11/15/2018 MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
November 15, 2018
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, November 15, 2018, 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; followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by VFW representative Jim
Fiveash. Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. City Clerk, Phillip Para called the roll.
Those present were: Mayor William H.Johnson, City Attorney Michael Stephenson, and Council
Members:James Holt, Wayne Croom, Melanie Hutchinson, Lorraine Robinson, James Pulliaum, Ramona
Taylor, Marco McClendon, Helen Harris and Willis Mondy. Absent were: City Treasurer, Frank Martin
and Council Member Tracy Catt. Quorum being present, Mayor Johnson proceeded with the meeting.
BID OPENINGS
SANITATION DEPARTMENT-TWO NEW TRASH TRUCKS WITH CRANE RATED GRAPPLE BID
2018 BID FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DEMOLITION BIDS
Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Taylor to refer the Sanitation
Department Two New Trash Trucks with Crane Rated Grapple bids and Community Development
Demolition Block Grant bids back to the perspective Commissions for disposition.
MINUTES
Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to dispense with the
reading of the Minutes of November 1, 2018 City Council Meeting and approve as submitted. Upon
voice vote,the voting was unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS NONE
NEW BUSINESS NONE
PERMISSION REQUEST
PERMISSION FOR MAYOR TO SIGN A LETTER OF INTENT FOR EAST ARKANSAS AREA AGENCY ON
AGING
Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to give permission for
Mayor Johnson to sign a letter of intent for East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging. Upon voice vote, the
voting was unanimous.
PERMISSION TO APPROVE THE ROBERTA JACKSON NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDING PARTITION PROPOSAL
(TABLED OCTOBER 18, 2018)
Council Member Mondy made a motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to table permission to
approve the Roberta Jackson Neighborhood Building Partition Proposal until further discussion.The
request was tabled until the next Council Meeting on December 06, 2018. (Tabled)
PERMISSION TO ADD THE ALLOCATION OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HUTCHINSON CHAIRITABLE FUNDS IN
THE AMOUNT OF$527.16 TO BE PAID TO THE DOCETTES SOCIETY TO THE AGENDA.
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Council Member Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Council Member McClendon to add the
allocations of Council Member Hutchinson Charitable funds in the amount of$527.16 to the agenda.
Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
Council Member Croom made a motion, seconded by Council Member Taylor to allocate the amount of
$521.16 dollars to be paid to the Docettes Society, on behalf of Council Member Melanie Hutchinson.
Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
UTILITY COMMISSION: Council Member Croom reported that the West Memphis Utility
Commission met on Thursday November 8, 2018. Safety Director, Brett Sims reported there was a total
of 52 days since last recordable injury, 5 recordable injuries for the year and 394 days without a lost
time accident for the month of September. Utility currently has 20 open positions.There was a bid for
(1) 2000 KVA, 3 Phase Pad Mount Transformer that was presented to the Commission for approval.The
2017 Audit report was presented by Financial Director Frank Martin and Cynthia Robb, CPA with
Jackson, Howell and Associates passed unanimously.Todd Pederson, Utility General Manager,
presented the 2019 Budget.The Commission voted to approve the budget.
PUBLIC WORKS: Council Member Taylor presented the Public Works report.The Public Works
Committee met on November 7, 2018 at 12:00 p.m.There was 12,660 pounds of a-waste picked up in
the month of October.The City Engineers department reported that the street overlay is still ongoing;
there are a few streets that still need to be completed once the weather allows.The Hino Bridge new
deck has been placed. The dowel holes have been drilled, key ways and dowels grouted, frame work on
sides complete. The rebar is being prepped to pour for the slab, weather permitting. The Redding Street
Bridge beams were cast and are curing. The school will be kept updated on the closing dates.The Lehr
Street Bridge and South Loop Extension are still at ARDOT for Environmental Review. The Public Works
Committee did discuss the salary reviews according to the surveys received. The Committee is going to
come back with recommendations and is working with The City Attorney, regarding the City Engineer
Public Works Director Position and might want to change some language on the proposal. Council
Member Taylor said there would be a Public Works meeting after the Council Meeting.
AIRPORT COMMISSION: Council Member Robinson presented the Airport Commission report.
The Airport Commission met on November 15, 2018.The preliminary budget for 2019 was approved.
The Commission approved Kermit Buck and Son to repair all of the taxi way expansion joints.Two bids
for replacing the security camera system were received. The Commission asked that each bidder come
and make a presentation before the December meeting. Santa will be coming to the Airport on Sunday
December 9, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.
INSURANCE COMMITTEE: Council Member Taylor presented the Insurance Committee report.The
Insurance Committee also met with full Council earlier in the day and the recommendation was to
accept the bid of Aetna Insurance to continue to provide Health Insurance, with a proposal of$539.47
for single coverage and $1,457.53 for family coverage. Council Member Taylor made a motion, seconded
by Council Member McClendon to accept the Aetna proposal. Discussion followed: Upon voice vote, the
voting was unanimous.The Insurance Committee also recommended approving the Delta Dental
Insurance Plan to provide dental coverage. Single coverage will increase to $19.12 and family coverage
will increase to 67.94. Council Member Taylor made a motion, seconded by Council Member McClendon
to approve Delta Dental to provide dental coverage. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to
approve. Council Member Taylor made a motion, seconded by Council Member McClendon to approve
Blue Cross Blue Shield to provide Vision coverage. The local In Network providers would be Dr. C.F.
Hyman, Dr.Julie Faulkner, Dr. Martin Faulkner, Dr.Julie Caldwell, Walmart, Dr. Oscar Ramos and
Southern College of Optometry.The single coverage would be$9.00 and the family coverage would be
$35.33.Upon voice vote,the voting was unanimous.
FIRE COMMISSION: Council Member Hutchinson presented the Fire Commission report. The Fire
Commission met on November 13, 2018 There were no dismissals, no suspensions, two hires, one
promotion to driver and no citizen complaints. The bi-racial committee did not meet, but is scheduled to
meet on December 4-2018. EMS collections year to date as of November 13, 2018 was$194,255.29.
APPOINTMENTS NONE
CITIZEN REQUEST NONE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Council Member McClendon asked that everyone keep Human Resource Director, Mrs.Janice Coleman
and Sanitation Superintendent, Leroy Turner in their prayers
Council Member Croom announced that the City of West Memphis was recognized at the last Council
Meeting on November 1, 2018 as a Purple Heart Trail City and is now considered a Purple Heart County
as well. The trail goes from George Washington grave to the 140 corridors.
Council Member Taylor announced that the Christmas Tree Lighting will be on Tuesday November 20,
2018 at 6:00 p.m.at Worthington Park.
Council Member Robinson announced the Keep Arkansas Beautiful cleanup has been rescheduled for
November 17, 2018 from 9:00 am to 12:00 p.m.
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Council Member Pulliaum moved, seconded
by Council Member Taylor to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting
adjourned at 2:OOp.m.
PASSED and Approved this 6th day of December 2018,
WILLIAM JOHNSON, MAYOR
ATTEST
PHILL PARA, CITYCLERK
Minutes Prepared by: Patricia Lane,Jr. Deputy City Clerk