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Minutes for the City Council meeting on September 3, 2002
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 3, 2002
The Jonesboro City Council met Monday, September 3, 2002, at 6:30 p.m. A full quorum was in attendance. Present were: Mayor Brodell, City Attorney, Phillip Crego, City Clerk, Donna K. Jackson, and ten council members. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. Councilmen Copeland and McCall were unable to attend.
Councilman Perrin moved, seconded by Councilman Moore to approve the minutes of August 19, 2002, as previously delivered. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy.
Councilman Young offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AND PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF REFUNDING REVENUE BONDS FOR ANHEUSER-BUSCH PROJECT 2002 IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,200,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCE THE REFUNDING OF THE BONDS
Councilman Rega moved, seconded by Councilman Young to suspend the rules and place on second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. Councilman Kelton moved, seconded by Councilman Perrin to further suspend the rules and place on the third and final reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. Councilman Perrin moved, seconded by Councilman Young for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. The ordinance was assigned ordinance number 3369.
Councilman Moore offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 8.28.12 OF THE JONESBORO CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR USE OF ROADBLOCKS IN SOLICITATION OF GIFTS OR CONTRIBUTIONS
Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Roddy to suspend the rules for the second and third reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. Councilman Rega moved, seconded by Councilman Moore for the adoption of the emergency clause. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. Councilman Young moved, seconded by Councilman Moore for the adoption of the ordinance. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. The ordinance was assigned ordinance number 3370.
The following ordinance was on the second reading:
ORDINANCE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND PROCEED WITH HIRING EQUIPMENT AND MANPOWER TO CLEAR, DREDGE, MOW AND /OR SHRED DRAINAGE DITCHES
Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Crockett to amend the ordinance where the specific ditches were named to read as follows,” Lowes Ditch, Christian Creek, Greenbriar Ditch, Murry Creek, Higginbottom Creek, Big Ditch, Turtle Creek and behind Jonesboro Concrete Pipe Company (Word Street West)”. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye with the exception of Councilman Young, and Councilman Moore who voted nay. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Perrin and Roddy. The motion passed. Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Roddy to suspend the rules and place on third and final reading. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye with the exception of Councilman Young, and Councilman Moore who voted nay. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Perrin and Roddy. Councilman Rega moved, seconded by Councilman Crockett for the adoption of the emergency clause. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye with the exception of Councilman Young, and Councilman Moore who voted nay. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Perrin and Roddy. Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Crockett for the adoption of the ordinance. Mr. Mike Cameron stated this was a large project and by law should be advertised with written specifications following the bidding process. He disagreed with the emergency determination of the project and blamed it on poor planning and management. He argued that an emergency has been declared too many times in the last five years, and urged Council to follow the bidding process so public funds are spent sensibly. Mr. Cameron requested he be allowed to clean out his own ditch on Christian Creek and not to replace the bridge with the culvert located at Northside Steel. He stated what happened on Race Street was what he was trying to prevent a year ago when a bridge was replaced by a culvert that contributed to the flooding. Mr. Cameron contended the waterway was decreased by half causing the flooding. Mayor Brodell responded saying if we were guaranteed there would not be another heavy rain then the ordinance would not be an emergency. Mayor Brodell disagreed with Mr. Cameron’s statements, saying the ditch south of the culvert was topped out, and just as full on the south side as anywhere else. Councilman Moore made the recommendation to take bids on the eight different ditches based on the type of equipment needed. He objected to waiving the bid negotiating the work. Mayor Brodell responded saying if the Council did not have faith in his ability to negotiate he would take all proposals to the Street Committee. Councilman Moore explained this was not an issue of the Mayor’s ability to negotiate, but rather a matter of following the proper bidding procedure. Councilman Tate responded saying time was a factor and with the fall rains beginning, we do not have twelve weeks to wait. Councilman Kelton stated the ditches were so grown up it would be difficult for a contractor to bid on the project. Mr. Joe Cosso questioned how the ditches got so grown up and who is going to be held accountable for the maintenance of the ditches. Mr. Darrell Dover questioned why the eight major ditches have not been maintained. Councilman Tate stated it was because drainage districts were dissolved causing a tax loss. Mayor Brodell explained the Corp of Engineers did a study and made recommendations that were followed by the City of Jonesboro for many of the eight ditches mentioned. Mayor Brodell stated he is in communication with Marion Berry to see what additional help can be provided since the recommended work of the Corp of Engineers has been ineffective. Mr. Alec Farmer responded to the drainage districts being dissolved, saying the drainage districts were dissolved because people were being taxed without notification and the repeated cancellation of meetings. Mr. Farmer stated in 1992 he wrote a letter to Mayor Brodell recommending a citywide drainage district, and offering his services to get it started. Mr. Farmer contended the City of Jonesboro has a $50,000,000,000 Street Plan as well as $5,000,000,000 designated for streets and drainage so money is no excuse for the drainage problems. Mr. Farmer stated there needed to be more planning and less reacting to several areas in city government. Mayor Brodell responded saying if Mr. Farmer wanted the drainage district to continue he should have transferred it to the City of Jonesboro. Mr. Farmer explained he was not a commissioner of the drainage district with no oversight of the funds. Mr. Jerry Larkin urged the Council to get started on the ditch work and expand their scope further than the just the eight ditches. Councilman Young read the laws pertaining to competitive bidding and stated in his opinion it would have been feasible and practicable to have taken bids. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye with the exception of Councilman Young, and Councilman Moore who voted nay. Those members voting aye were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Perrin and Roddy. The ordinance was assigned ordinance number 3371.
Councilman Kelton moved, seconded by Councilman Young for the adoption of a resolution to execute the following contracts and agreements for Mata Rights of Way: Jonesboro Real Estate Holdings - Vacant Lot - Parcel 9B, and 1300 E. Matthews - Parcel 10B. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. The resolution was assigned Resolution Number 2002:39.
Under new business, Assistant Fire Chief Butch Herring addressed the Jonesboro City Council stating he had acquired an $88,550.00 (70/30) matching grant from FEMA for a tanker-pumper truck.
Councilman Tate offered the following ordinance for first reading:
ORDINANCE TO WAIVE COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND AUTHORIZE PURCHASE OF A BMF 260 BIRDEYE STUMP AND BRUSH CUTTER
Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Moore to suspend the rules and place on second reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. Councilman Moore moved, seconded by Councilman Perrin to further suspend the rules and place on third and final reading. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Roddy for the adoption of the ordinance. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. Councilman Tate moved, seconded by Councilman Crockett for the adoption of the emergency clause. A roll call vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy. The ordinance was assigned ordinance number 3372.
Councilman Rega reported that the Personnel Committee met to reconsider the short and long term disability insurance bids. He stated in implementing the program there were some variances to consider for the protection of the employees with a 14/14 plan with a three month benefit on the short term disability which changed the rates. Councilman Rega stated the Personnel Committee recommended reaffirming the selection of Town and Country Insurance for short and long term disability. Councilman Young moved, seconded by Councilman Moore to reaffirm the Town and Country bid. A voice vote was taken resulting in all members voting aye. Those members were: Kelton, Tate, Rorex, Crockett, Rega, Province, Moore, Young, Perrin, and Roddy.
The Jonesboro City Council showed their appreciation to Mr. Aaron Sadler, a Jonesboro Sun reporter for the work he had done for the City of Jonesboro. Mr. Sadler was transferring to a new a job in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Jonesboro City Council wished him well.
Councilman Young moved, seconded by Councilman Roddy to approve the low bid meeting bid specifications which was Cooper Construction Company, Inc. for $244,500.00 for the construction of the E. Boone Watson Center. Five bids were taken from Big M, Cooper, Frank A. Rogers, KMC General Contractors, and Olympus Construction.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.