09/07/2023 MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
September 7,2023
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday,September 7,2023,
at 1:00 p.m.in the City Council Chambers at City Hall,205 S.Redding,West Memphis,
Arkansas.
Invocation was given by Councilor David Murray followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by
Sr Deputy City Clerk,Patricia Lane. Mayor Marco McClendon called the meeting to order at
1:00 p.m. Sr. deputy City Clerk,Patricia Lane called the roll.Those present were City Attorney
Michael Stephenson,and Council Members: Tracy Catt, Wayne Croom,Melanie Hutchinson,Lorraine
Mohammed, Willis Mondy,David Murray. and Charles Wheeless. Absent was City Treasurer,
Charlie Suiter Jr.,City Clerk Patricia Joplin. Councilor Gheric Bruce,Helen Harris,and James Holt.
Also present was Finance Director,Tori Perry,and Evening Times Reporter Donald Wilburn.
Quorum being present Mayor McClendon,proceeded with the meeting.
Councilor Catt made a motion seconded by Councilor Mohammed to add ordinance 0-1 and
Charity Day Funds Distribution to the agenda. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous.
BID OPENING: None
MINUTES: APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF AUGUST 17,2023
Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by Councilor Mondy to dispense with the reading of
the minutes of August 17,2023,Council Meeting,and to approve them as submitted.Upon
voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve.
MAYORS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS: Mayor McClendon presented the 2022
State of the City Address to council. (State of City address filed in Clerk's Office)
OLD BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS:
Councilor Mohammed made the motion,seconded by Councilor Croom to read
R-1 and 0-1 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 CORPORATION LIMITS
City Attorney Stevenson read the resolution by title only.Councilor Mohammed made the
motion, seconded by Councilor Murray to approve the resolution Discussion followed:
Councilor Catt said on the amendment on page 3 that there needed to be a name correction on
the last item,it should be Sherry Banks instead of the Estate of Josie Mae Smith,the property
was acquired by Ms. Sherry Banks in 2020 through the State Land Sales.There being no further
discussion:Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve. The resolution was adopted
and assigned NO.2289
0-1 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING AN ADDITIONAL FIFTY(50) DAY EXTENSION TO
THE NINETY(90) DAY MORATORIUM TO PROHIBIT THE INSTALLATION OF
MOBILE HOMES IN THE ZONING AREA MIXED RESIDENTIAL HIGH DENSITY
(MRH) WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS UNTIL AT SUCH TIME AS
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CAN RESEARCH THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS
FROM THE ABUNDANCE OF MOBILE HOMES IN THE AREA,AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the FIRST time. Councilor Croom
made the motion,seconded by Councilor Catt to suspend the rules,and place the ordinance on
411100b-
its second reading.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous. City Attorney Stephenson read the
ordinance by title only for the SECOND time.Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by
Councilor Croom to further suspend the rules,and place the ordinance on its third and final
reading.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous.City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance
by title only for the THIRD and FINAL time.Councilor Catt made the motion,seconded by
Councilor Murray to approve.Discussion followed:City Attorney Stephenson said he came up
with a fifty(50) day extension because the last extension would run out next week and they are
still working on the study.He said that Planning and Development has done what they needed
to do and now it is up to him to put it in an ordinance form where they can amend the zoning
ordinance to allow the council to vote on it,so this fifty-day extension(50)extends the
moratorium until the council meeting on October 5,2023.There being no further discussion.
Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve. The ordinance was adopted and assigned
No.2643.
PERMISSION REQUEST:
PERMISSION TO DISTRIBUTE THE SOUTHLAND RACING CHARITY DAY
CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF$8,346.45 EVENLY BETWEEN MAYOR AND
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Councilor Croom made the motion,seconded by Councilor Murray to distribute the Southland
Charity Day Contributions of$8,346.45 evenly between mayor and council members in the
amount of$758.77each for Charity Day Funds Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to
approve.
Councilor Gheric Bruce came into Council Meeting at 1:33 p.m.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
PUBLIC WORKS: Councilor Catt presented the Public Works Report.The main item on the
agenda was Equipment.The department will be presenting recommendations for Rear-End
Loaders for the committee's consideration and then they will present it to the budget committee
and council for their approval. Recyclables:9,740 pounds were picked up and 700 tires were
picked up.
APPOINTMENTS: None
PRESENTATIONS: None
ANNOUNCEMENTS: The purchasing Office and Clerk's office will be securing the
rooms for the upcoming Arkansas Municipal League Winter conference scheduled for January
of 2024.All council members planning to attend the conference should contact Ms. Patricia Lane
at 732-7510 or Mr.Kenneth Johnson at 732-5165.
Mayor McClendon announced that on Monday September 11,2023,at 10:30 a.m. the City of
West Memphis will be hosting Patriot Day in Honor and Remembrance of the people who lost
their lives on 9-11.The event will be at the City Hall Building located at 205 S. Redding Street.
Mayor McClendon announced that the National Day of Remembrance for murder victims will
be held on Monday,September 25,2023,at West Memphis City Hall located at 205 S.Redding
at 6:00 p.m.The guest speaker will be Judicial Prosecuting Attorney,Sonia Fonticiella-Hagood.
For more information contact Ms.Jeannetta Gilliam at 901-422-1793.There will be a memorable
balloon release
CITIZENS REQUEST: Mr. Donald Wilburn came before council to express his concern
and to make them aware of Act 372 that was signed into law in March of 2023,by Governor
Sarah Huckabee Sanders.Mr. Wilburn said this is essentially a book ban that would make it a
Class A Felony should any Librarian or Teacher allow a minor child to get hold of a banned
book.Currently the ban has been blocked by a US District Judge for now.Mr.Wilburn said he
just wanted to bring it to the mayor and councils'attention and asked that they call or write
whoever they needed to stop this from happening in Arkansas and to express their opposition
of Act 372.
Having no further business to come before the City Council,Councilor Catt made the motion,
seconded by Councilor Wheeless, to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The
meeting was adjourned at 1:50 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this 21st of September 2023
MARCO MCCL NDON, MAYOR
ATTEST:
PATRICIA JOPL N, CITY CLERK
Minutes prepared by, Patricia Lane,Sr. Deputy City Clerk