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Minutes from the City Council meeting on November 17, 1997
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PUBLIC HEARING - 6:00 P. M. - A public hearing was held regarding taxable Act 9 Industrial Revenue Bonds for Frito-Lay, Inc. No opposition was voiced.
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - November 17, 1997
The Jonesboro City Council met Monday, November 17, 1997, at 6:30 p.m. A full quorum was in attendance. Present were: Mayor Brodell, City Clerk, Donna K. Jackson, City Attorney, Phillip Crego and 12 council members. Those members were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy.
The minutes of November 3, 1997, were approved as delivered, by Councilman Roddy seconded by Councilman Bowers. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy.
Mayor Brodell read the next order of business, a request by Municipal Judge Pam Honeycutt to address Council regarding the Municipal Court Clerk’s Office Budget for 1998. Judge Honeycutt explained she could not meet with each member individually because they are the only department required to have budget approval by both City Council and Quorum Court. She expressed a need for five additional employees, stating the present duties being performed in the Court Clerk’s Office. It was explained the Court Clerk’s Office handles all misdemeanors for approximately ten (10) different cities; responsible for working with all police departments, sheriff’s offices, and State & Highway Police; handles all civil cases with the jurisdiction level of $5,000.00 or less. Judge Honeycutt explained the jurisdiction level was increased from $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 by Arkansas State Legislation in August of 1997, and predicted the increase to double in 1998.
Judge Honeycutt continued, by saying Municipal Court is the highest revenue producer for the City of Jonesboro except for taxes. She explained six (6) dockets are called per week, with five (5) of the dockets being criminal, and one (1) being civil and small claims. As a result of these cases being heard, the money collected as of October 31, 1997, was $1,974, 448.54, of which $1,014,283.70 was turned over to the City of Jonesboro. The $1,014,283.70 is divided between the State (for Court Costs), Police Departments, State Police, and County. Judge Honeycutt stated the increase in the collection of fines ($3,414.00 per day) alone was justification for additional personnel. It was explained at the present time, one (1) person is receipting in approximately $2,000,000.00.
Judge Honeycutt explained in the past, no records have been kept on jail credit and reported on how her staff is trying to get this job done. When an individual cannot pay his or her fine, jail credit is given at a rate of $10.00 to $40.00 per day against their debt. In some cases persons have been arrested when in fact they had paid their debt in jail credit, but no record was available. She explained this could cause law suits for the city, and that is why she is requesting additional personnel to enter jail credit, plus reopen the drive up window for the collection of fines. She described how tickets are processed (33,000 issued this year). It was reported that since she had taken office, a three year back log of tickets which had not been sent to the State of Arkansas was discovered. She explained it was important to do this in order to expose DWI offenders. Judge Honeycutt also reported that the office receives 365 telephone calls a day, according to a poll taken by her staff.
In summary, the reasons given for additional help were: 1) Increase in work load because of Legislation. 2) Receipting in $3,414.00 more per day than last year. 3) Need a secretary responsible for payroll, typing, supplies, scheduling, and telephone calls. 4) Increase in crime rate, amount of tickets being written, and in the number of new police officers. 5) The single largest revenue, but for taxes.
Councilman Rega offered the following ordinance for the first reading:
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT REVENUE BONDS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING PERMANENT FINANCING FOR INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES ( Frito-Lay )
Councilman Bowers moved, seconded by Councilman Pratt to suspend the rules and place on the second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Rega moved, seconded by Councilman Roddy to further suspend the rules and place on the third and final reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Young moved, seconded by Councilman Rega for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. The ordinance was given the number 3012.
Councilman Roddy offered the following ordinance for the first reading:
ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 954 KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR CHANGES IN ZONING BOUNDARIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (Carl and Patricia Hollis)
Councilman Young moved, seconded by Councilman Pratt to suspend the rules and place on the second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. It was explained by Mr. Brian Wadley of the Planning and Inspection Department that the Hollis family were bee farmers, and the property had been filed as a non-conforming use, so to continue the business it must be rezoned. Councilman Kelton moved, seconded by Councilman Fletcher to further suspend the rules and place on the third and final reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Young for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. The ordinance was given the number 3013.
Councilman Roddy offered the following ordinance for the first reading:
ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO. 954 KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR CHANGES IN ZONING BOUNDARIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES (Robin Nix, Hardrock Properties, Inc.)
Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Young to suspend the rules and place on the second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Young moved, seconded by Councilman Fletcher to further suspend the rules and place on the third and final reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Young for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. The ordinance was given the number 3014.
Councilman Roddy offered the following ordinance for the first reading:
ORDINANCE TO WAIVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL EQUIPMENT OF THE MATA DEPARTMENT
Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Rorex to suspend the rules and place on second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Davis to further suspend the rules and place on the third and final reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Young for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. The ordinance was given the number 3015.
Under new business, Councilman Kelton moved, seconded by Councilman Young for the adoption of a resolution designating the Director of Human Resources as the Americans with Disabilities contact person for any internal complaints or grievances. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy. The resolution was given the number 1997:77.
At the request of Councilman Kelton, Mr. Brian Wadley of the Planning & Inspection Department addressed Council regarding bill-board signs within Jonesboro. Mr. Wadley stated his department has received numerous complaints concerning specific advertising. Mr. Wadley reported in the past a committee was formed to regulate off premise advertising, but became over whelmed with specific details, requirements, and drafts. However, Mr. Wadley stated it was time to reconsider the regulation of bill-board signs with in Jonesboro. Based on the Planning Committee’s recommendation, Councilman Kelton moved, seconded by Councilman Tate to require a thirty (30) day moratorium on the issuance of building permits for construction of off premise advertising signs. Councilman Kelton explained the thirty (30) days would be used to set up a committee responsible for making recommendations regarding off premise bill-board signs. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy.
Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Kelton to appropriate $70,000.00 from unappropriated sales tax for sidewalk improvements in down town Jonesboro. Councilman Tate explained repairs had begun, but there was not enough money in the Street Department budget to complete the work. Councilman Tate explained some of the sidewalks were so bad they had to be replaced rather than repaired, including handicap ramps and curbs. One citizen questioned if the repairs were to fix Mayor Brodell’s personal property. Councilman Young explained these repairs were not part of the MATA program. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Young, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy.
Councilman Crockett reminded Council of a Public Hearing, November 6, 1997, at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall for the purpose of discussing block grant money for the City of Jonesboro.
Councilman Rega, Chairman (Replacing Councilman Young) of an ADHOC committee which was set up to review proposals for the issuance of the remaining $29,010,000.00 in MATA bonds, reported the Committee recommends that the bonds be issued by Nations Bank Montgomery Securities. Councilman Rega questioned the proper procedure for the Council’s consideration of this matter. Attorney, James Buttery, Bond Counsel from Little Rock responded by stating a motion would be sufficient, since a bond ordinance would be offered at the next council meeting. City Attorney, Phillip Crego explained such a motion would authorize an ordinance to be drafted as stated. Councilman Rega moved, seconded by Councilman Roddy to accept the ADHOC committees’ recommendation. A voice vote was taken resulting in all council members voting aye, with the exception of Councilman Young who abstained from voting. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy.
Councilman Young reported the 1998 budget was distributed to each council member, and a special called meeting would be held November 22, 1997, at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall, for the purpose of going through the purposed budget. Mayor Brodell requested if anyone had questions or felt they could not attend the meeting to contact himself, Larry Johnson, or Larry Flowers. Councilman Rega suggested, since this was an official meeting the budget could be voted on at that meeting. Mayor Brodell then explained to Council, that what they would be approving would be the operating budget only, and would not include Municipal Court or Airport Commission.
Councilman Fletcher moved, seconded by Councilman Rorex to make the day after Thanksgiving a paid holiday for all city departments with the exception of the Police Department, the Fire Department, and E-911. Mayor Brodell then requested Councilman Fletcher to amend his motion by permanently replacing the “Floating Birthday” with the day after Thanksgiving instead of having to address the issue year after year. Councilman Fletcher amended his motion to make the day after Thanksgiving (for 1997) a paid holiday for all city departments with the exception of the Police Department, the Fire Department, and E-911, and to permanently replace the “Floating Birthday” with the day after Thanksgiving, effective January 1, 1998. Discussion followed with Mr. Royce Leonard, Sanitation Director, questioning should the City’s landfill be opened Saturday. Mayor Brodell asked if the Solid Waste Authority would be open that day and would we be paying over time to our employees. Mr. Leonard stated we would be paying overtime. Mayor Brodell then stated to close the landfill if the Solid Waste Authority was closed. Councilman Rega questioned Mr. Michael Beeman, Director of Human Resources as to the proper procedure for replacing the “Floating Birthday” with the day after Thanksgiving. Mr. Beeman stated the issue should be addressed as presented in the City’s policy manual which was adopted by resolution. Mayor Brodell called for a voice vote resulting in all council members voting aye. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Rorex, Province, Davis, Tate, Crockett, Rega, Pratt, Fletcher, Bowers, and Roddy.
With no further business the meeting was adjourned.