February 21, 195713
I~ffiIUTES CF A REGULAR FETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST I~MPHIS, ARKANSAS,
- _ _ HAIL AND HELD ON FEBRII 21. 1957.
The Council of the City of West Memphis met in a regular session at the City Hall
in said City at 3:00 P.M. on the 21st day of February, 1957.
The meeting was called to order, Mayor Price being absent, motion was made by
Alderman David and seconded by Alderman Roleson: That Alderman R. H. Ray, Jr. be elected
President Pro Tempore in accordance with and as provided for in Ordinance No. 219. Upon
vote, the Aldermen voted:
Yeas: Aldermen: Eden, Himes. Roleson, Sims, and David.
Nays: None.
Upon roll call there were:
Present: President Pro Tempore R. H. Ray, Jr. presiding and the following Aldermen:
Bob Eden, J. E. Himes, L. E. Roleson, S. L. Sims, B. J. David.
Absent: Aldermen James Bledsoe and 0. I. Bollinger.
It being determined a quorum was present, the following proceedings were had to-wit:
Minutes of Council Meeting on February 7, 1957, were read and approved.
An ordinance entitled "An Ordinance Accepting The Annexation Of Certain Territory In
Block B Of The Henry Craft Addition To The City OP West Memphis" read the first time on
January 17 and the second time on February 7th was read the third time. Thereupon, motion
was made by Alderman Roleson and seconded by Alderman David: That the third reading o£ the
ordinance be approved. Upon vote, the voting was as follows:
Yeas: Aldermen: Eden, Himes, Roleson, S9ms, David.
Nays: None.
The Mayor Pro Tempore then declared that the ordinance had been adopted, and he signed
the ordinance in open Council Meeting, his signature was attested by the City Clerk under the
seal of the City. The ordinance read as follows:
ORDINANCE No. 331
AN ORDINANCE ACCEPTING THE ANNEXATION OF CERTAIN TERRITORY IN BLOCK B OF THE HENRY CRAFT
ADDTTION TO THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS
WHEREAS, a petition of the majority of the real estate owners of the territory hereinafter
described. petitioning and requesting the annexation of said territory to the City of
West Memphis was filed in the County Court of Crittenden County, Arkansas, with an accurate
description and plat of the territory proposed to be annexed; and,
WHEREAS, after notice of hearing given for the time and in the manner required by law,
said County Court granted said petition and made and entered ints order annexing said
territory to the City of West Memphis, Arkansas; NOW, THEREFORE,
Be it ordained by the City of West ;lemphis, Arkansav, by its city council in regular
meeting assembled:
1. That the following described territory ordered annexed to the City of West Memphis,
Arkansas by order of the County Court of Crittenden County, Arkansas made and entered on the
7th day of December, 1956, and of record in County Court Record U at page 137 of the records
of said Court is hereby accepted, added to and made apart of said city to-wit:
Block B of the Henry Craft Addition to the City of West Memphis as shown by plat
of record in Plat Book 1 at page 11.1.E of the records of Crittenden County, Arkansas,
and streets adjacent thereto, more particularly described as follows, towit:
Beginning at a point 1320 feet West of and 363.5 feet South of the center of
Section 12 in Township (6) North, Range Eight (B) East, being a point at the
center of the intersection of Lehr Street and Roosevelt Street (formerly Fish
Street); thence South along the center line of Lahr Street, as shown on said
plat; thence East along the center line of Cooper Street, as shown by said
plat a distance of 650 feet to the West line o£ Pearce Street; thence North
along the West line of Pearce Street a distance of 373.6 feat to the center of
Roosevelt Street (formerly Fish Street}; thence West 650 feet slang the center
line of Roosevelt Street to the point of beginning.
2. That a certified copy of this ordinance shall be made and filed with the Clerk of
the County Court of Crittenden County, Arkansas.
3. That the said territory is hereby attached and incorporated to and in Ward No. 3
of this City, being adjacent thereto.
ll. That this ordinance shall take affect and be in full force from and after its
passage.
Enacted and ordained by the city council of the City of Weat Memphis, Arkansas in
regular meeting assembled at the city hall in said city on 21st day of February, 1957.
,.,F?E;~Y,F;F
An ordinance entitled "An Ordinance To Zone A Portion Of The East Half Of The Southeast
Quarter And A Portion Of The West Half Of The Southeast Half Of Section Thirteen, Township Six
North, Range Eight East In Crittenden Oounty, Arkansas, Same Being A Part Of The City Of
West Memphis" read the first time on February 7, 1957, was read the second time. After discussion,
motion was made by Alderman Himes and-seconded by Alderman Eden: That the second reading of the
ordinance be approved. Upon vote, the voting was as follows:
Yeas: Aldermen: Eden, Himes, Roleson, Sims, David.
Nays: None.
Fire Chief Elmo Anderson presented the 1956 annual report of the Fire Department, as follows:
January 23. 1957
To The Honorable H. B. Price, Mayor
And Members Of The City Council
Gentlemen;
Following is a report on the activities of the fire department and the condition of fire
fighting equipment £or the year ending December 31, 1956.
For the benefit of those that do not know, the fire department is being operated on a
full-paid and part-paid basis. The full-paid force is divided into two shifts, each shift
pulls tours of duty with the 21~ hour on duty and 24 hour off duty in effect. Members of the
full-paid force have study and practice sessions each day they are on duty and attend two
regular drills each month. The two regular drills conducted each month are for the benefit
of the part-paid department and to have both shifts of the full-paid members work together.
Part-paid members received $3.00 for their attendance at regular drills and ,~1t.00 for responding
to an alarm of fire when a general alarm is sounded. Full-paid off duty members respond on all
alarms of fire when they are called or when they hear the alarm sounded. Without their help the
department would operate short handed at many fires. One general alarm was sounded in 1956,
and had four volunteer firemen respond and two called in stating they could not leave their job
or their business.
Ln additvn to the training program in the West Memphis fire department there are other
schools conducted for the purpose of training firemen. Last year West Memphis was selected as
a regent center for a school to be conducted. This school was conducted by State fire
Instructors from the State Department of Education, Arkansas Municipal Le e, State Fire
Marahal~s Office which is a division of the Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas Inspection
and Rating Hureau. This school made training available for firemen from Marion, Turrell, Earl,
Parkin, Crawfordsville, U. S. Engineers and West Memphis. There was a three day Instructors
school in Lit9.e Rock which is an annual affair for the purpose of preparing firemea to be
instructors in their own department, A Junior Fire garshals school was conducted to qualify
boys from the various school for the job of Junior and Deputy Junior Fire Marshals. Upon being
qualified for the job, their duty is to inspect all schools in their jurisdiction for fire
hazards and to make reports after each inspection.
The West Memphis fire department took part in this program for it is one way to help make
teachers and children more fire conscious. Other meetings of interest to firemen was the Fire
Department Instructors Conference, this Conference is an annual affair and is conducted in
Memphis, Tennessee. Last year there were over 2,200 fire chiefs. fire department instructors
and firemen attended the Conference. The Arkansas State Fireman's Association meeting the
Arkansas State Fire Chiefs Association meeting and four meetings of the Northeast Arkansas
Firemenrs Association. At each o£ the above mentioned meetings firemen gained much knowledge
along the lines of fire protection, fire prevention and fire extenguishment. The West Memphis
fire department invites all city officials to attend some of the meetings that mean so much
to firemen and would welcome a visit to the fire station by city officials or to payers that the
firemen protect.
Upon moving into the new fire station in September 1955, the department had 11t full-paid
firemen and a full-paid chief, in addition to the full paid members there were 20 volunteer or part
paid members. Two full paid firemen were employed during the year 1956. one starting February 15th.,
and the other May First. The volunteer members dropped From 20 members to 12 members with two of
the 12 being on leave of absence. The department is now opeating with 27 men which includes paid
and volunteer members.
The Arkansas Inspection and Rating Bureau made a town survey in October 155, for the purpose
of determining the cities classification and tomake recommendations for the city to meet for a
lower classification. Upon completing their survey and malting a report on their findings, certain
recommendations were made. The most expensive recommendations was the laying of additional water
mains and installing additional hydrants, the building of a second fire station and the purchase of
another 7$0-GPM class (A) pumper and enough man power to properly operate two stations. Another
of the recommendations was that the full paid department be increased to 17 men in addition to the
two chief officers.
The firemen responded to a total of 213 alarms of fire in 1956. ~e alarms broken down
were as afollows: 103 for buildings, 61 for grass and trash. 28 For autcmobiles, trucks and
trailers, 9 false alarms with 5 of the 9 being listed as malicious false alarms, 11 for smoke scare
and one where gasoline was dumped in street ditch on South tenth street. The department received
several alarms of fire beyond the City Limits but only answered one this being to Arkansas Power
and Light Company sub station west of the city. The city received 150.00 from Arkansas Power
and Light Company for the run and else receved °~~`150.00 rrom r7issouri Facific Railroad Company for a
fire fought in a box car loaded with cotton. The car sas brcught From Neuhardt into the city limits
after the fire was discovered by the train crew.
14
In addition to other duties performed by firemen. llt9 buildings were inspected
for £ire hazards, with recommendations being made to correct some of the hazards.
The hazards found in some of the buildings were corrected to prevent fires from
starting. Off duty firemen were called in to help burn vacant lots and ditch banks to
prevent fire from starting and spreading to built up property and to keep all equipment
available should it be needed for amore important duty. Off duty firemen used for
burning grass were paid the same rate o£ pay as they draw while on regular duty.
Property involved by fire in 1956, including buildings and contents had an estimated
value of ?3,019,370.00. The estimated loss amounted to x95,871.95 this was a saving to
property owners x2,923,498.05. It is easy to see that the loss could have been the amount
of the larger figure plus much more had it not been for the protection offered '~ t'ie
fire department. T~ith the cities seventh class rating property owners were able to buy
insurance that would protect them against some of the loss caused by fire and by having
property insured property owners were able to recover "x79,250.!17 of the x95,871.95
estimates loss.
On December 2, 1956, afire on South eighth street claimed the life of one negro
woman, this being the first death to record due to fire since April 19$11• Several firemen
received minor burns, cuts, pulled muscles and puncture wounds caused by nails. All
injuries required the attention of a doctor, but only one injury caused the loss of tine
from work.
Upon checking all pumping equipment it was Found to be in good working condition and
with minor repairs it will be possible to keep the equipment in good condition through
1957. All hose has been checked and Found to be in good condition with the exception of
2501 of 2z° which should be replaced. this will make a total of 550 of 22~~ 12hse that
has .failed since moving into the new station. It was necessary to purchase 1000 of lz°
hose and 200 of 1~ hose to maintain the number o£ working lines needed and have an eq~l
amount in reserve.,. Other equipment purchased to better the operation of the fire depa.-t -
ment was two mobile and two handie-talkie radio sets. This equipment was purchased
through Civil Defense with the city paying one half and. Civil Defense paying one half of
the cost.
Respectfully submitted,
ELMO ANDERSON, CHIu'F
Chief Anderson informed the Council the 1957 3egional Fire School for Tyrrell, Earle,
Crawfordsville, Marion, Parkin, U. S• Engineers. T^.arked Tree, Tyronza Joiner, Lepanto
*aould be conducted in West Memphis 2'larch 11 thru 21, and invited the council to attend.
City Attorney Atlee Harris presented the following Resolution:
RESOLUTION N0. 198
AUTHORIZING REMOVAL FROM CITY STREET IIAP OF UPIDEDICATED STREET AREA SHOWN ON SAID MAP
AS HARRISCEI STREET RUMdI7JG IN AN EAST=+~EST DIRECTION DE1"4EEN RHODES STREET AND BEDDING
STREET.
Whereas, R. F. Scruggs, Administrator of the Crittenden Memorial Hospital
hereto Fore made application before the West Memphis Planning Commission seeking
removal from the street map of an area shown as Harrison Street running in an East ?nest
directun betvreen Rhodes Street and Redding Street, and
Whereas, it was found and ascertained by the West Memphis Planning Commission
that said Harrison Street area had never been dedicated as a street, has never been
used as a street nor has the public or members thereof acquired any right to the use
of said area as by easement, deed, prescription or otherwise, and
nhlereas, the West Memphis Planning Commission passed the following Resolution
dated November 8, 1956, and Furnished the City Council with a certified copy thereof,
which Resolution is in words and Figures as follows:
R E S O L U T I O N
BE IT RESOLVED by the rr7est Piemphis Planning Commmission of West Memphis, Arkansas,
at its regular meeting held in the Council Chamber in the City of west Memphis, Arkansas,
on Iovember 8, 1956, as follows:
1. :whereas; the Crittenden Memorial Hospital has for several years owned the following
and described lards:
Block Nine (9) of the Eugene Woods Subdivision said property lying between
Rhodes Street and Redding Street and south of Tyler Street in Section Thirteen
(13 ), Township Six (6) North, Range Eight (8) East in the City of West Memphis,
Crittenden County, Arkansas, and
2. Whereas, the Crittenden Memorial Hospital has recently acquired by Deed as a gift
from ^ir. and Mrs. 0. I. Bollinger additional land south and immediately adjacent of
Block Nine (9) Eugene Woods Subdivision, described as follows:
Beginning at a point on the center line of Rhodes Street That is L25 feet south of
the point of intersection of Tyler Street and Rhodes Street; thence south 246.4 feet along
the center line of Rhodes Street to.a point; thence North 75 degrees 23' West 444.2 feet;
thence North SO degrees 09' West 254.95 feet; thence North 7$ degrees ]2' West 278.35 feet
to a point on the center ljne of South Redding Street that is 425 feet south of the point
of intersection of Tyler Street and South Redding Street; thence East 950 feet along the
south line of B1oek 9, of ..the Eugene Woods Subdivision to the point of beginning, and
3. Whereas, the Crittenden Memorial Hospital by its letter addressed to the City of West Memphis,
Arkansas, dated November 7, 1956, and by oral application made this day before the Planning Comm-
ission by R. F. Scruggs, Administrator of said Hospital, seeks the removal from the street map of
West Memphis of an area shown as Harrison Street said area being shown as lying immediately south
of said Block Nine (9) and running in an east-west direction between Rhodes Street and Redding
Street, and
4. Whereas, it has been ascertained that said Harrison Street area has never been dedicated as
a street, has never been used as a street nor has the public nor members thereof acquired any
right to the use of said area as by easement, deed, prescription or otherwise, and
5. Whereas, the Crittenden Memorial Hospital was given the land described in Paragraph two (2)
herein of which said undedicated street area is a part, for use by the said Crittenden Memorial
Hospital in its contemplated expansion of facilities, and
6. Whereas, it is to the vest interest of the City of West Memphis, the Crittenden Memorial
Hospital, and the public for the Crittenden Memorial Hospital to be permitted to use said land
given it by Mr. and Mrs. 0. I. Bollinger without hinderance or difficulty, and
7. Whereas, the presence of the said City street map of lines described thereon as Harrison
Street being the said undedicated street area will needlessly complicate and interfere with the
said building and development activates of the Crittenden Memorial Hospital and it is to the
manifest best interest of the City of West Memphis, the Crittenden Memorial Hospital, and the
public for said undedicated street area to be deleted and removed from the City street map of
West Memphis, Arkansas.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE WEST MEP~HIS PLANNING COMrffSSION OF WEST I•IEMPHIS,
ARKANSAS:
That the City Council o£ West Memphis, Arkansas, be and it hereby is authorized and
requested to remove. and delete..said undedicated street area heretofore shown as Harrison
Street and lying immnediately south of said Block Nine (9) as aforesaid from said City Street
map and that the City Council be supplied with a copy of this resolution.
That the Chairman and secretary of the West Memphis Planning Commission furnish to the
City Council of the City of West Memphis, Arkansas, a certified copy of this resolution.
DATED THIS 8th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1956.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS:
That it has been ascertained that said Harrison Street has never been dedicated as a street,
has never been used as a street nor has the public or members thereof acquired the right to the
use of said area as by easement, deed, prescription or otherwise and that said area shown on said
City Street Map as Harrison Street is not a dedicated street,
BE TT FURTHER RESOLVED that said area as displayed on said City Street Map as Harrison Street,
between Rhodes Street and Redding Street be removed from the City Street Map it being to the
manifest best interest of the City of West Memphis, the Crittenden Memorial Hospital and the public
for said undedicated street area to be deleted and removed from the City Street Map.
~,F;F~ ;t
After discussion, motion was made by Alderman Eden and seconded by Alderman David: That
Resolution removing Undedicated Street from City Street Map be adopted. Upon vote, the voting
was as follows:
Yeas: Aldermen: Eden, Himes, Roleson, Sims, David.
Nays: None.
No further business appearing before the Council, motion was made by Alderman Roleson and
seconded by Alderman David to ad~ovrn. Upon vote, the voting was as follows:
Yeas: Aldermen: Eden, Himes, Roleson, Sims, David.
Nays: None.
A
CITY CLERK
_,
APPROVED: MARDH 7, 1957