December 15, 2005MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
DECEMBER 15, 2005
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Counal was held on Thursday, December 15, 2005
at 1:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis,
Arkansas.
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. Invocation was given by Reverend
Michael Cox of Missouri Street Church of Christ. Phillip Para, City Clerk, called the roll. Those
present were: Mayor William H. Johnson, City Attorney David Peeples, City Treasurer Frank
Ma~fin and Councilors: Joyce Gray, Lorraine Robinson, Clarence Davis, Vickie Robertson,
Ramona Taylor, Herman Coleman, Marco McClendon, Helen Hams, James Holt, and Harold
Thomas. Quorum being present, Mayor Johnson proceeded with the meeting.
BID OPENINGS
Bids for West Menpvh/s Udlides -(Tree trimming) were opened at 1:00 and copies of the bid
tabulations were given to the City Council for review. Councilor Davis moved, seconded by
Councilor Robinson to accept the bids and refer them to the Utility Commission for disposition.
Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. (Copy of bid tabulations attached)
MINUTES
Councilor Davis moved, seconded by Councilor Robinson to dispense with the reading of the
minutes of December 1, 2005 and approve as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS
O-1 An Ordinance to establish electrical rates for the City of West Memphis, Arkansas and for
other purposes.
City Clerk Phillip Para read the Ordinanr,,e for the THIRD AND FINAL time. After discussion roll
call vote was as follows:
AYES: Gray, Robinson, Davis, Robertson, Taylor, McClendon, Harris, Hoft, and Thomas
NOES: None
Councilor Coleman abstained. The motion carried. The Orcinance was assigned No. 2130.
NEW BUSINE38
R-1 A Resolution certifying the amounts of liens imposed on certain properties for demolition
contracted by the City of West Memphis pursuant to Ordinance 1141.
City Attorney Peeples read the Resolution. Counalor McClendon moved, seconded by Councilor
Robinson to amend the Resolution and remove- H A Royal and Robert O'Guin, 209 S 19"', which
is the last lien listed on the page 3, and give them a thirty (30) day extension. Upon voice vote,
the voting was unanimous. Councilor Taylor moved, seconded by Councilor Holt to approve as
amended. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The Resolution was adopted and
assigned No. 1828.
Next item on the agenda was the approval of the 2006 Budget. Councilor Hams moved,
seconded by Councilor Taylor to approve as presented. Councilor Robertson asked why there
was no money in the Fire Department budget for repairs to the fire stations. Mayor Johnson
stated the money was in the 2005 budget and they were using those funds for most of the
repairs. Councilor Robertson moved, to amend the Fire Department Budget, adding $50,000 for
building repairs (901) Fire Department Budget. Councilor Gray seconded the motion. Voice vote
on the amendment was unanimous to approve. The motion carried. Councilor McClendon asked
about giving aty employees a 3% raise. Mayor Johnson said they were going to review the
situation in March and they would consider it at that time. Roll call vote was held to approve the
2006 Budget as amended.
AYES: Gray, Robinson, Davis, Robertson, Taylor, Coleman, McClendon, Hams, Holt, and
Thomas
NOES: None
The motion carried. The 2006 Budget was approved.
PERMISSION REQUESTS
Councilor Davis moved, seconded by Councilor McClendon to pay APAC Tennessee, Inc.,
$154,110.05 for Shady Grove Street and drainage improvements. Upon voice vote, the voting
was unanimous.
Councilor Hams moved, seconded by Councilor Holt to pay OMI $59,476.25 for operating the
Wastewater Treatment Plant for the month of January. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
A8-P Commission -Coundlor Taylor reported the Civic Auditorium hosted four everts in
November with approximately 2500 participarrts and eleven days use. Staff filmed eleven video
programs on Channel 17. The Civic Center held 5 events for approximately 1400 visitors. They
received tourism enquiries from 6 states. The West Memphis insert was in the Commeraal
Appeal November 16 and Channel 3 and the Commerdal Appeal both covered the Christmas
Tree Lighting.
Public Works -Councilor Holt reported they awarded bids to the low bidders.
Park Commission -Councilor Holt reported they discussed the soda contract and getting Tilden
Rodgers Park ready for toumameMs next year. They also discussed upgrading one park per
year with new play ground equipment.
Airport Commission -Councilor Robinson reported the widening of the taxiway was complete.
Corps samples will be taken in January, 2006. These samples will tell the remaining life cycles of
runway pavement and the immediate repairs that need to be made. The yearly farm lease of 178
acres has been renewed. A disaster plan will made and put into motion in 2006.
Utility Commission -Coundlor Thomas reported the minutes of the regular meeting and two
spedal meetings in November were approved. They denied a request from a customer for
repairs to a vehide damaged on a dty street and approved the low bids, and the bad debt
charge-offs.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Johnson announced the Business after Hours will be held at Accent Flowers tonight.
Mayor Johnson announced the 2nd Public Hearing regarding Community Development Blodc
Grant money is Tuesday, January 3, 2006 at 5:00.
Mayor Johnson addressed a report that was on Channel s last night which reported there was a
fire on Holiday Street and a man that was interviewed said tt took 30 minutes for the fire
department to get to the fire. Mayor Johnson stated the recorcls which are computerized, the call
came in at 10:23 am and they were on the scene from Station 3 at 10:26 am and the fire was
under control at 11:51 am. The last engine left at 3:36 pm. The reporter, after interviewing
Officer Carter with this information, said that the fire department says tt was three minutes, but
other people feel differently. The owner of the house called the chief this morning and apologized
for the reporter's remarks.
Mayor Johnson commended the coundl for the work that was put into the two ttems on the
agenda, which were the 2006 Budget and the utility rate increase.
Councilor Coleman wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Councilor Gray congratulated the two debutante for 2006, Erica Davis and Jamie Mills.
Councilor Hott wished Coundlor Davis a Happy Birthday.
Councilor McClendon asked that everyone keep the Townsend family in their prayers and
announced that First Community Bank has set up a fund for donations.
CITIZENS REQUESTS none
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Holt moved, seconded by
Councilor Robinson to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting
adjourned at 2:00 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this S~_ day of January, 2005.
WILLIAM H. JOHNS ,MAYOR
ATTEST:
PHILLIP~ARA, CITY CLERK
Minutes prepared by:
Cindy Gree od, Senior Deputy City Clerk
Iw/
WEST MEMPHIS UTILITY COMMISSION
P O Box 1868 604 Enst Cooper
West Memphis, AR 72303
Phone (870) 735-3355 Fnx (870) ,732-7623
12/15/2005
CONTRACT TREE TRIMMING FOR 2006
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NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR
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KNOXVILLE, TN