04/21/2022 •
MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
April 21, 2022
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, April 21,
2022, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall 205 S. Redding, West
Memphis, Arkansas. Invocation was given by Councilor Harris, followed by the Pledge
of Allegiance led by Councilor Croom. Mayor Marco McClendon called the meeting to
order at 5:00 p.m. City Clerk, James Pulliaum called the roll.Those present were Mayor
Marco McClendon, City Attorney Michael Stephenson, City Clerk, James Pulliaum, and
Councilors: Wayne Croom, Helen Harris, James Holt. Melanie Hutchinson, Willis
Mondy, and Charles Wheeless Present by Zoom was Gheric Bruce. Absent was City
Treasurer, Charlie Suiter Jr., and Councilor Tracy Catt, Lorraine Mohammed, and David
Murray.Also present was City Finance Director,Tori Perry and Evening Times Reporter,
John Rech. Quorum being present Mayor, Marco McClendon proceeded with the
meeting.
BID OPENING: NONE
PROCLAMATION: MAYOR MCCLENDON
Mayor McClendon presented a proclamation to Ms. Randa Lipman of the Mid-
South Donor Organization for the outstanding work that they have done in the Mid-
South area and proclaimed Friday,April 22, 2022, Blue and Green Day and encouraged
all the citizens of Crittenden County Arkansas to promote the importance of becoming
an organ and tissue donor.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: RANDAM LIPMAN- MID-SOUTH TRANSPLANT
FOUNDATION
Ms. Lipman is with the Mid-South Transplant Organization; they are the Federally
recognized procurement organization. They are responsible for covering parts of
Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Their mission is to improve the quality of lives
through the process of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Their
organization goes out to educate the public about the importance of organ and tissue
donation. One person can donate up to 8 organs and enhance up to 75 individuals
through tissue donation. Ms. Lipman asked everyone to share the importance of
registering to become an organ donor with business, clinical partners, community,
and faith-based
3leaders and asked everyone in observance of April 22, 2022, to wear Blue & Green to
shine a light on our community's need for organ and tissue donors.
MUNUTES: APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF APRIL 7, 2022
Councilor Croom made the motion, seconded.by Councilor Wheeless to dispense with
the reading of the minutes of the April 7, 2022, council meeting and to approve them as
submitted. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous to approve the minutes.
OLD BUSINESS: NONE
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor McClendon asked for a motion to add the condemnation resolution to the
agenda. Councilor Harris made the motion, seconded by Councilor Mondy to
add the resolution to the agenda. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous.
Councilor Croom made the motion, seconded by Councilor Harris to suspend the rules
and to read R-1, by title only. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous.
R-1 A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING THE CONDEMNATION AND REMOVAL OF
HOUSES,; BUILDINGS AND/OR RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES CONSTITUTING A
NUISANCE WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST MEPHIS CORPORATE LIMITS.
City Attorney Stephenson read the resolution by title only. Councilor Croom made the •
motion, seconded by Councilor Wheeless to approve the resolution. Mayor McClendon
suggested that each council member drive by and look at the houses on the list ,
especially the homes in their ward. There being no further discussion. Upon voice
vote, voting was unanimous to approve. The resolution was adopted and assigned No.
2271.
0-1 AN ORDINANCE WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR REMOVAL AND
EVALUATION FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE RIDGE ROAD STORM
WATER PUMP, DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Councilor. Mondy made the motion, seconded by Councilor Hutchinson to table the
ordinance indefinitely. Upon voice vote; voting was unanimous to TABLE
INDEFINITELY.
PERMISSION REQUEST: REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE AT THE
ROBERTA JACKSON CENTER MADE BY EAST ARKANSAS AREA AGENCY ON
AGING.
Mayor McClendon said that each council member was given a copy of the request-from
East Arkansas Area Agency on Aging to have access to additional space at the Roberta
Jackson Center for them to consider and they would vote on it at the next council
meeting on May 5, 2022.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
ADVERTISING & PROMOTION; The A&P Commission met on March 16, 2022,
at 4:03 p.m. The highlights from the A&P Commission meeting are on file in the clerk's
office.
UTILITY COMMISSION:The West Memphis Utility Commission met in regular session
The first item on the agenda was approval of the March minutes. Minutes were approved
as written. The second item on the agenda was the March Safety Report. Safety Director
Brett Sims reported that there were 161 days since last recordable injury, 901days since
last lost time injury and 0 recordable injuries for the year 2022. The third item on the
agenda was Personnel Update. There were no new hires and one involuntary resignation
for the month of March. Utility currently has 11 open positions out of 79 budgeted
positions. The next item on the agenda was the Tree Trimming Bids for 2022. General
Manager Todd Pedersen recommended the lowest bidder ABC.Tree Service in the
amount of$466,544.00. The commission voted unanimously to accept the bid. The last
item on the agenda was Years of Service Recognition. General Manager Todd Pedersen
presented this. He recognized two employees and one Commissioner for their years of
service at West Memphis Utilities and presented them with a plaque. The two employees
recognized was: Michael Lamb Sr. - 30 years and Carlos Chambers - 20 years. The one
commissioner recognized was: Commissioner Loutelious Holmes - 40 years of services
on the Utility Commission Board
AIRPORT COMMISSION: The Airport Commission approved application for a State
grant for a Jet-A fuel farm rehabilitation. The estimated cost is $432,000. The State will
only pay $250,000 leaving a balance of approximately $182,000. The new beacon is on
site and will be erected today. It will not be operational for a few more days.The stripping
project will begin Monday.
CITY TREASURER/CLERKS : City Clerk, James Pulliaum gave the City
Financial Report. He said that the City Finance report was in the council members
packets, and should they have any questions they could ask Finance Director, Tori
Perry. Mayor McClendon went over the report and said that they collected$811,477.10,
from Southland which is a $400.000 increase from last year in April. City Clerk,
Pulliaum said the Sales Tax year to date this time last year is $912,000 ahead but is
down from this time last year by 10%, but it is still good, the City and County Sales tax
are up from this same time last year. The A & P for March is $234,573.84 and is up
199% from this same time last year. Mayor McClendon said they budgeted for
$400,000.00 in March finances showed they were at $498,115.02. _
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor McClendon said that on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. there would be a
Work session at the Eugene Wood Civic Center with council members to discuss ways
to improve on the bonus and salaries for First Responders and Police Department in
order to compete with surrounding cities to retain their First Responders and Police
Officers.
Mayor McClendon asked everyone to be in prayer for Council Member David Murray
and his family who recently loss his sister Ms., Barbara Murray-Reid as well as Mr.
Harvey Turner Sr. who recently passed his home going service will be Saturday, April
23, 2022, at First Missionary Baptist Church at 11:00 p.m: He asked everyone to keep
the Bohannon and Hall family in their prayers who recently loss their child , Ms.
Jamyiah Hall who was'8 years old and attended Maddox Elementary School that was
tragically killed recently by a senseless shooting . The West Memphis and Marion Fire
and Police Department came out in a show.of solidarity for the balloon release at Maddox
School to honor the life of Ms. Jamyiah Hall..
Councilor Croom announced that the Wreath across American organization would be
coming to Crittenden County on Saturday April 23, 2022, they will have an exhibit at
the Holiday Plaza Mall from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The organization lays wreaths on
the graves at veteran's cemetery for the solders that served.
Convention Visitor Bureau Director, Jim Jackson announced that starting Thursday
May 5, 2022, the Civic Center will be hosting a Blues off Broadway event from 6:00 to
9:00 pm. There will be live entertainment, cold drinks, food trucks and other activities
and invited the community to come out and listen to music and to bring their lawn
chairs. They will be having Blues off Broadway every Thursday in May.
City Clerk Pulliaum thanked everyone that came out to the Vietnam Veteran Recognition
Program and said it was a great success.
City Attorney Stephenson said that he'needed some action from the council on a motion
made by Municipal League Lawyer, Amanda LaFever who has been handling this case
for over 3 years. It is the Greenwood verses the city. The case has been going on pre
pandemic and has been delayed due to the pandemic. Ms. Lefever's recommendation is
that the city agree to mediate the case, it has been continued until September 19, 2022,
or they can agree to mediate to settle this case before that time, it would not be binding
and if we do not settle before that date they would go to trial. It would need to be done
before .June 8, 2022, and all council members would need to be present for the
mediation for the purpose of voting on rather or not we need to settle this case.Attorney
Councilor Hutchinson made the motion, seconded by Councilor Mondy to agree to
mediation. Upon voice vote, voting was unanimous.
APPOINTMENTS: NONE
CITIZENS REQUEST:
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Harris made the
motion, seconded by Councilor Mondy to adjourn. Upon voice vote, voting was
unanimous to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this 5 day of May 2022.
MARCO MCCLENDON, MAYOR
ATTEST:
PULLIA , C ' CLERK
Minutes prepared by, Patricia Lane, Sr. Deputy City Clerk