01/19/2023 MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
January 19, 2023.
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City council was held on Thursday,
January 19, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205
S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas.
Invocation was given by Reverend Anthony King of Faith International Church,
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mr. Willie Harris, Mayor Marco
McClendon called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. City Clerk, Patricia Joplin,
called the roll. Those present were Mayor Marco McClendon, City Attorney
Michael Stephenson, and Council Members: Gheric Bruce, Tracy Catt, Wayne
Croom, James Holt, Melanie Hutchinson, Lorraine Mohammed, Willis Mondy,
David Murray. Absent were City Treasurer Charlie Suiter Jr, City Council
Members Helen Harris, and Charles Wheeless. Also present was Evening Times
Report David Wilburn Quorum being present Mayor McClendon proceeded with
the meeting.
BID OPENINGS: NONE
MINUTES: APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF JANUARY 5, 2023,
AND SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF JANUARY 10, 2023.
Council Member Catt made the motion, seconded by Council Member Croom to
dispense with the reading of the minutes of January 5, 2023, Council Meeting
and Special Called Meeting minutes of January 10, 2023, and to approve them
as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve.
OLD BUSINESS: NONE
NEW BUSINESS:
Councilor Mohammed made the motion, seconded by Councilor Holt to read 0-
1, by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
0-1 AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH FEES FOR PERMITS AND
INSPECTIONS AT RESIDENTIAL RATES AND COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL RATES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF WEST MEMPHIS,
ARKANSAS
City Attorney Stephenson read the Ordinance by title only for the FIRST time.
The ordinance will be placed on the February 2, 2023, agenda for its second
reading.
PERMISSION REQUEST: NONE
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
ADVERTISING & PROMOTION: Councilor David Murray presented the A 85
P report The A 8s P Committee met on January 18, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. at the
Eugene Wood Civic Center. CVB Director presented the Financial Report. Mr.
Jackson!noted that the collections for 2022 are up 47% from the prior year, the
total collected was $2,941,696.09. ADA Compliance Audit: Mr. Jackson said
that bids for the project will open on February 6, 2023. West Memphis Festival:
Mr. Howard Stovall with Resource Entertainment introduced himself and
presented ideas for a possible West Memphis Festival for the near future. Mr.
Jackson showed Mr. Stovall the property at the big river park as a possible
venue space for the future festival. Commissioner Scott Ferguson made a
motion, seconded by Commissioner Shawana Rhinehart to give a sponsorship
to the Delta River Cruise of$7,500.00 dollars in reimbursement with receipts
for advertising and promotions for the event. The Commission voted
unanimously to approve. Commissioner Scott Ferguson made a motion,
seconded by Commissioner Mike Patel, to sign the 2023 agreement with the
West Memphis Chamber of Commerce. The commission voted unanimously to
approve.
UTILITY COMMISSION:
Utility Commission: Councilor Tracy Catt presented the Utility Commission
report. The Utility Commission met on December 8, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. There
were 0 recordable and 0 lost time for the month of November. Personnel update
there were no new hires and 1 involuntary resignation for the month of
November. Utility currently has 11 open positions out of 79 budgeted positions.
The commission approved the purchase of a roll off truck for the wastewater
treatment plant from River City Hydraulics Incorporated.
FIRE COMMISSION: Councilor Catt presented the Fire Commission report.
The Fire Commission met on January 17, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. in the City
Council Chambers. The staff reported that there were 3 new Fire Fighters that
started on December 19, 2023. Those 3 Fire Fighters have already completed
their first responder training. The Fire roster is full at this time. There were 2
promotions to battalion chiefs on January 1, 2023, Josh Stokes and Kevin Catt
and 1 promotion to Captain on December 31, 2022, Trent Gately. PPE
equipment for 2023 has been ordered. The Fire Fighters and a Para Medic
started Standard class on January 17, 2023. Two additional containers have
been delivered for the training facility, which will enable them to start live
burns by March 1, 2023, for training purposes. The department has acquired
structures on Pine Street one of the structures will be used for water
suppression training and one that they will actually burn scheduled for
February 8, 2023, depending on weather conditions. EMS calls for 2022 were
3,208 and EMS collections were $255,181.10. The department was denied for
the Safety Grant that they applied for, but they are in the process of looking for
a professional Grant Writer and they will be reapplying for the grant. The New
48/96 schedule started December 30, 2022.The Fire Department equipment
has an effective life, and the ladder truck has a ten-year span, and the
department would like to replace them. The current truck is seven years old,
and they need to start the process now of looking at purchasing an Aerial
platform truck, it will take at least two years to build, and the staff will be
bringing council information this year to look at planning it out. They have not
gotten cost information but anticipate that it could be around 1 million dollars.
Mayor McClendon said that he has spoken with his Emergency Management
Director, Dewayne Rose and he let him know that Arkansas has approved a bill
where cities can start to identify an area of land where they would be able to
burn vegetation such as limbs and once, he gets all the information he will let
them know so that they see what direction they want to take.
AIRPORT COMMITTEE: Councilor Croom presented the Airport
Commission report. Airport Director, Candra Suiter attended the Arkansas
Department of Aeronautics meeting in Little Rock, Arkansas, where they
approved a $250,000 dollar grant for the Jet A Fuel Tank rehabilitation project.
The documentation for the North Apron rehabilitation project has been
submitted and approved by the FAA, they are currently waiting on the funds to
become available at which time they will begin the work on the bidding process.
WEST MEMPHIS CHAMBER COMMITTEE: Councilor Croom present the West
Memphis Chamber Committee report. The West Memphis Chamber Committee
met on January 11, 2023. The Chamber President Bower Clement, of Guaranty
Loan and Real Estate said the Chamber will be increasing their tourism and
Economic Development assistance. The Chamber 2023 initiative will focus on
work force development, community image, regional collaboration, and small
business recruitment. Mayor Marco McClendon gave an update to the chamber
on his vision for infrastructure improvement, the Chamber is eager to help__
West Memphis continue to move forward.
APPOINTMENTS: NONE
PRESENTATIONS: NONE
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor McClendon announced that on Tuesday
January 24, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. at the Eugene Woods Civic Center they will be
holding a public meeting to provide an update on what the City is already doing
to improve the flooding conditions and to listen to the citizens' concerns and
suggestions and answer any questions that they might have. Utility General
Manager, Todd Petersen and Assistant Utility Manager Ward Wimbish will also
be available to answer any questions. Mayor McClendon said the flooding
issues have existed over a long period of time and this is not something that is
going to be fixed overnight, but he is looking forward to hearing from the
citizens suggestions to see how they can improve the situation.
Councilor Mohammed asked the members of the Police Commission to meet for
a few minutes after City Council is over to set a date, time and perhaps elect a
chairperson for the Police Commission.
Councilor Catt said that the Budget committee will meet Thursday January 26,
2023, at 12:00p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
City Clerk, Patricia Joplin reminded all elected officials to submit their 2022
Statement of Financial Interest to the City Clerk's Office by no later than
January 31, 2023.
CITIZENS REQUEST: Ms. Tammy Bell a resident of 206 Roosevelt in West
Memphis, Arkansas came before council representing the residents of Ward 3
that oppose a request to rezone a home located at 131 W Cooper in West
Memphis, Arkansas from a single-family unit to a multi -family residence. Ms.
Bell presented a petition signed by the residents in Ward 3 against the rezoning
to the council in their packets. Ms. Bell said it is a beautiful area and they
already have too many apartments in the area and they do not want any more
apartments. Mayor McClendon said he spoke with the Planning Department,
and they informed him that the request was denied by the Planning
Commission and was wondering why they came before council. Ms. Bell said
that she,had heard that they would be appealing it to the Quorum Court. City
Attorney,Michel Stevenson said that they have the right to appeal a decision
that go by the City Council, but if it is denied here then that is the end at the
City Council level. Councilor Croom said that this is a City issue and in his
conversation with County Judge Woody Wheeless this issue has nothing to do
with the County.
M . Glaze Hardage of 126 Cooper was not present to address council on the
rezoning of 131 West. Cooper in West Memphis, Arkansas.
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Croom
made the motion, seconded by Council Member Bruce to adjourn. Upon voice
vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this 2nd day February 2023.
art e
MA CO MCCLENDON, MAYOR
PATRICIA JOPLIN, CITY CLERK
Minutes prepared by, Patricia Lane, Sr. Deputy City Clerk