08/01/24 MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
August 1,2024
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday August 1,2024,at 1:00
p.m.in the City Council Chamber at City Hall,205 S. Redding,West Memphis,Arkansas.Invocation
was given by Pastor Billy Olive of Corner Stone Baptist Church followed by the Pledge of Allegiance
led by Councilor Wayne Croom. Mayor Marco McClendon called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
City Clerk, Patricia Joplin called the roll.Those present were.Mayor Marco McClendon,City
Attorney MichaelStephenson,City Treasurer Charlie Suiter Jr. Councilors Gheric Bruce Tracy Catt,
Wayne Croom,Helen Harris,James Holt,Melanie Hutchinson,Lorraine Mohammed,Willis Mondy,
David Murray,and Charles Wheeless.Also present was Finance Director,Tori Perry,and Evening
Times Reporter Don Wilburn.Quorum, being present Mayor McClendon,proceeded with the
meeting.
BID OPENINGS: WEST MEMPHIS UTILITIES-WARD WIMBISH-2024 OVERLAY PROGRAM
Councilor Croom made the motion,seconded Councilor Mondy to accept the 2024 Overlay
Program Bids as presented.Crisp Contractor was awarded the bid. Upon voice vote,voting was
unanimous to approve for the second time.
MINUTES: APPROVE OR CORRECT MINUTES OF JULY 18,2024,COUNCIL MEETING
Councilor Croom made the motion,seconded by Councilor Mondy to dispense with the reading of
July 18,2024,minutes and to approve them as submitted.Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous
to approve.
OLD BUSINESS: 3RD READING OF AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND ORDINANCE NO.2420,
SECTION 1, SUBSECTION 2,GRANTING ASPECIAL USE PERMIT LOCATED AT 1299 KUHN ROAD,
ALLOWING FUTURE EXPANSION OF A SANITARY LANDFILL AND ASSOCIATED ACTIVITIES,IN
THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS,CVE,CONSERVATION EXTRA-TERRITORIAL ZONING DISTRICT OF
THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS,CRITTENDEN COUNTY,ARKANSAS
CityAttorney Stephenson read the ordinance by tile only for the THIRD AND FINAL time.Councilor
Croom made the motion,seconded by Councilor Holt to approve the ordinance. Discussion
Followed:Mayor McClendon said that a work session was held with the Airport,Rebel Services,and
Council regarding this matter.Councilor Croom said the Airport Commission met via telephone to
discuss the Landfield proposal.The Airport Commission has agreed to accept the Landfield
proposal with the approval of the FAA,since the height will be monitored by ADEQ so long as they
receive quarterly reports regarding the present height.There being no further discussion. Upon
voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve.The ordinance was adopted and assigned No.2676.
NEW BUSINESS:
Councilor Mohammed made the motion,seconded by Councilor Catt to read 0-1,0-2,and 0-3 by
title only. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous to approve.
0-1 1sTREADING OFAN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THELEVYOFAONE-FOURTH OF ONE
PERCENT(0.25%)SALES AND USE TAX WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS,ARKANSAS;AND
PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS PERTAINING THERETO.
CityAttorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the FIRST time.Councilor Mohammed
made the motion,seconded by Councilor Mondy to suspend the rules,and place the ordinance on
its second reading. Upon voice vote,Councilor Croom objected.Mayor McClendon asked for a roll
call vote.City Clerk, Patricia Joplin called roll.The roll call vote was as follows:
YES: Bruce, Harris, Hutchinson, Mohammed,Mondy, Murray •
NO: Catt,Croom,Holt,Wheeless
ABSTENTION: None
ABSENT: None
With 6 Yes votes,4 No votes,°Abstentions,0 Absent the motion to suspend the rules and place the
ordinance on its second reading FAILED due to the lack of a 2/3 vote.Mayor McClendon asked Mr.
Bowman to advise the mayor and council on the dates that the ordinance would need to be
adopted and filed in the County Clerk's office If adopted.Mr. Bowman said the ordinance would
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need to be adopted and filed in the County Clerk's office at least 70 days in advance of the
November 5,2024,election.Mr.Bowman said that State Law requires that the ordinance would
need to be adopted and filed in the County Clerk's office by no later than the 26th or 27th of August.
He said that they could put the ordinance on the second reading on August 15,2024,and then
move to suspend the rules and place it on its third and final reading.Councilor Catt made the
motion,seconded by Councilor Mohammed to schedule a Special Called Meeting on August 8,
2024,to discuss the ordinance to ensure that they meet the deadline. Upon voice vote,voting was
unanimous The Special Called meeting is scheduled for Thursday August 8,2024,at 1:00 p.m.in
City Council Chambers. Mayor McClendon said that they will read the ordinance for the second
time at the Special called meeting on August 8,2024,and then read it for thethird and final time on
August 15,2024.Councilor Mohammed wanted to clarify that council's vote would be to approve
having it placed on the ballot in November for the public to vote in favor or against. If council does
not approve to have it added to the ballot than the ordinance would be dead.
0-2 1ST READING OFAN ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE CITY OF WEST
MEMPHIS,ARKANSAS ON THE QUESTION OF LEVYING A CITY-WIDE ONE-FOURTH OF ONE
PERCENT(0.25%),SALES AND USE TAX;AND PRESCRIBING OTHER.MATTERS PERTAINING
THERETO.
City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the FIRST time.Mayor McClendon
said it will be placed on the August 8,2024,agenda for the second reading.(August 8,2024)
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0-3 1st READING OF AN ORDINANCE CALLING A SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE CITY OF WEST
MEMPHIS,ARKANSAS ON THE QUESTION OF ISSUING BONDS UNDER AMENDMENT NO.62 TO
THE CONSTITUTION OFTHE STATE OFARKANSAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING ALL OR A
PORTION OF THE COSTS OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS:LEVYING A NEW THREE-FORTHS OF
ONE PERCENT(0.75%)SALES AND USE TAX FOR THE PURPOSE OF RETIRING SUCH BONDS;
AND PRESCRIBING OTHER MATTERS PERTAINING THERETO.
City Attorney Stephenson read the ordinance by title only for the FIRST time.Mayor McClendon
said it will be placed on the August 8,2024,agenda for the second reading.(August 8,2024)
PERMISSION
REQUEST:
PERMISSION
REQUEST: PERMISSION TO ADD SOUTHLAND CHARITY DAY FUNDS TO THE
AGENDA.
Councilor Croom made the motion,seconded by Councilor Murray to add the distribution of
Southland Racing Charity Day Funds to the agenda. Upon voice Vote,voting was unanimous.
Councilor Willis Mondy would like to give$809.00 to the Wonder City Boys and Girls Club.
Councilor Croom made the motion,seconded by Councilor Murray to approve.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: None
APPOINTMENTS:
Councilor Croom passed out 3 resumes for council to review for consideration tofill 2 vacancies on
the Airport Commission.They will vote on the appointments at the August 15,2024,council
meeting
Council was given Ms.Taylor's resume for consideration they will vote on the appointment of Ms.
Lavonda Taylor to the Parks&Recreation Committee at the August 15,2024,council meeting
PRESENTATION BY THE MAYOR: Emergency Management Director, Dewayne Rose spoke on
the AWIN Project.Mr. Rose said the AWIN project is coming to a close.The AWIN Grant is a 6-
million-dollar Public Safety Communication System that they have been working on for the past two
years.They are finally at the stage where they are getting infrastructure programed and complete,
they have built a radio tower at the West Memphis Police Department firing range and have
completed construction.They will be putting up a fence around the building to secure it. He said
that sight will be monitored by the Arkansas wireless information net work which is part of the
Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.Last week they put in 2 mobile radios at the
West Memphis Police Department Dispatch Center,so that they can get West Memphis Police
Department on-line.They anticipate beginning programing of their portable radios on Monday and
Tuesday that will move WMPD to the AWIN system on the infrastructure that is already in place at
the Sherrif's office while they transition to bringing the West Memphis site on-line.They anticipate
having the whole program completed around the end of October or beginning of November.The
next step is to program all the mobile radios in police cars and thentheywilldo the Fire Department
and then the other departments.They have also gone through the process of mergingthe two public
safety answering points between West Memphis and the County and that project is moving along
quickly.The big hold up now is the console furniture for the additional personnel.They expect to
receive it sometime this month.They have allocated September 16 through the 20 to move the
West Memphis dispatch equipment to the Sherrif's office.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor McClendon said on August 21,2024, he will be making a big
announcement.He said his vision for making West Memphis a Tourism Destination is coming true.
He said what he can tellthem atthis time isthis new venture will create over 250 new jobs and will
bring over 100,000 people off the interstate to spend money in our community. It will attract
tournaments,and our hotels will profit from attracting visitors to stay and spend money in West
Memphis.Mayor McClendon said he is excited aboutthe new project comingto West Memphis and
thinks the people of West Memphis will be proud.
CITIZENS REQUEST: Ms.Veronica Love owner operator of Home Health Care of Arkansas located
at 502 N Missouri Street in West Memphis,Arkansas came before council for their consideration.
Ms. Love operates a Home Health Business and has submitted a Public Convenience application to
operate a non-emergency medical transportation business out of West Memphis. Ms. Love will
return on August 8,2024,for councils decision.
ADJOURNMENT:
Having no further business to come before the City Council,Councilor Harris made the motion,
seconded by Councilor Mondyto adjourn. Upon voice vote,voting was unanimous.The meeting
was adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this 8th day of AUGUST 2024.
eV 114: eewL---___
MARCO MCCLENDON, MAYOR
ATTEST:
PATRICIAJOPLIN, I CLERK
Minutes prepared by Patricia Lane Sr, Deputy City Clerk