June 21, 19492~(~
MTNUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF '+VEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS,
_.- _-~IAD_1~IIl~iELIl QN._a[JNE_21.,_-1g1~:__- _--_ -------_~_--_ -- ---- ._ --_-
The Council of the City of hest Memphis met in a regular session at the City Hall in
said City at 7=30 P.M. on the 21st day of June, 1949.
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor and upon the roll being called there were:
Presents P. M. Bacus in the chair and the following named Aldermen: Curtis Foster,
P. B. Powers, A, R. Manchester, James Bledsoe, R. L. Garrison; City Attorney
J. H. Spears and City Clerk H. 0. Coats.
Absents Aldermen 0. I. Bollinger, C. H. Rowton, and R. R, Morley.
It being determined a quorum was present, the follrnving proceedings were had, to-wit:
Minutes of Council Meeting on June 7, 1949, were read and approved.
Mayor Dacus advised the Council that Mr. Charles DeGraff of Charles J. Upton Company
was present at the meeting and had submitted a sample policy for insurance on the City's
fleet of trucks as instructed at Council Meeting on May 19th; that the policy had been
studied by City Attorney Spears and Mr. Paul Dyrd, Manager of the Light & ~Jater Department,
and that it was a standard policy. After discussion of the matter the following motion yeas
made by Alderman Fosters
That the City of YJest Memphis accept the policy of Charles J. Upton Company for public
liability, property damage, and personal injuries on the fleet of trucks, cars, and equipment
oymed by the City for the sum of $695.17.
The motion was seconded by Alderman Powers, and upon the matter being called to vote, the
following voted:
Ayes Foster, Powers, Manchester, Bledsoe, Garrison.
Nay; None.
Mayor Dacus advised the Council that the Thompson Estate had filed a suit in the
Eastern Division of Federal Court at Jonesboro naming the City of ~`~est Memphis and Board
of Aldermen as defendants. The complaint was read by City Attorney Spears and discussed.
Thereupon, the Council authorized Attorney Spears to file answer to the complaint, and
proceed in the defense of the case.
Mr. John Foglema of the firm of Hale & Fogleman appeared before the Council to advise
that the Hulbert-West Memphis School District was interes~.n securing title to Block 126
of the Kendal Addition for the purpose of constructin g a negro school building, and that
if the City could relinquish title to said property that it would be deeded by Mrs. Kendal
to the School District for site of the new school. It being pointed out that the property
had heretofore been conveyed to the City of yYest Memphis for a recreation center with the proviso
that said property would be improved vri.thin three years and that said property had not been
improved and the Kendal Estate could ask that the conveyance be forfeited for failure of the
City to comply with the proviso that said property be improved. After a discussion of the
matter, it was the consensus of opinion that the City should voluntarily relinquish its
claim to said property for the reason that the agreement to improve the property had not been
complied with because of lack of finances on the part of the City to make said improvements.
Mr. Fogleman also advised the Council that the xPxrdal Hstate had recently completed
plating a number of lots and requested that the requirements for new subdivisions according
to Ordinance No. 164 be waived as these lots did not constitute anew subdivision. After
discussion of the matter and study of the property involved, the following resolution was
introduced by Alderman Bledsoe:
R E S O L U T I O N N 0.111
;NHEREAS, a certain plat of Blocks 157, 158, the East Half of 'lock 171 and 172 and
Lots 5 and 6 in the West Half of "lock 172 and Block 176 of the Geo. T. Kendal Addition
to the City of West Memphis, prepared by W. S. 'fegarden on June 15, 1949, has been
presented to the City Council for approval, and
'rVHEREAS, the said plat does not constitute a new subdivision, but merely completes
the platting of the Geo. T. Kendal Addition, and
;~'fiEREAS, said plat shows adequate easements for public utilities, and,
`.+HERE~iS, the tract of land included in the Lots and Blocks above set out is of such
irregular shape that full compliance with the provisions of Ordinance No. 164 of the
City of West Memphis is impractical and such compliance would result in non-uniformity
of thia portion of the said Kendal Addition and that which has been previously platted,
PIOI"l, THEL2L'FORE, Be It Resolved, that the plat hereinabove described be and the same
is hereby approved by the City Council and the recording thereof in the office of the ,
Recorder of Deeds is hereby authorized, the requirments of said Ordinance 164 being
trereby waived for the reasons her~inabove stated.
:E3SiE3EiEiti'r
Notion was made by Alderman Bledsoe and seconded by Alderman Foster that the
resolution be adopted, and upon the matter being called to vote, the following
voteds
Ayes Foster, Powers, Manchester, Bledsoe, Garrison.
Nays None.
City ~:ngineer Tegarden reported to the Council on the progress of the street work
on Pine Street and the extension of Thompson Street.
A discussion ryas had on the delipated condition of a number of frame buildings
along Broadway, and the City Building Inspector was instructed to contact the following
owners of the property and request them to take action on removing their buildings or
the City would have to condemn the buildings: Thompson Estate, Sam Kaplan, G, 1V, McAuley.
Mayor llacus announced that Mr. Heagler had his crews in 'vVest Memphis checking the
sewer system, and at this time he would like to appoint a temporary server committee
composed of Aldermen Morley, Garrison, and Bledsoe to lvork with him on the project.
After discussion of the salaries of the various pity Officials the following motion
was made by Alderman Manchester:
That the salary of the Municipal Court Judge be reduced ~~50.00 per month effective
as of July 1st. The motion was seconded by alderman Prnvers, and upon the matter being
called to vote, the following voted:
Ayes Foster, rowers, Manchester, Eledsoe, Garrison.
P1ay~ None.
Motion was made by Alderman Garrison as follotivs:
That the salary of the City attorney be reaised $50.00 per month effective July 1st.
The motion was seconded by tilderrnan Bledsoe, and upon the matter being called to vote,
the following voted:
Aye: Foster, Powers, Manchester, Bledsoe, Garrison.
Nay: None.
32r. T. 1t. Green, Secretary-~`'~nager of the Chamber of Commerce, was present and
discussed with the Council the construction of a Municipal swimming Pool. Thereupon,
Mayor Lacus appointed the following committee to go to Blythe ville to inspect the
swimming pool there: Alderman Bledsoe, T. R. Green, Paul Byrd, and Bill Fordyce.
The Building Inspector presented the building permits he had authorized to be
issued. Motion was made, pa:;sed, and adopted to confirm the actions of the Building
Inspector in the issuance of the following building permitss
Harris Steele
H. F. Spicer
Sal Sailes
C. B. Thompson
Louis Poole
Harvey Lyons
Charles King
H. R. Jones
Chickasaw Lumber
Chickasaw Lumber
Guaranty Loan
Guaranty Loan
Guaranty Loan
Guaranty Loan
Guaranty Loan
Leonard ~~arden
Syd Reynolds
Real Estate, Inc.
Real Estate, Inc.
p, M, Dacus
No further business appearing before the Council, the meeting teas adjourned.
MAYO
`.
APPROVED: ,)pry $~ 19b9