October 4, 2007MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 4, 2007
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, October 4, 2007 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 Jim Mattson
with the Ministerial Alliance. Phillip Para, City Clerk, called the roll. Those present were: Mayor
William H. Johnson, City Attorney David Peep/es, City Treasurer Frank Martin and Councilors, Ramona
Taylor, Herman Co/eman, Marco McC/endon, James Ho/t, Chester Peep/es, Lorraine Robinson,
C/arence Davis and James Pulliaum. Absent. Councilors Phillip Carterand He%n Harris. Quorum
being present, Mayor Johnson proceeded with the meeting.
BIDS
PROCLAMATION
A proclamation was presented to Families in Transition regarding domestic violence. The proclamation
was received by Debbie Holmes, Marla Peden and Lee Hammett.
MINUTES
Councilor Peeples moved, seconded by Councilor Taylor to dispense with the reading of the minutes of
September 20, 2007, and approve them as submitted. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
OLD BUSINESS
2'd Reading An Ordinance to re-designate 1~h Street to Earnest Co%man, Sr Street, and for other
purposes.
City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND time.
NEW BUSINESS
Councilor Robinson moved, seconded by Councilor Coleman to suspend the rules and read R-1 and
O-1 by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
R-> A reso/ution certifying the condemnation and removal of houses, bui/dings and/or residential
structures constituting a nuisance within the City of West Memphis Corporate Limits.
Councilor Coleman made a motion to amend the resolution to delete the properties at 330 South 10'n
626 South 16'n and 320 South 17~'. Motion was seconded by Councilor Robinson. Upon voice vote,
the voting was unanimous.
Councilor Peeples made a motion to approve R-1 as amended, motion was seconded by Councilor
Coleman. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The resolution was approved and assigned
number 1877.
O- 7 An Ordinance to amend section 3.04.010 of the West Memphis Municipal Code to define the
term "Prepared Food'; and for other purposes.
City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the FIRST time. Before the next meeting, Council will be
provided with a copy of the state regulations regarding this subject.
PERMISSION REQUESTS
Permission to pay APAC $133, 325. >0 for Ross Street from Braw/ey Consulting Engineers
Permission to pay Ford of West Memphis $89, 899 for four (4J police vehic%s.
Permission to pay John WrightAssociates, lnc. $119, 877.76, for cameras forcars-(Ordinance 2161
Dated June 7, 2007). Mayor Johnson reported that this was for 23 cameras. Five more cameras are
on order and will be placed in the narcotic vehicles. Not all cars will have cameras. The detective cars
will not have cameras, but all of the patrol cars, street cars, narcotic cars, the police chief and the
assistant chief cars will have cameras.
Permission to pay B&B Utility Contractors $166, 500.00 to rehab Pump Stations #26 and #27.
Permission to pay Red Deluxe, LLC $52, 505.43 forA & PAdvertisements. Councilor Davis inquired
about the payment to Red Deluxe. Mayor Johnson said we contract with this company and they
contract for our larger advertisements in order to get us a better price. This fee covers this year.
Motion was made by Councilor Taylor, seconded by Councilor Robinson to approve all of the above
permission requests. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
A motion was made by Councilor Holt and seconded by Councilor Taylor to approve the Planning
Commission Recommendations. This packet included approval for a new hotel on 7m Street at the
interstate. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Po/ice Commission -Councilor McClendon stated seven new officers were hired for the department.
The new recruits were asked to attend the Police Commission meeting. A few were unable to attend.
Paul Luker came to the meeting and discussed some issues that were going on, on the South side of
town. The problems included grass liens and posting of signs throughout town. A suggestion was
made about an Environmental Court. We will have to check to see if that is feasible to do. Councilman
Pulliaum came by the meeting with a state ordinance that talked about offences for tampering with
police cameras and wanted something added to the policy manual regard tampering. There was also
discussion on implementing a program for nonviolent offenders with outstanding warrants to turn
themselves in. A program in Memphis called Safe Surrender was observed and sounded like a good
idea for West Memphis. There was also talk of a second chance program. The Commission also
viewed one of the new cameras that had been installed in one of the police units.
Pub/ic Works- Councilor Robinson stated the Committee approved the West Memphis 2007 Municipal
Improvements Projects and the Rich Road Street overlay. Due to the increased fees on the landfill, a
possible increase, on garbage fees, were discussed.
Uti/ity Commission -Councilor Davis reported on the special called meeting from September 24th, bids
for 2 projects were reviewed. Four (4) bids were received on a fueling station located at the Utility
Department. The low bid was awarded to Cobb Environmental and Tech Services from Tupelo, MS.
Four (4) bids were received on the upgrade for pump station #8. This bid was awarded to Crittco Cable
and Fiber Inc. out of Jonesboro, AR.
Rev. Leroy Turner, Sanitation Superintendent, spoke about the increased fees at the landfill.
Beginning October 1, all Crittenden County users of the landfill will see an increase. Crittenden County
users will pay $25 per ton and out of county users will pay $28 per ton. There will be no free dumping
at the landfill for anyone. We will need to be real diligent and keep an open eye for people who may
dump within the City. This may prove to be a real problem for the City. Rev. Tumer said the landfill will
allow four tires per year, per family to be brought for free.
Councilor Taylor asked about reinstituting the recycling program, she had received a few calls. She
would like for the program to be evaluated.
Mayor Johnson stated the increase is $6 per ton, that is a 31.6% increase in the landfill costs. Based
on last years' usage of 20,000 tons, that would be an increase of $120,000. From the looks of this
year, it will be more than that. Last month the City dumped approximately 856,000 pounds of trash.
Councilor Robinson announced that the memorial sign for Britney Sitzes has been erected at Rich
Road. Mayor Johnson stated it wasn't in the paper and did not have any publicity because of a request
by her father.
APPOINTMENTS
CITIZENS REQUESTS
Claude "Shorty" Stee% Veteran Service Officer for Crittenden County and the I/ice-President of the
Arkansas Department of I/eteran Affairs (616 Ba/fou~j -reported that the 216th MP Battalion part of the
39th Brigade will be deployed this year. He is trying to get a committee together to show them they we
are behind them 100%. He is trying to get a meal together for them and their immediate family. Mr.
Steele has sent out many letters asking for donations. There will be anywhere from 60 to 100 men and
women deployed. They will be starting an "Adopt a Family" program, for support to the families of the
men and women who are being deployed. Mr. Steele also announced that he was awarded the
outstanding service officer for the state of Arkansas, which covers 75 counties. Mayor Johnson
suggested the council make a recommendation to the A & P Commission to make a financial
contribution of around $1000 to this dinner. Councilor Taylor said she would bring it up at the next A &
P Commission meeting. Councilor McClendon motioned, seconded by Councilor Pulliaum to make the
recommendation to the A & P Commission. Upon voice vote, motion was unanimous
Councilor Pulliaum asked for everyone to say a prayer for our soldiers, both the local people and all the
others.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilor Pulliaum moved, seconded by
Councilor McClendon to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous. The meeting adjourned
at 1:58 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this _ day of October, 2007.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, MAYOR
ATTEST:
PH ARA, CITY CLERK
Minutes prepared by Rhonda Standridge, Jr. Deputy City Clerk
f y,~eer Mf
u;
CITY OF WEcST MEMPII[cS
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
ZOS S. Redding • P.O. Box 1728 • Wast Memphis, Arkansas 72303 • (870) 732-7520 • Fax (870) 732-7650
MEMO
TO: Mayor William H. Johnson and City Council Members
FROM: Christine Byrd, Planning Commission Coordinator
DATE: September 27, 2007
RE: Recommendations from the regular scheduled Planning Commission meeting
held on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, to the Mayor and City Council, on Thursday,
October 4, 2007.
I. Final_Plat Lowell's Landing Application Case# SD-09-07 - The City of West
Memphis Planning Commission recommended to approve Final Plat Lowell's Landing,
Application Case#SD-09-07, for the property owner, represented by Mr. Dennis Sorrell,
Sorrell Consulting Engineers, for the property located at approximately 1333 N. 7th
Street. This property contains 16.42 acres and is Zoned C-2, Commercial District.
(See attached a copy of plat.)
Approval is subject to the following criteria:
1. Proper execution of all Certificates;
2. Installation of grading and drainage improvements as required by the Department
of Public Works;
3. Approval of the improvement plans by the West Memphis Utility Department, as
to easements;
4. Installation of improvements as required by the City Engineer;
5. Adjustments to be made to align the street, subject to the City Engineer;
6. Set up Property Owners Association to maintain common open space.
An Equ¢l Opportunity Employer
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