September 21, 1970~~~
FIINUTES OF A SP1;Clr'd. r1t,F.TIiVG OF THe CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF t~iI:ST r1ErfPHIS, AI:Kfu~SAS,
- HFLll Url THE 215'T IYsY OF 5 PTEr1BLR, 19 70.
Tile City Council of the City of West rlemphis, Arkansas, met in special sessio^ at its
regular meeting place in ?vest I•femphis, Arkansas, at 2:00 P.rl. on the 21st day of
September, 1976. The following Caere present: rlayor 'Tilden Kodgers, presiding, and
Aldermen: F:. L. 5.-math, I'. C. ?leis, K. 'I'. Bentley, 1:. C. Bowie, H. K. Dabbs,
Pritchard Horton, C. ;). Hutcherson, and 13. L, riallott; and City :attorney =:. LJallin.
P,bsent: None.
'The following proceedinfs were 1xac1 to-wit:
rlayor dodgers announced the. ordinance entitled "An Ordinance 'To Provide For T'he election
Of Aldermen By Wards According To Act 45 Uf The 1969 Acts Of Arkansas; And Por Other
Purposes" would be read the thirri time. City Attorney "s-;allin read the ordinance.
Alderman rfa].lotC, seconded by Alderman Uabbs moved that the ordinance be adopted.
rlayor !.edgers cal.l.ed far discussion.
Alderman Smith brought to the Council's attention the question of election for city wide or
ward voting on the ballett at the general election.
The gr.zestion caas put by the rlayor. on the adoption of the motion to approve the third reading
of the ordinance, and the roll. being called, the following voted:
Aye: Aldermen: Weis, Bowie, Dabbs, Horton, and riallott.
iVO: Aldermen: Smith, Bentley, and lutcherson.
The rlayor thereupon declared the ordinance adopted, the ordinance was given No. 646.
'The ordinance read as follows:
Oi:DlidtlinCE N0. 646
Ail UitDINANC.'~ TO Pl'.OVTIri; FOI, THE eLECTION OF ALDi:F1~iN BY WARDS ACCOI;DIIdG TU ACT 45 OF THE
1969 ACTS OF A1:KANSAS ; AI7D FOR OTHzuF: PURPOS55 .
rJll".R.AS, Act 45 of the 1969 Acts of Arkansas made provision for the_election of aldermen in
cit.i.es of. the first class with less than 50,000 population, and 1rovided that the city
councils in cities of this size have been empoowered to provide by ordinance that all
aldermen be elected by ward in which event, each alderman shall be voted upon by the qualified
electors of the ward from which such person is a candidate, and, when so provided by city
ordinance the name of such candidate shall appear upon the ballot only in the ward in which he
is a candidate.
WI1,°I~;rAS, Act 45 of the 1969 Acts of Arkansas provides further that all such cities choosing
to elect aldermen by ward shall provide in the manner provided by law, for the establishment
of wards of substantially equal. population.
1d11Et.L'AS, the Circuit Court of Crittenden County, Arkansas, in cause number 7742 has acted on
the petition o.f citizens and taxpayers of the City of West rlemphis pursuant to Ark. Stats.
Anno. 19-1005 anti subsequent sections and has re-apportioned the City of West rlemphis into
caards based upon equal population and assessed property valuation.
?.H'^,rrAS, the City Council of the City of ?:lest rlemphis recognizes a desire on the part of the
citizens of West rlemphis to be entitled to additional representation as ordered by the Circuit
Court of Crittenden County in cause number 7742 and the desire of the citizens of said City to
elect their aldermen by wards;
NOW, TH;FSFOt:', Ii"2 I'T UP.DAINED BY 'THL' CITY COUNCIL that according to the authority granted in
Act 45 of the 1969 Acts of Arkansas, all aldermen of the City of iJest rlemphis shall hereafter.
be elected by ward instead of running at large for election and said aldermen shall be voted
upon only by the qualified electors of the ward from which such person is a candidate
according to the authority set forth in Act 45 of the 1969 Acts of Arkansas.
**a~***~
Al dex-man'rtallott read an article from the September 20th Commercial Appeal by reporteu
Louis Knowland, and stated in his opidnn there ceere ambiguous statements in the article.
The article and background information were discussed.
Alderman riallott inquired as to any communication from l.i-II1')C as to the request for $10,000, and
the. rlayor stated he had not the next action would be up to the City Attorney.
City Treasurer Fred Owen reported to the Council on the financial condition of the city as to
mane}• drawn fraa Utility Commission, tas monies, and the budget. '
'The Council discussed bond issue .for sewer plans and utilitns for Temple Gypsum and Canners of
::astern Arkansas, construction birls, rate increase, additionali employees in sanitation department,
open forums, employees statements fcr necaspaper reports as to city financial problems, and
communications between the public, Utility Commission and Council.
PJo further business being presented, the meeting was adjourned. /~
_ L ~L.~ ~js ~ .
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,- V DIAYOR
ATT:
CITY C
AFRRUVD: OCTOBT'i: 1, 1970