September 7, 1967X228
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS,
_ HF.i.TI AT THF. CTTV HAT.T TN SATD .TTY ON Tj~ 7TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 19E7
The City Council of the City of West Memphis, Arkansas, met in regular session at its
regular meeting place in Weat Memphis, Arkansas, at 3:00 o'clock P.M. on the 7th day of
September, 1967. The following xere present: Mayor Hob Eden, presiding, and Aldermen:
0. C. Haley, Kirby Leggett, C. T. Rodgers, R. L. Smith, F. C. Weis, and City Attorney
W. H. Dillahunty.
Absent: Aldermen: Pritchard Horton, Paul Matthews, and 0. I. Bollinger.
It being determined a quorum was present, the following proceedings were had to-wit:
Minutes of Council Meeting on August 17, X7,967, were approved as read.
Alderman Horton made a delayed appearance.
Mayor Eden informed the Council of the increased number of inquiries he had received as
to Southwest Chemical Corporation's proposed plant, and that he had no information from the
Corporation. The Mayor stated if the Corporation is on a sound basis it would be an asset to
the City and surrounding territory, however, due to the delays it had become an embarrassing
matter to the City and the matter was being presented to the Council for discussion as to
official action. Upon request of the Mayor, City Attorney Dillahunty presented a resume of
the City's passage of an ordinance on January 5, 1967, authorizing the voting on the bond
issue, and the February 1lith Election on the Act 9 Bond Issue. Also, stated a photostatic
cepy of an agreement between the City and another industry had been presented, neither a
lease nor trust indenture prepared by the Bond Attorney had been received. After lengthy
discussion as to the inquiries, newspaper articles, deterent to industrial growth of the city,
and other matters pertaining to Southwest Chemical Corporation, motion was made by Alderman Rodgers:
That the City Attorney be directed to prepare a resolution in line with matters discussed for
Southwest Chemical Corporation tp present within 90 days plans showing juatif ied progress to
the Council, and the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized to execute said resolution. The motion
was seconded by Alderman Haley. Upon vote, the voting was as follows:
Aye: Aldermen: Haley, Leggett, Rodgers, Smith, Weis, and Horton.
Nay: None.
Mayor Eden presented to the Council long range program for the improvement of Ingram
Boulevard, a major thoroughfare in the City, as follows:
Removal of existing culvert at 10 Mile Bayou, and installing 130 feet of 108" 12 gauge pipe as
recommended and guaranteed by Choctaw, Inc.;
the cost of the pipe would be approximately $8,772.92, which would be sold to the City at the
price paid by contractors and the State, and the total cost would be a fraction of the coat of
construction of a bridge;
the City employs°.an engineer to prepare plans and specifications for removing the center strip
in order to allow ample parking on both sides of Ingram Blvd. from Broadway to Interstate 55
Interchange as the Arkansas Highway Department plans to add a 5th lane at the intersection of
Broadway and Ingram to eliminate the traffic congestion caused by east bound traffic turning left
at Ingram;
immediate filing of application for an Urban Development Program for matching funds due to length
of time for processing application;
due to the necesai~~- of installing the pipe and backfill prior to winter weather that the bid
notice be waived inasmuch as Choctaw, Inc. is the only fabricator of sufficient size pipe in the
Memphis area.
After discussion, motion was made by Alderman Weis: That the Mayor be authorized to proceed with
plans as outlined to employ an engineer, file application for Urban Development, and bid notice
be waived and pipe purchased from Choctaw, Inc. The motion was seconded by Alderman Leggett. Upon
vote, the voting was as follows:
Aye: Aldermen: Haley, Leggett, Rodgers, Smith, Weis, and Horton.
Nay: None.
A rezoning ordinance read the first time on August 3rd and the second time on August 17th
was read the third time. Motion was made by Alderman Smith: That the third reading of the
ordinance be approved and the ordinance adopted as presented. The motion was seconded by
Alderman Horton. Upon vote, the voting was as follows:
Aye: Aldermen: Haley, Leggett, Rodgers, Smith, Weis, and Horton.
Nay: None.
The Mayor thereupon declared the ordinance adopted and signed the ordinance, which was
attested by the City Clerk and impressed with the seal of the City. The ordinance was given
No. 539. The ordinance read as follows:
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ORDINANCE N0. 539
AN ORDINANCE TO REZONE TRACT 50 FEET BY 275 FEET IN NW~ SE4, SECTION 1, TOWNSHIP 6 NORTH,
RANGE 8 EAST, IN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS -
WHEREAS, Guaranty Loan and Real Estate Comparlp has petitioned the Planning Commission
to re-zone certain property hereinafter described; and
WHEREAS, notice was duly published on July 13, 1967, as provided by law, of a hearing
to be held before the 4Jest Piemphis Citj~•Planning Commission at 5:00 p.m. on August 2, 1967,
for the purpose of hearing any interested parties in connection with the re-zoning of said
lands; and
WHEREAS, at said meeting on August 2, 1967, said petition was considered by the
Planning Commission and no persons appearing to protest the same, the Planning Commission
recommended to the City Council that said petition be granted: NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS:
SECTION I:
(a) That the following described property, to wit:
That part of the NW4 SE4i Section 1, Township 6 North,
Range 8 East, described as follows: Beginning at the
southwest corner of said NW4 SE4, run thence east 50
feet to the west line of Avalon Street in the city of
West Memphis, Arkansas; thence north along the west line
of Avalon Street 275 feet; thence west 50 feet to the
west line of the NW4 SE4; thence south 275 feet to the
point of beginning,
be and the same is hereby re-zoned C-4, Central Commercial District.
SECTION II: That this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its final
passage and publication as provided by law.
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Mayor Eden anncunced the annual tax resolution had been prepared for consideration of
the Council. The resolution read as follows:
RESOLUTION N0. 316
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS:
That a tax of five (5) mills upon the dollar for general purposes, five (5) mills upon the
dollar for debt service, and one (1) mill upon the dollar for public city library upon the
assessed value of all real and personal property within the limits of the City of West Memphis,
Arkansas, be and the same is hereby levied, and the City Clerk is hereby directed to deliver a
certified copy of this Resolution to the Clerk of the County Court of Crittenden County for the
tax books for the year 1967.
After discussion, motion was made by Alderman Haley: That the Resolution be adopted as
presented. The motion was seconded by Alderman Weis. .Upon vote, the voting was as follows:
Aye: Aldermen: Haley, Leggett, Rodgers, Smith, Weis, and Horton.
Nay: None.
The Council was informed the State of Arkansas and Southland Facing Corporation have
waived their portion of the 'breakage' in parimutel wagering for the Clarity Day Races, and
request had been made that the City waive its portion. After discussion, it was concensus
of opinion that the City waive ith portion of the 'breakage' for the two Charity Days.
It was brought to the Councils attention an employee of the Utility Commission has an
advanced case of tuberculosis, therefore, other employees of the Utility Commission, who had
been *aorking with the man, have had to take tuberculosis tests. Also, as physical examinat~bns
have not been required for employees of the Fire and Police Departments consideration should be
given as to requiring physical examinations after approval of the applicant prior to commencing
work, and an annual physical for a contagious disease or a condition that would prevent a person
from doing his normal duties. After discussion, motion was made by Alderman Smith: That all
employees of the Fire and Police Departments be given a free physical examination annually. The
motion was seconded by Alderman Leggett. Upon vote, the voting was as follows:
Aye: Aldermen: Haley, Leggett, Rodgers, Smith, Weis, and Horton.
Nay: None.
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Mayor Eden announced he had been notified the Federal Aviation administrator will.
approve a $i~7,535 allocation for construction of needed improvements for the Airport,
however, the Grant Acceptance Form has not been received for execution.
The'Urban Renewal Program, traffic control lights at Missouri and Graham and Missouri
and Dover Road, cleaning of drainage ditch in the N. lfath Street area, street repairs, signs
obstructing intersections, were discussed.
No further business being presented, the meeting was adjourned.
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APPROVED: SEPTEMBER 21, 19F7