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April 7, 1977~~ MINUTES WEST MEMPHIS- CITY COUNCIL APRIL 7, 1977 A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held at 1:30 p. m. , in the council chamber in City Hall in West Memphis, Arkansas on April 7, 1977. Pre sent were: Mayor Joyce T. Ferguson City Attorney Robert Smith Aldermen: R. H. Ray Doug Shelton W. R. Spencer Lloyd Woodell Charles Hampton James Hightower Pritchard Horton Roberta Jackson Doug Morris being a quorum. Alderman Don Gr~imsley was absent. Prayer was offered by Rev. Roy Belcher of the First Christian Church. Alderman Shelton made a motion, seconded by Alderman Spencer that the minutes of February 17, 1977 be corrected to read ''Shelton voted '-Aye" on the -issue of increasing the Auditorium Board of Com- missioners and Alderman Spencer voted "no". Upon voice vote, the } minutes of February 17, 19?? were unanimously approved as corrected. Alderman Ray made a motion to approve the minutes of March 3, 197?. Alderman Jackson seconded the motion and upon voice vote, the minutes of March 3, 197? were unanimously approved. Alderman Hampton ad- vised that on the last page of the minutes of March 17, 1977 a correction° should be made changing the name ''Oak Grove Trailer Park" to "Broad- way Trailer Park". Alderman Morris Made a motion to approve the minutes of March 17, 1977 with that correction. Alderman Ray seconded the motion and upon voice vote, the minutes of March 17, 1977 were unanimously approved with the noted correction. ~~ ._.. f s ~. ~`~¢ 8~ Alderman Spencer, Chairman of the Budget Committee, made a motion to authorize the mayor to spend up to One Thousand Dollars ($1, 000. 00) for title fees and/or reports for several pieces of property the auditors say the city does not have copies of. Alderman Jackson seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously (obtain deeds RESOLVED, That the mayor is hereby city doesn't authorized to spend up to One Thousand have) Dollars ($1, 000. 00) for title fees and/or reports for several pieces of property the city does not have copies of. Alderman Spencer made a motion that the city apply for a CETA grant to obtain funding for microfilming equipment and the personnel for microfilming city records. Alderman Morrie seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously (apply for RESOLVED, That the~nayor is hereby authorized microfilm to apply for the CETA grant to obtain funds for grant) microfilming equipment and personnel for micro- filming city records. Alderman Spencer made a motion that Eight Hundred Dollar s ($800. 00) be allotxed the Police Departure nt to buy a safe with. Alder- man Ray seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously (Police Dept. RESOLVED, That Eight Hundred Dollars be buy safe) allotted the Police Department to buy a safe with. Alderman Spencer made a motion that changes in classification and pay scales be made for certain sanitation employees. Truck Driver { 1) -present $3. 87 per hour (no change); truck driver (2) proposed salary of $3. 97 per hour; crew chief - . 05 per hour raise; assistant superintendent rate of $4. 37 per hour; these items be made a matter of record. Alderman Jackson seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously RESOLVED, That the following pay scales are hereby in effect for the sanitation de- partment: Truck Driver- (1) $3. 8? per hour, Truck Driver (2) $3.97 per hour; Crew Chief $. 05 per hour raise; Assistant Superintendent $4. 37 per hour. 8~ Alderman Spencer made a motion that permission be given to apply for a grant to insulate senior citizen owner-occupant homes according to survey made by Jay Woods. Alderman Ray seconded_ the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously RESOLVED, That permission is hereby given (apply for to apply for a grant to insulate senior citizen grant to homes according to survey made by Jay Woods. insulate homy Chairman of the Sanitation Department, Alderman Jackson/made a motion that approval be given to apply for a grant for the anti-litter campaign. Alderman Ray seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously .RESOLVED, That permission is hereby given (apply for to apply for a grant for.the anti-litter campaign, grant for anti-litter) Alderman Jackson made a motion for the council to approve accepting the low bid of $13, 420. 00 plus tax from Hawkins Equipment Company for 50 containers, for the Sanitation Department. Alderman Ray seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously RESOLVED, That approval i s hereby given for accepting the low bid for fifty containers from Hawkins Equipment Co. , for $13, 420. 00 plus tax. (award con- tract for 50 container s) Alderman Woodell, Chairman of the Higher Education Steering Committee, made a motion to go on record of supporting the recom- mendation of the Higher Education Committee to bring in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and or East Arkansas Community College. Alderman Ray made an amendment to the motion that the survey should be furnished the City of West Memphis within thirty days. Alderman Jackson seconded the motion. Upon voice vote the motion and the amendment to the motion unanimously carried and it was _ RESOLVED, That the Wes Memphis City (Community Council does hereby support the recommenda- College) tion of its higher education steering com- mittee to go along wi th the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and East Arkansas Community College at Forrest City and their programs to provide higher education for West Memphis. And, to request that a survey be made and furnished to the city within thirty days. ~`' V' Alderman Morris, Chairman of the Fire Commission, made a motion to allow Mrs. Jean Ellen Wooten, Personnel Director, to give CETA candidates the same Civil Service test at the same time other potential employees take the test in order that CETA workers will be Civil Service qualified when promotional tests are given. Alderman Horton seconded the motion and upon roll call vote, it was unanimously ~~,ETA RESOLVED, That request is to be made testing} to the Civil Service Corrrmi s sion to allow Mrs. Jean Ellen Wooten, Personnel Director, to give CETA candidates the same Civil Service test at the time other potential employees take the, test in order that CETA workers will be qualified when promotional tests are given. Alderman Spencer made a motion to allow Joryn Smith and Margaret Woolfolk to make a trip to Chicago to a Cable TV convention for information on Cable TV. Alderman Jackson seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously RESOL VED, That the council authorize (.Cable TV Joryn Smith and Margaret Woolfolk to info.) attend the Cable TV convention in Chicago to obtain information on Cable TV. Alderman James Hightower made a motion to grant permission to advertise for bids for mosquito control program in West Memphis. Alderman Shelton seconded the motion and upon roll call vote, it was unanimously (mosquito RESOLVED, That permission be and hereby program) is given to advertise for bids for the mosquito control program. Alderman Hampton, Chairman of the Street Committee, made a motion to allow Telephone .Company employees to continue parking on the north side of Roosevelt and to allow them to park on the Tabernacle Baptist Church property. Alderman Morris seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously I' 91 RESOLVED, That the Telephone Company (Telephone employees are hereby, given permission to Company ~. 4 continue parking on the north side of Roose- parking) welt and on the Tabernacle Baptist Church property. Alderman Hampton made a motion to abide by the recommenda- tion of the Street Committee not to put up four-way stop signs on Rich Road. Alderman Shelton seconded the motion. After considerable discussion and roll call vote, the motion was defeated and it was therefore the council's decision not to abide by the Street Committee's recommendation. Alderman Hampton made a motion that the ,council approve the recommendation of the Street Committee in their selection of streets for overlaty and/or .repairs in 1977. Alderman Morris .seconded the motion and after discussion and roll call vote., it was unanimously RESOLVED, That the council does hereby approve the list of streets selected for the 197? overlay program as .follows: 1. South Eighth Street _ 2. Thompson Avenue from Graham to North Fourteenth Street 3. Auburn Street from Princeton to Rice 4. South Second Street from Polk to Van Buren 5. South Nineteenth Street from Jackson to Madison 6. South Twentieth Street from Broadway to Polk ?. South Twentieth Street from Polk to Harrison 8. East Barton West of Fourteenth Street 350' E. of North Seventh Street (Street Dept. ~, overlay prog.) Alderman Hampton made a motion that the council accept the bid from Southern Spray for the weed control program for $14, 644. 20. Alderman Morris seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was ~,~~ ~.. ~~ unanimously y (Street Dept. RESOLVED, .That the bid from Southern weed control) Spray for $14, 644. 20 for the weed control program be and hereby is accepted. Alderman Shelton made a motion for afive-minute recess. Upon motion being duly seconded and unanimou sly carried, the Mayor granted afive-minute recess. The mayor called the meeting back to order at 3~<._25 p, m. The mayor asked to waive the rules to allow Mrs. Madeline Brown to speak before the council. Upon voice vote, the council unanimously waived the rules to allow Mrs. Brown to appear. Madeline Brown, :516 Hamilton, concerning her property at 2700 Tyler at Broadway Trailer Park: appeared to ask why she had to move a building which is on the property behind Broadway Trailer Park. City Attorney 5mith~explained the encroachment and that letters had been sent to have. encroachments removed. Alderman Jackson re- ceived petitions with 45 or 50 signatures which was sent in packets, requesting that property not be made into a park. 't'he mayor advised that the Park Commission recommended that a park not be put on that spot. Mayor Ferguson stated that Mrs. Brown will be advised at a later date what the city's wishes are about offering the land for sale or whatever it can be used for. Mr.s. Brown also brought up the question of meters being on that property. This matter was referred to the Utility Committee. Mayor Ferguson appointed a committee to study the question and recommend a solution to the council of this city- owned property behind Broadway Trailer Park as follows: Chairman, Pritchard Horton, Doug Morris, James Hightower, Roberta Jackson and Joryn Smith. Alderman Hampton made a motion that the council approve the spending of $7, 284. 84 for the city's part of the construction to make Rich Road afour-lane road at the new school in Westwood Acres. After considerable discussion, the Mayor asked if the Street Committee ~~ ~~ had a recommendation on this. Alderman Hampton said it had not been to the Street Committee. A motion was duly made and seconded to table the matter until the recessed meeting of the council. Upon voice vote, the matter was tabled until the recessed meeting of the council. Alderman Hampton reported that after obtaining prices from several companies for traffic control signals, it was learned that the lowest price could be obtained from Eagle Signal Company if the city buys seven signals. Al derman Hampton made a motion that the council approve the recommendation of the Street Committee and waive bids and buy the signals from Eagle Signal Company for a price of Tajo Thousand Dollars ($2, 000. 00) each. Upon motion being duly seconded and voice vote, it was unanimously RESOLVED, That the council hereby approves (Street Dept. the recommendation of the Street Committee approve re co. to waive bids and purchase seven traffic con- " to waive bids ~' trol signals from Eagle Signal Company fora to buy signals) price of $2, 000. 00 each. The Mayor advised the first item under old business to be the third reading of an ordinance concerning requirements of plumbers for license. City Attorney Smith read the Ordinance. Alderman Shelton made a motion to pass the ordinance on the third reading. Alderman Morris seconded the motion and upon roll call vote, it was unanimously carried. The Ordinance number is 89Q. (ordinance on next page) ORDINAT~TCr, NO. ~~~ A_'~ ORDINANCE TO AiMEND OR.DIi~ANCE i~IO, ~2~, SECTION THREE 3) , SECTION FIVE (5) , A~'VI7 SECTION SEVEN 7) 0~' SAID O:~RDINANCE. ~3_~ IT ORDAT_NED BY Ti-iE CITY COUi~dCIL 0~' `_~'r~E CITY Or WEST I~IE~~~IP~-iIS, A ~-~~Al°SSAS SEC~':i~05.I. Ordinance No. x-28, Section Three (3), shall be af~~ended ~o read as follows "i~o license slZall be issued to any plumber anless suc'_~Z plunb~r s1~all have and maix~.tain an establis_n~ed place of business within the C~_ty~ Lir~~.~.ts of West Memphis, Arkansas; and, have d:isp:Layed in a ry.°o~ninent location his business name, and shall maintain a telephone at the business. A Field Office located within the City Limits shal'1 not be considered as an established place ~of business.. SEC`T`ION II. Th2,t part of Ordinance, No. x-23, Section Five (5 ) Tr~t'~.ich reads : - ... "Ever. ,}r plumber pQrformtng p lumb in work: ~_n the City o ~~' tidest Memphis shall give a bond.. i"n the penal su.~1 of One T.~z~ousand Dollars (pl, 0'00.00) to be approt,red by the Board of Ex;~,miners; , . . ~~a.ll b 1 amF~nded to read: - .. ®EveryT plumber per. forl~~i,nz plu~~-b~~ng vtror~~ ~~ t'n~ City o.f West i~iemph~is ;hall give a bone. ~_n the a~noun~; of ~:~ve T~-~.ous~.nd Dollars (~5, 000.00) to be app.rovec~ by th~~ Bo~.r~_ of ~ECTICI'J~ III, Ordinance ito. ~~?~, Section Seven (7) stZal~i_ be ,Y~?~.Y?:~°d to read: "'Tn.~n ~3oa.rd of Examiners shall have the po~~~re~:~i and: auth:~ri.ty to i :sue to a~ri individual, company, or cor.poration., a Certif_ icato oz" ~rnination fo.r license t?~~at ~ATO~ald ?xempt an individual, cornp~.ri`y ~`~ ~` y, ;, ~.` o:~^ corporat'~on _from comp.lyin titiri~;~~ t:n.e sections on established place ~, ~ i ~ c ~ business and/o:r bonda~ e. .~ ,r ~~ PASS ~~~~D AND APPP~OVFJ th. s da. " a ~ r ~ ~ ~` " ___-_.,~ _ .~__ _ y _ _ _.~___._.,..,. a ~ ~ ~T:-~ n _ _ ~__. CI`.I'~' CLEI:,.K ~~ City Attorney Smith read an ordinance concerning CETA employees for the second time. Alderman Shelton made a motion to pass the ordinance on the second reading. Alderman Spencer seconded the motion. There being no discussion, upon roll call vote the ordinance was passed on the second reading. City Attorney Smith read for the ~econdatime:~a.rt,~~~~c an ordinance abolishing Curb and Gutter District No. 1. Alderman Morris made a motion to adopt the ordinance on the rtcond ~~ng. Alderman Shelton seconded the motion. There being no discussion and upon roll call vote the ordinance was unanimously adopted on the second reading. City Attorney Smith read for the second time an ordinance abolishing Street Improvement District No. 2. Alderman Ray made a motion to adopt the ordinance on the second reading. Alderman Jackson seconded the motion and upon roll call vote, the ordinance was adopted on the second reading. Mayor Ferguson stated the first item under new business to be the first reading or an ordinance annexing a portion of ground for the new school in Ward 2. City Attorney Robert Smith read the ordinance for the first time. Alderman Woodell made a motion to adopt the ordinance on the first reading. Alderman Morris seconded the motion. After discussion and upon roll call vote, the ordinance was adopted on the first reading. The next item of new business was an ordinance amending existing Ordinance 212 concerning the mayor's salary. City Attorney Robert Smith read the ordinance. Alderman Ray made a motion to adopt the ordinance on the first reading. Alderman Jackson seconded the motion. Upon roll call vote, the ordinance was unanimously adopted on the first reading. i j ..~p ~~ ~ '_, S.r' 'i,. / ~.. ~~ The next item of new business Was an ordinance amending and existing Ordinance 188 concerning overnight parking on streets. City Attorney Smith read the ordinance for the first time. Alderman Shelton made a motion to adopt the ordinance on the first reading. Alderman Morris seconded the motion and upon roll call vote, the ordinance was unanimously adopted on the first reading. The Mayor announced the next item of new business to be a resolution concerning the distribution of money for the Boy's Clubs. Alderman Horton made a motion that this resolution be tabled until the recessed meeting. The motion was seconded by Alderman Ray. Upon roll call vote, it was unanimously decided to table the motion until the recessed meeting. Alderman Jackson made an announcement that a meeting of the steering committee concerning this issue would be held Tuesday evening at 6:30, April 12, 1977. The Mayor announced the next order of business was to approve the preliminary and final plat for Meadowbrook Gardens Subdivision' Alderman Hampton made a motion approval be granted. Alderman Morris seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously (approval RESOLVED, That approval be and hereby plats for is granted for the preliminary and final Meadowbrook plat for Meadowbrook Gardens Subdivision Subdivision) Alderman Hampton made a motion to approval the street name correction in Richland 5th Addition. Alderman Spencer seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously (approval for RESOLVED, That approval be and hereby street name is granted for street name correction in correction) Richland 5th Addition. City Attorney Robert Smith stated the State of Arkansas has requested our assistance in enforcing Act No. 258 of the General Assembly of Arkansas, 1973, and has furnished us a list of violators. The City also has an ordinance against signs that has not been enforced. n~~ ~~ This law concerns the flashing signs and Mr. Smith asked permission of the council and the mayor to write the violators notifying them of the law and giving them six months to comply. Alderman Ray made a motion to give the City Attorney permission to write the letters. Alderman Shelton seconded the motion and upon voice vote, it was unanimously agree d to grant permission. Mayor Ferguson asked permission of the council to have a public hearing on Cable TV on April 21 afte;r council meeting in compliance with a FCC request. It was agreed to grant permission also that notification was to appear in the local paper one time. Mayor Ferguson stated appointments should be made for vacancies on the Civil Service Commission and asked that aldermen for Ward 1 and Ward 2 have selections made for appointments at the recessed meeting. The Mayor announced the reception for Taylor Machine Works Aril 13 and invited the council members to participate. The Mayor also announced the 50th birthday celebration April 30, and said we have received 1000 buttons to wear for celebration. April 23 will be pick-up litter day from Sanitation Department and asked aldermen to help in ward. Alderman Morris ~ade~ a ~mo~.ic ~ ~ 3~ to waive the rules to get an item. of business on the floor,- four-way stops signs on Dover and Rich Road and Balfour and Rich Road. .LL.A.lerna:~nT~~~rn~o~naa~c~n.~ } thee. ri~'roti=a,nd .~pc~~~ ~~oll ~al.l°-vo~e;~ ~-3vc~st~~anim:ou:s~~~_~agre~d~tohp~®~i . ~~dar~ ~~ild~la~rnc~e~i~r~m~.d~:e~~i~1 -ict firer pub ~fod.r-u~~.y~,r_ stop ist~~.~ ~:up->a~.~t~e' ~inters~~a~ons of ~i'ch Roadd }ar~~Ba~fonrr a~3dc~Zi:~~ote ~o~c~.~an~dt~ver. Alderman Ray seconded the motion. After discussion and roll call vote, it was ~~n ~~ ~~ (Street Dept. RESOLVED, That stop signs be put up stop signs) at the intersections of Rich Road and Dover and Rich Road at Balfour. Voting was as follows: Alderman Ray -Aye; Alderman Shelton -Aye; Alderman Spencer -Aye; Alderman Woodell - No; Alderman Hampton - Aye; Alderman Hightower -Aye; Alderman Horton - No; Alderman Jackson -Aye; Alderman Morris -Aye. Mr. Leo Chitman, Secretary of the Civil Service Commission appeared before the council to ask if the Affirmative Action Plan has been adopteda also to remind the council to appoint new members to the Civil Service Commission. Mr. S. E. Holbrook appeared to make a statement about the Boy's Clubs. Mr. Dick Rains appeared to ask what progress had been made on the pension plan. City Attorney Smith advised he would do whatever Mr. Para asked him to do regarding Aetna Insurance Company. Mayor Ferguson has asked the Insurance pension committee to meet and this could be taken up at the Utility Committee meeting. Mrs. Oneida Gardner asked if tranquilizer gun couldn't be bought to catch stray dogs. This was turned over to the Police Department. Alderman Hampton asked for a Street Committee meeting to be held Monday morning at 10:00, April 11. Alderman Horton made a motion to recess until Thursday evening, April 14, 1977, at 7 o'clock. Upon motion being duly seconded and unanimously approved, the Mayor recessed the meeting until Thursday April 14, 1977 at 7 p. m. Mayor ATTEST: ,~ City Clerk ~, R