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Minutes for the City Council meeting on October 20, 1986
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - OCTOBER 20, 1986
The Jonesboro City Council met at 7:30 p.m. Present were Mayor, City Clerk, City Attorney, and Aldermen Park, Stricklin, Hinson, Evans, Shelton, Hannah, Strauser, Culpepper, Mays and Nix. Aldermen Bridger and Sanderson were absent.
The minutes of October 6, 1986, were approved as mailed on motion by Mr. Culpepper, seconded by Mr. Stricklin. All voted aye.
Mr. Stricklin offered the following ordinance: (Annexation- Baldwin property, S. of 63 Bypass, on Hwy 49 S.)
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 TERRITORY TO WARD 4; ZONING SAID ANNEXED TERRITORY COMMERCIAL ( C -3); DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Mr. Shelton moved, seconded by Mr. Culpepper to suspend the rules and place on second reading. All voted aye.
Mr. Nix offered the following ordinance: (Rezoning-C. Stuck & others, Lots 9, 10, 11 in Stuck Add., on Johnson, E. of Howard, I-1 to C -3).
Mr. Hinson offered a resolution authorizing rental of nine parking spaces on a city-owned lot on the corner of the 600 block of S. Church and the 100 block of E. Jefferson for a monthly rental of $10.00 per parking space. Discussion followed. Mr. Skip Mooney presented a request from Continental Computers. He stated that he made inquiries with the City Collector and was told there was no one on a waiting list. Mr. Charles Watson and Robert Langford voiced opposition to the rental stating there is not adequate public parking downtown and it would be unfair to lease the spaces to one company. Mr. Langford added that he had been on a waiting list several years to obtain additional parking in the city-owned lot. Mr. Hannah moved, seconded by Mr. Culpepper to table the rental of said spaces until after the first of the year. All voted aye. Alderman Mays stated that he would be interested in seeing the waiting list of individuals requesting additional parking. Mr. Culpepper asked if the Downtown Improvement District Committee had been contacted by the Parking Committee chaired by Mr. Hinson, who stated he had not made a personal contact to the committee.
Mr. Mays offered the following ordinance to include an amended legal description of Ordinance #1994 to include the building on said property: (Prospect Baptist Church legal description).
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 TERRITORY TO WARD 3; ZONING SAID ANNEXED TERRITORY RESIDENTIAL (R-1); DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Mr. Hannah moved, seconded by Mr. Nix to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on second reading. All voted aye. Mr. Hannah then moved, seconded by Mr. Shelton to further suspend the rules and place the ordinance on third reading. All voted aye. Mr. Hannah then moved for the adoption of the ordinance, seconded by Mr. Mays. All voted aye. The ordinance was given #1997
The following ordinance was on third reading: (Traffic - No Parking on Belt on N. & S. sides from Drake to Bridge).
AN ORDINANCE FOR CERTAIN TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES; TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Mr. Hannah moved, seconded by Mr. Evans to adopt the ordinance. All voted aye. The ordinance was given the number 1998.
Two bids were up for review:
86:26 - Full-size Pickup - Sanitation - Landfill
86:28 - Sanitation - Landfill - Packer & Trailers
Public Works Director, Jeff Gibson asked that both bids be tabled until we have a better understanding of the direction the city is going with regard to the landfill.
Stephen Reasoner, Chairman of the Board of the Jonesboro-Craighead County Public Library introduced Phyliss Burkett, library director who presented a request for matching funds for Library Services and Construction Act Grant for an addition to the public library building. She stated that an addition is vital to the future of the library. She added that the Quorum Court has stated they will match whatever the city provides in terms of a matching Federal grant. With $40,000 from the city and $40,000 from the county, the library hopes to receive a 50-50 matching grant to fund the proposed expansion. She added that the state constitution prohibits using the one mill library tax for construction of library buildings. She also stated that the chance to secure a construction grant is a one-time opportunity. Mr. Evans moved, seconded by Dr. Strauser to accept the library proposal. Discussion followed. Mr. Hannah, Chairman of the Finance Committee voiced opposition to the proposal by enumerating the following: he regretted the timing of the Federal Grant, it places the city in a bind due to the cash flow, 55% of the sales tax money is obligated to the landfill, the city cannot afford to pledge 1987 revenues before determining if the municipality can balance its own budget, the city should first adopt a budget and consider raises for municipal employees before considering any project, the city has patched up every building and vehicle and in the near future these problems must be addressed. He added that he felt certain the Jonesboro-Craighead County Public Library would receive the grant and noted that he was not opposed to the library, but that the city faces too many unknowns to obligate $40,000 that we don’t have. Dr. Strauser, a member of the Finance Committee stated that the public library is a great asset to the City of Jonesboro and if the city can pledge money to build an FAA Flight Service Station at the municipal airport, money can be found to pay $40,000 toward a $160,000 addition to the library. Mr. Nix asked Ms. Burkett for clarification of a statement made in her presentation to the Council regarding the county not giving the library any money if the city does not. She stated he was correct, and added in a statement in the county resolution, that the county would match whatever the city matches. Mr. Park, also on the Finance Committee suggested approving the library proposal supporting the project with the understanding that if funds are not available by March 1, 1987, that the application would be withdrawn. Mr. Hannah asked for the reading of the motion.
Following clarification, Mr. Evans offered the following resolution which was then read by the City Attorney:
RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE FUNDS TO OBTAIN A GRANT FOR MAKING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE JONESBORO-CRAIGHEAD COUNTY LIBRARY
Dr. Strauser moved, seconded by Mr. Stricklin to adopt the resolution. A roll call vote was taken. All voted aye, with the exception of Mr. Hannah who voted nay. The motion passed 9-1. The Mayor stated that it was understood that if the city cannot carry this out, that they could withdraw the application. The resolution was given the number 1986:32.
Mayor Stallings recommended the allocation of $5,000 to EnviroMed to submit the closure plan for municipal landfill and the permitting of .99 of an acre. The city hopes to secure modification to the landfill permit to keep the facility open through May. Mr. Culpepper moved, seconded by Mr. Mays to approve the payment of a maximum of $5,000 to EnviroMed for said closure plan. All voted aye.
Mr. Park offered a resolution expressing appreciation to KFIN for promoting parks and recreational activities. Mr. Park then moved, seconded by Mr. Evans for its adoption. All voted aye. The resolution was given the number 1986:33
Mr. Evans announced the JHAC committee had met with the Chamber of Commerce and a study was being made for two days to be set aside following Thanksgiving for the elderly and disabled to shop.
Mr. Shelton voiced opposition to the passage of a resolution at the October 6 Council meeting regarding no smoking in the Council Chambers during Council meetings. He stated that such action would require an ordinance rather than a resolution.
Mr. Hannah offered a resolution pertaining to the recommendation of the Auditors that future records maintained by the Finance Dept. of the City of Jonesboro, pertaining to fixed assets, record only items with a value of $1,000 or more, at the time of their purchase. Mr. Hannah then moved, seconded by Mr. Shelton to adopt said resolution. All voted aye. The resolution was given the number 1986:34.
Mr. Hannah announced the Finance Committee agreed to pay the Police Dept. civilian radio operators overtime for reporting to work 15 minutes early each shift for a 3-yr. period, and legal fees of $1,628.51 of 3 officers that filed lawsuit.
Mayor Stallings stated the widening of Highland between Stadium and Browns Lane will cost the city $11,100. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Dept. were scheduled to release word orders Monday on the project to widen the roadway from 2 to 4 lanes, also adding a fifth turning lane. He praised the efforts of Dalton Farmer Highway Commissioner and Senator Jerry Bookout for keeping the city’s share of the project low.
Mrs. Leona Andrews addressed the Council regarding reducing the Sanitation rates from $9.00 to $6.00 in households in which l or 2 people reside. Mayor Stallings referred the matter to the Sanitation Committee for review.
Mr. Mays moved, seconded by Mr. Shelton to authorize Jeff Gibson, to collect the money on the Manor Heights project with funds to be placed in special (General Ledger) account. All voted aye.
The Mayor recognized Jim McKinnon who reported on the certificate of merit presented to the City of Jonesboro by the United States Housing of Urban Development in recognition of excellence in promotion and administration of the Rental Rehab program.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned.