08/17/2017 MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
August 17, 2017
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, August 17, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. in the
City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas.
Invocation was given by John Rech. Phillip Para, City Clerk, called the roll. Those present were: Mayor
William H. Johnson, City Clerk Phillip Para, City Treasurer Frank Martin and Councilpersons: Tracy Catt, James
Pulliaum, Ramona Taylor, Helen Harris, Marco McClendon, Willis Mondy, James Holt, and Wayne Croom.
Absent: Councilperson Lorraine Robinson, Melanie Hutchinson and City Attorney David Peeples. Quorum
being present, Mayor Johnson proceeded with the meeting.
BID OPENINGS
Bids for West Memphis Utilities—(1) 2000 KVA 3 Phase Padmount Transformer were opened at 1:00 pm and
copies of the bid tabulation were given to the City Council. Councilperson Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by
Councilperson Taylor to accept the bids and refer them to the Utility Commission for disposition. Upon voice
vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. (Copy attached)
MINUTES
Councilperson Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Pulliaum to dispense with the reading of the
Minutes of August 3, 2017 City Council Meeting, and approve them as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
Councilperson Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Taylor to table the proposal from the West
Memphis School System regarding the purchase of some school property indefinitely. Upon voice vote, the
voting was unanimous.
Councilperson Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Taylor to suspend the rules and read the title
only of R-1 through R4. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve.
R-1 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF
WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, AND LOIS E. CARTER, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND THE CITY
CLERK TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS.
City Clerk Phillip Para read the Resolution. Councilperson Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Councilperson
Croom to approve the Resolution. Mike Stevenson, Attorney for the Library Board explained that R-1 through
R-4 all refer to the purchase of four pieces of property the city wants to acquire to build a new library. Upon voice
vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. The Resolution was adopted and assigned No. 2138.
R-2 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF
WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, AND G.W. AND CARYL SORRELLS, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND
THE CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS.
City Clerk Phillip Para read the Resolution. Councilperson Croom made a motion, seconded by Councilperson
Taylor to approve the Resolution. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. The Resolution was
adopted and assigned No. 2139.
R-3 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF
WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, AND VERNON TURK, dba TURK PROPERTIES, AND AUTHORIZING THE
MAYOR AND THE CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WEST
MEMPHIS.
City Clerk Phillip Para read the Resolution. Councilperson Croom made a motion, seconded by Councilperson
McClendon to approve the Resolution. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. The Resolution
was adopted and assigned No. 2140.
R-1 A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF
WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS, AND LOIS E. CARTER, AND HARVEY CARTER JR, AND AUTHORIZING
THE MAYOR AND THE CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WEST
MEMPHIS.
City Clerk Phillip Para read the Resolution. Councilperson Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Councilperson
Taylor to approve the Resolution. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted
and assigned No. 2141.
PERMISSION REQUESTS
Councilperson McClendon made a motion, seconded by Councilperson Harris to approve the disbursement of
Southland Disaster Relief Funds in the amount of$15,432.60 divided 50/50 between the Good Neighbor Center
and the Northside Redevelopment. Upon roll call vote, the voting was:
AYES: Pulliaum, Taylor, Harris, McClendon, Mondy
NOES: Catt, Holt Croom
Mayor Johnson voted yes with the majority to pass the motion. The motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Utility Commission —Councilperson Croom reported they met on July 131h and discussed new safety measures
that are now in place, the power supply, and Todd Pedersen, General Manager reported that the 2015 write-offs
were $359,546.17, which was down 50% from the year before.
Advertising & Promotion Committee—Councilperson Taylor reported they met Wednesday and reviewed the low
bid for renovations to the Auditorium from Frank A. Rogers. They are currently negotiating with him to reduce the
price and the design of the project. They heard a report from the Bike Share Program and the possibility of buying
into the program that would provide payment kiosks and ten racks with bicycles for visitors to use to ride any of
the trails and the Big River Crossing. They voted to change their meeting date to the third Thursday of each
month at 4:00 pm. The Civic Center will be hosting with Bass Pro Shop portions of the Bill Dance World
Championship Catfish Contest Captain's Meeting on September 151h. The Civic Center had 13 events with 1021
visitors.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilperson Taylor announced there will be an "almost total eclipse party" Monday, August 21St from 1:00-2:00
pm. At the library on Avalon.
Councilperson Taylor announced Main Street Taste of the Town will be held Tuesday, August 22nd is at Southland
from 6:00—9:OOpm. Tickets are$30.00.
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilperson Pulliaum made a motion, second by
Councilperson Mondy to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at
1:50 pm.
PASSED and APPROVED this 7th day of, September, 2017.
G4._ Gl
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON6MAYOR
ATTEST:
PHIL ARA, CITY CLERK
Minutes prepared by: Cindy Greenwood, Sr. Deputy City Clerk
WEST MEMPHIS UTILITY COMMISSION
P O Box 1868 604 East Cooper
West Memphis, AR 72303
]EI Phone (870) 732-7509 Fax (870) 732-7621
8/17/2017 (1) 2000 KVA 3 PHASE PADMOUNT TRANSFORMER
ARK ELECTRIC $26,296.00 ERMCO 10 WKS
ANIXTER $24,907.00 CG POWER 12 WKS
BORDER STATES ELECTRIC $29,490.00 GE 16-18 WKS
STUART IRBY CO. $24,731.00 CG POWER 10-12 WKS
TECHLINE INC. $27,000.00 ABB 14-16 WKS
WESCO $39,849.00 HOWARD 11 WKS