of the Public Services Committee, Councilman McCall moved, seconded by Councilwoman Furr to hold the third reading for the April 5th agenda. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall.
Councilman Dover offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE TO VACATE AND ABANDON A TEN (10) FOOT UTILITY EASEMENT LOCATED ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF LOT 4, ABERNATHY LAKE ESTATES AND RE-PLAT OF LOTS 1 AND 2, NIX LAKE ESTATES, THIRD ADDITION, (Kitty Ledbetter)
Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman McCall to suspend with the second and third readings. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall. Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Johnson for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall. The ordinance was assigned ordinance number 3525.
Councilman Dover offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE TO VACATE AND ABANDON A SEVEN AND ONE HALF FOOT UTILITY EASEMENT LYING ADJACENT TO THE WEST SIDE OF A TEN FOOT DRAINAGE EASEMENT WHICH LIES ALONG THE EAST PROPERTY LINE OF LOT 31 BLOCK “B” OF GRIFFIN PARK PHASE III SUBDIVISION (Brandon Hogan)
Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Hargis to suspend with the second and third readings. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall. Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Dover for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall. Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Street for the adoption of the emergency clause. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall. The ordinance was assigned ordinance number 3526.
Councilwoman Furr offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE REQUIRING ELECTRONIC RECORDING BY OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF PAWNSHOPS AND PAWNBROKERS DOING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF JONESBORO; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Councilman Hargis stated he had been contacted by an anonymous broker who had complained of the cost his business would encounter due to this ordinance. Councilwoman Furr asked if the individual was present at the meeting so they could address his objections. The individual was not present, but Mr. Dale Barber, owner of United Pawnbrokers voiced objection to the wording of the emergency clause. The emergency clause stated the ordinance was necessary in order to assure that stolen items may be retrieved. Mr. Barber objected to the implication that pawnbrokers deal in stolen goods. Councilman Farmer explained that the wording was necessary to define the emergency of the ordinance, and not intended as part of the enactment clause of the ordinance. Councilwoman Furr explained there would be no cost to the pawnbrokers, however Mr. Alan Young, of Information Systems stated while there is no cost to submit to the internet connection, they must have the software package that could cost up to $10,000.00. Several members of the Public Safety Committee and Police Department were unaware of the cost and questioned why this information was not brought to their attention earlier. Councilwoman Furr asked the ordinance be held for the second reading until the matter could be researched further.
Councilman Street offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE TO REZONE PROPERTY FROM RESIDENTIAL (R-2) TO COMMERCIAL (C-5), LOCATED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE STREET BETWEEN MATTHEWS AVENUE AND STALLINGS LANE (Herb Stallings)
Councilman Farmer moved, seconded by Councilman McCall to suspend the rules for the second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall.
Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Street for the adoption of a resolution increasing the tipping fees for non-hazardous, bulky, inert, non-putrescrible solid waste. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall. The resolution was assigned resolution number 2005:29.
Under new business, Councilman Farmer reported the Finance Committee had rescheduled its March meeting to the 24th at 4:00 p.m. He also informed city council members that Attorney Crego was reviewing the Landfill agreement and hopefully it would be ready for the April 5th agenda.
With no further business, Councilman Johnson moved, seconded by Councilman Street for adjournment. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Farmer, Province, Hargis, Moore, Williams, Street, Johnson, Dover, Furr, and McCall.