May 20, 2004MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
MAY 20, 2004
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 1:30
p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas. Due to
the absence of Mayor William H. Johnson, Councilor Davis moved, seconded by Councilor
Pulliaum that Councilor Felton presides over the meeting. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous. Councilor Felton said that Mayor Johnson was in the hospital recovering from
surgery and wished him a speedy recovery.
Councilor Felton called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. Reverend David Moose, of Rosewood
United Methodist Church offered prayer. Phillip Para, City Clerk called the roll. Those present
were: City Attorney David Peeples and Treasurer Frank Martin, Councilors: Harold Thomas,
James Pulliaum, Lorraine Robinson, Clarence Davis, Ramona Taylor, AI Felton, Mano
`. McClendon, Herman Coleman, and James Holt.
BID OPENINGS None
MINUTES
Councilor Taylor moved, seconded by Councilor Davis to dispense with the reading of the
minutes of May 6, 2004 and the special-called meeting of May 11, 2004 and approve as
presented. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS
2nd Reading: An Ordinance to change the terms for Aldermen from finro years to four years and
to provide that the Aldermen from each ward shall serve staggered terms and for other purposes.
City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND time.
NEW BUSINESS None
Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor Davis to approve payment to OMI for $58,310
for the operation of the sewer treatment plant for the month of May. Upon voice vote, the voting
was unanimous.
Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor Thomas to approve payment of $58,519.44 to
P&J Fowler, Inc. for Broadway Revitalization Phase IV. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous.
Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by Councilor McClendon to approve payment of $79,733.80
to PB~J Fowler, Inc. for Bettis Street Drainage 8 Street Improvements CDBG Project No.
B-2002/2003-MC-05-0009. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
Councilor Taylor moved, seconded by Councilor Thomas to create the position of a summer
intern in the Advertising and Promotion Department. Councilor Pulliaum asked for the City
Attorney's opinion on whether at this state, they actually needed to vote on this. City Attorney
Peeples stated the city counril has the authority to create positions, and if they wished to do that,
it could be done in this manner. Councilor Taylor stated A8P would meet on June 2, 2004 to vote
on approving this position, but the slot needed to be approved. The position's salary is in the
budget and was for twelve weeks only. Upon roll call vote, the voting was:
AYES: Thomas, Robinson, Davis, Taylor, Felton, McClendon, Coleman, and Holt
NAYS: Pulliaum
Councilor Bruce voted as "present°. The motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilor Holt reported for Park Commission. He said 36 teams recently participated in a
tournament and estimated 2000 people came to West Memphis and another tournament is to be
held Memorial weekend with 50 teams partiripating. There are financial problems with financing
the scoreboard and other things that are needed at the complex.
Councilor Thomas reported the Utility Commission met and denied a request from a customer,
opened bids on a sewer treatment plant mixer and directional boring, approved the bad debt
charge-off list and approved the firm of Fischer 8 Arnold as engineering firm ding the analysis of
the sewer treatment plant and approved outside city limit water service. They also held aspecial-
called meeting with rity council on approving the water contract with Marion.
Councilor Thomas reported Public Works Committee met with Eddie Brawley and he explained
the state and federal regulations and recommendations regarding stop signs and the placement
of stop signs. They approved putting NO PARKING signs at 2nd & Polk. A daim that was
previously denied was brought bade up and referred to the rity attorney with the stipulation that
the city attorney work in accordance with the first derision that this person be notified and not
have to come bade before the Public Works Committee. Discussion was held regarciing the City
Shop employees not having a covered area outside for smoking.
PAGE 2 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 20, 2004
Councilor Robinson reported the Airport Commission met and reviewed an independent
engineering fee estimate and accepted Delta Airport Engineers fee proposal of $218,287.00 for
Mater Plan update. Frank Martin reported on a good first quarter for the airport, up 2.3 °k. West
Memphis Rotary Club selected the West Memphis Airport to be the reapient of their annual
community project. They wilt be purchasing a conference cabinet for the airport board room,
decorative banner for the entryway light posts and umbrellas for airport guests.
Councilor Taylor reported the Fire Commission met and hearcf concerns and received information
regarding some trucks that need repair and that it might be better to look into buying some new
equipment and voted to refer to the mayor to review administratively. They heard a request to
review the sick leave policy amendment. This item is to be addressed at the next meeting with
some assistance from the city attorney. Due to the next regular meeting being scheduled during
the Arkansas Municipal League Conference, Chairman Bruce to check on an available date and
call commission member and let them know.
Councilor Felton reported the Budget Committee met and reviewed April sales tax report. He
said while collections continue to improve, the city is abou# 20,000 over budget of their projections
through four months. They talked about the prospect of giving city employees raises, while the
budget may not be able to support that right now, the mayor's idea of a bonus at the end of the
year was discussed and felt that if departments continued to hold down their expenses, there
would be money available in the budget for that.
CITIZENS REQUESTS
Larry Jackson, representing Harold Beasley, owner of Harold's Body Shop, addressed the council
and asked them to reconsider their denial of the thins reading of the ordinance for a Special Use
Permit to operate a wrecker service at Harold's Body Shop on S. Woods Street in conjunction
with their Body Shop at 704 -708 S. Woods Street. City Attorney Peeples advised that in order
for this matter to be reconsidered, the ordinance would have to be properly brought back before
the council. To do that, they would have to have an ordinance sponsorsed by two Aldermen or the
Mayor and stamped in at the City Clerk's Office the first or third Monday by noon, prior to the first
or third Thursday City Council meeting. Councilor Robinson stated her main concern was the
stacking of vehicles. Councilor Thomas stated he voted against it because the Aldermen in that
ward did not want it there and until they get approval from them, he could not support it.
Councilor Pulliaum stated the day they were to go to aty council, there were wrecked vehicles on
site, and they were already operating a wrecker service, which they did not have approval to do.
He also stated he was not in favor of the special permitted use.
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Councilor Taylor announced she gave each of the city council a packet from the Mayor's Coalition
for Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education and reminded them of the free health screening to
be held at Relay for Life, June 4"' from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. and asked them to make the
information available to the community.
Councilor Thomas reminded atizens that this SatuMay, trash will be picked up for city clean-up
month, west of 7~' Street and north of Broadway.
Councilor Taylor announced a joint Marion and West Memphis Chamber of Commerce Business
After Hours sponsored by Arkansas Distributing and Fidelity National Bank will be held tonight
from 5:00 until 7:00 at Esperanza Bonanza in Marion.
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Robinson moved,
seconded by Councilor Pulliaum to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The
meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this .3/~,GL day of June, 2004.
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WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, MAYOR
ATTEST:
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PHIL ,CITY CLERK
Minutes Prepared By:
Cindy Green od, Sr. Deputy City Clerk