January 8, 1959~~~.
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE CSTY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS,
HAD AND HELD AT THE CITY HALL IN SAID CITY ON THE 8TH DAY OF JANUARY, 1959, AT 7:30 P.M._ _ _
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On the 8th day of January, 1959, the City Council of the City of West Memphis.
Arkansas, met in the City Hall in said City in regular session. The meeting was called
to order at 7:30 o'clock P. M. by the Mayor, and on the roll call the following members
of the Council were found to be present:
Aldermen: Hob Eden, J. E. Rimes. R, H. Ray, Jr., L. E. Roleson, Y. G. Sims, James Bledsoe,
0. I, Bollinger; and City Attorney W. H. Dillahunty,
Absent:
Aldermen: B. J. David.
It being determined a quorum was present. the following procaedirgs were had to-wit:
Minutes of Co~cil Meeting on December 18, 1958, were approved as read.
Mayor Price informed the Council the Planning Commission had. recommended that Lots 3,
4, 5, and b of Block 11, Thompson 2nd Addition to the City of West Memphis be rezoned from
"B" two family residential to "D" Commercial upon request of the owner of the property,
Leon DnVall. The recommendation was discussed, and motion made by Alderman Rimes and
seconded by Alderman Sims: That hearing for rezoning of Lots 3, fit, $, 6, Block 11,
Thompson Second Addition be set for 7:30 P.M., February 19, 1959, and City Clerk Charles F. DeGraff
be requested to have notice of hearing published in accordance with Ordinance No. 165. IIpon
vote the voting was as follows:
Yea: Aldermen: Eden, Rimes, Ray, Roleson, Sims, Bledsoe, and Bollinger.
Nay: None.
Mr. Z. T. Bragg appeared before the Council to request improvement of Graham Street
from Boardway to Thompson Street inasmuch as the improvement of the street had been omitted
from Street Improvement Districts 1 and 2. After discussion, Mayor Price recommended that
City Engineer James Howell obtain figures on cost to remove dirt from the street and replace
with 6" of select material 6" of stone and 2" oP blacktop, and the matter would be discussed
further with Mr. Bragg and owners of property on the east side o£ the street.
Mr. Cecil U. Edmonds appeared before the Council and presented the following matters:
1. Adoption of ordinances for changes in the operation of the Public Library.
2. Establishment of Board of Public Affairs and purchasing of equipment by the City.
3. Audit of the city's accounts by the Municipal Audit Division of the State Controllers
Office.
After discussion of the matters and operation of the City under existing laws, Mayor Price
informed Mr. Edmonds if the Board of Trustees of the Library request changes in the
ordinances for operation of the library that City Attorney Dillahunty will assist them in
preparing the ordinances for presentation to the Council. Also, that he and the City Attorney,
who took office on January 2, 1959, have been conferring on matters to be presented to the
Council and the City Attorney had advised the Mayor that it will be necessary to comply with
the statutes as to the creation of a Board of Public Affairs. The Mayor advised Mr. Edmonds
that the City Attorney had been instructed to prepare necessary papers and Ordinances for
compliance with the Statutes. Mr. Edmonds further questioned propriety of members of council
and commissions selling to the City but was advised by the City Attorney that the only limita-
tion was as to selling services and the restriction did not apply to materials. Mr. Edmonds
requested permission to see City Accounts and was readily given that permission and advised
that all citizens have that right at any time. Mr. Edmonds was told that the Council would
check on his suggestion that the City Audit could be done without charge each year by
Legislative Audit Committee.
The following resolution was presented:
RESOLDTION N0. 212
WHEREAS, Atlee Harris has served the City of West Memphis for six years in the capacity
of City Attorney; and
WHEREAS, he discharged his duties as City Attorney faithfully and untiringly; and
WHEREAS, the City of West Memphis has been greatly benefited by having the services of
Atlee Harris;
THEREFORE, WE, the members of the City Council pass this Resolution and extend our thanks
to Atlee Harris for the services rendered as City Attorney of West Memphis, Arkansas, and order
that this Resolution be spread upon the minutes of this meeting.
„~, ,-.-;;mot
Motion was made by Alderman Ray and seconded by Alderman Rimes: That the resolution be
adopted. Upon vote, the voting was as follows:
Yea: Aldermen: Eden, Rimes, Ray, Roleson, Sims, Bledsoe, and Bollinger.
Nay: None.
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Mayor Price recommended the reappointment of I.ee Warrington as a member of the
Recreation Commission. Motion was made by Alderman Bledsoe and seconded by
Alderman Roleson that: Ise Warrington be appointed as a member of the Becreation
Commission for a period of five years in conformity with Ordinance No, 134. Upon
vote, the voting was as follows
Yea: Aldermen: Eden, Himes, Ray, Roleson, Sims, Bledsoe, and Bollinger.
Nay: P1one .
Alderman Eden brought to the Councils attention the increase of speed limits
in the City. After discussion the increase from 30 MPH to !!5 MPH from Walker Street
to the east city limits for a trial period of 30 days was agreed upon.
City Attorney W, H. Dillahunty informed the Council ordinances had been prepared
for asaessing the benefits in Annex #1 and Annex #2 to Street Improvement District #4
of West Memphis, Thereupon} Alderman Bledsoe introduced an ordinance entitled "An
Ordinance Assessing Tha Benefits In Annex #1 to Street Improvement District #!~ of
West Memphis, Arkansas" which was read in full by Alderman Rimes.
Alderman Roleson then moved that the rule requiring the reading in full of an
ordinance on three different days be dispensed with. The motion was seconded by
Alderman Bollinger, and on the roll being called the voting was as follows:
Yea: Aldermen: Eden, Rimes, Rey, Roleson, Sims, Bledsoe, and Bollinger.
Nay: None.
The Mayor declared that more than two-thirds of the members composing the Council
had voted in favor of the motion to suspend the rule and that it was carried. Alderman
Sims then moved that the ordinance as read be adopted. This motion was duly seconded
by Alderman Eden, and on the roll being called the voting was as follows:
Yea: Aldermen: Eden, Rimes, Ray, Roleson, Sims. Bledsoe, and Hollinger.
Nay: None.
The Mayor then declared that the ordinance had been duly passed, and thereupon 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, 363
AN ORDINANCE ASSESSING THE BENEFITS IN ANNEX #1 TO STREET IMPROPEMENT DISTRICT
#1t OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS
WHEREAS, more than a majority in value of the property holders owning property
contiguous to Street Improvement DDistrict #11 of West Memphis, Arkansas organized
for the purpose of paving the streets set out in the petition have petitioned the
council of said city for annexation to said improvement district for the paving of
Woods Street as an industrial street from the south line of Broadway Avenue, South
a distance of 1:.96$ feet. and that the cost thereof shall be assessed upon the real
property of said Annex #1 to Street Improvement District #11 of West Memphis, Arkansas,
according to the benefits received, and
WfIr~iEAS. said benefits received by each and every lot and parcel of real property
situated in said annex to said district equals or exceeds the local assessment thereon;
and
~+iHEREAS, the estimated cost of said improvement in said Annex #1 to Street
Improvement District #Lt of West Memphis, Arkansas, is Thirty Five Thousand and
No/100th: Dollars 035,000.00); NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council of the City of West Memphis, Arkansas:
SECTION ONE, That said several lots and parcels of real property in said
Annex to say. district be assessed according to the assessment list for said
annex to said improvement district, as the same may hereafter be revised and that
22 per centum of the assessment of each of said lots and parcels shall be collected
by the County Collector, with the first instalment of general taxes becoming due
in 1960, and annually thereafter with the first installment of general taxes, until
the whole of said assessments shall be paid.
SECTION TWO, This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after
its passage.
;~=:-;err.-xta~t ;; F
Alderman Ray introduced an ordinance entitled ~~An Ordinance Assessing The
Benefits In Annex #2 To Street Improvement District..#~ Of West Memphis, Arkansas"
which was read in full by Alderman Bledsoe..
Alderman Himes then moved that the rule requiring the reading in full of an
ordinance on three different days be dispensed with. The metier. was seconded by
Alderman Roleson, and on the roll being called the voting was as follows:
Yea: Aldermen: Eden, Himes, Ray, Roleson, Sims, Bledsoe, and Bollinger.
Nay: None.
The Mayor declared that more than two-thirds of the members composing the Council
had voted i.n favor of the motion to suspend the rule and that it was carried. Alderman
Bollinger then moved that the ordinance as read be adopted. This motion was duly
seconded by Alderman Sims, and on the roll being called the voting was as follows:
Yea: Aldermen: Eden, Aimes, Ray, Roleson, Sims, Bledsoe, and Bollinger.
Nay: None.
The Mayor then declared that the ordinance and the emergency section had been duly
passed, and thereupon 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 N0. 36l~
AN ORDINANCE ASSESSING THi~ BENEFITS IN ANNEX #2 TO STREET IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT #4
OF WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS
WHEREAS, more than a majority in value of the property holders owning property
contiguous to :,tract Improvement District #4 of West Memphis, Arkansas, organized for
the pw pose of paving, grading, draining, curbing and guttering the streets set out in
the petition have petitioned the council of said city for annexation to said improvement
district for the grading, draining, curbing, guttering and paving of said Annex #2 on
Thompson Avenue from the East line of North Fourteenth Street, East a distance of five
hundred ten feet (510 0, and that the cost thereof shall be assessed upon the real property
of said Annex #2 to Street Improvement District ;:#11 of West Memphis, Arkansas, according to
the benefits received, and
WHEREAS, said benefits received by each and every lot and parcel of real property
situated in said annex to said district equals or exceeds the local assessment thereon; and
WHEREAS, the estimated cost of said improvement in said Annex #2 to Street Improvement
District #1~ of West Memphis, Arkansas, is Fifteen Thousand and No/100th Dollars ($15,000.00);
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED, by the City Council of the City of West Memphis, Arkansas:
SECTION ONE. That said aeveral lots and parcels of real property in said Annex #2 to
said str~ic~ assessed according to the assessment list for said annex to said improvement
district, as the same may hereafter be revised and that 2z per centum of the assessment of
each of said lots and parcels shall be collected by the County Collector, with the first
installment of general taxes becoming due in 1960, and annually thereafter with the first
installment of general taxes, until the whole o£ said assessments shall be paid.
SECTION TWO. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
No further business appearing before the Council, motion was made by Alderman Bledsoe
and seconded by Alderman Himes to adjourn. Upon vote, the voting was as follows:
Yea: Aldermen: Eden, Himes, Rawy, Roleson, Sims, Bledsoe, and Bollinger.
Nay: None.
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AT~r~~ .C~~/~~G/
C Ii/%
MAYOP
APPROVED: JANUARY 15, 1959