February 16, 1978MINUTE S
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 16, 1978
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council Was held
in the Council Chamber at City Ha11 in West Memphis, Arkansas, at
1:30 p. m. , on February 16, 1978. Mayor Joyce T. Ferguson called
the meeting to order. Reverend Barnes from St. Michael Catholic
Church offered prayer. Present Were:
Mayor Joyce T. Ferguson
City Attorney Robert Smith
Aldermen:
Pritchard Horton
Roberta Jackson
Doug Morris
R. H. Ray
Doug Shelton
W. R. Spencer
Lloyd Woodell
Don Grimsley
Charles Hampton
James Hightower
Mayor Ferguson announced the first item on the agenda to be the
presentation of service pins to employees by their department heads .
Presentations Were made as follows:
.Employ e e_
Years of Service Department Presented By
Frances Juanita Smith
Vivian Woods
Phyllis Roberts
Wilma Applebury
Bill Steele
Meredith Taylor
Orville Nix
Earl Person
Billie Callan
Eloise Perrine
Louise Rash
Gerry Powell
Lucille Demuth
Gayle Stevens
George Ferguson
Henry Seals
Anderson Boyd
Andrew Mondy
Douglas Grey
Jake Spell
Theodore Mosley
Jessie Faggett
Robert Jimmerson
10
10
5
5
5
25
20
20
10
10
15
15
10
5
20
10
5
5
5
5
25
5
5
Library
Library
Municipal Court
City Attorney' s
Civic Center
Utility
Street
Sanitation
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Pam Owens
Pam OW ens
Mayor
Robert Smith
Don Christian
P. G. Para
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Louise Wheeler
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Louise Wheeler
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Employee Years of Service Department Presented B~
Frank Gobbell, Jr. 15 Fire Thomas Burkhart
James Barnett 15 ' ~
James Grisson 15 " ~~
Bobby Morris 15 " --
Wayne Embrey 15 " r.
Billy Hill 15
Frank Wheeler
Thomas Di11 15 " --
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Bill Willis 15 -~ „
Jerry Chapple 15 rr „
T. K. Williams 2 0 " ~
James A. Dollahite 5 Police Mayor
Daisy Marie Denton 5 " -~
Charles Ashley 1 p -,
None of the firemen appeared in person to accept their pins. Chief
Thomas Burkhart accepted for them and took the pins for presentation
at the Fire Department when the employees were on duty.
Billie Callen and Lucille Demuth were not. present to receive their pins
but were on duty at the Utility Department. Mr. Para took their pins to
them. Eloise Perrine did not appear but was given her pin by Mr. Para
at the Utility Department.
Service Pins are described as follows:
Five year pin silver
Ten year pin gold
Fifteen year pin gold with one diamond
Twenty year pin gold with two diamonds
Twenty-five year pin gold with three diamonds
Two twenty-five year pins were presented this day; four twenty year pins;
twelve fifteen year pins; seven ten year pins; twelve five year pins.
Mayor Ferguson announced the time for citizen's requests.
Mary Mukes Carter, 225 South 18th Street in West Memphis appeared
before the council to ask if there were ordinances or laws requiring
a company to provide parking facilities for their employees. Ms. Carter
presented the problem of parking at the offices of Southwestern Be11
on Missouri at Barton Streets and cited the dangerous and hazardous
conditions in getting to and from the building if parking some distance
away. Since this problem had been before the council previously, the
alderman were familiar with it and there was quite a bit of discussion.
Mayor Ferguson appointed Aldermen R. H. Ray, Charles Hampton and
Bill Spencer as a committee and offered to work with them in meeting
with the telephone company to try to iron the problem out.
Upon motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried,
the mayor granted afive-minutes recess. The meeting was called
back to order at 2.35 p. m.
Mayor Ferguson asked Alderman Bill Spencer to make a report
on the Cable Television Committee. Alderman Spencer reported that
the committee had met and unanimously approved the proposal
presented to the city from ATC to provide cable television in West
Memphis. Alderman Spencer made a motion that the city council
accept the proposal as made by ATC to establish cable television in the
City of West Memphis. The motion was seconded. Alderman Spencer
recognized committee member Joryn Smith who presented Mr. Cottingham
to speak to the council. A question and answer period followed with
Dr. Jay, a member of the committee and Joryn Smith asking questions
concerning the proposal to give the council the full details of the proposal.
Members of the council also asked questions of Mr. Cottingham.
Upon roll call vote on accepting the proposal, all aldermen voted "Aye"
and it was unanimously
RESOLVED, That the City of West Memphis (cable TV)
hereby accepts the proposal by ATC to
establish cable television in the City of West
Memphis.
A copy of the proposal is on file in the office of the Mayor. Bond will
be made by the company. The mayor asked for a draft of an ordinance
for cable television by March 2, 1978. Mayor Ferguson and members
of the council thanked Dr. Jay for his expert contribution to the committee.
Mayor Ferguson recognized another request from the audience.
Mamie Terrell, 816- South 13th Street appeared and requested that upon
completion of renovations of the swimming pool, the pool be named the
and
Terrell/Looney Pool because her son and the Looney boy had drowned
while swimming when there was no pool. Alderman Shelton made a
motion the council go on record as recommending this to the Park
Commission. Alderman Morris seconded the motion and upon roll
call vote, all aldermen voted "Aye" and it was unanimously
(swimming pool) RESOLVED, That the West Memphis
City Council hereby recommends to
the Park Commission that the Wonder
Swimming Pool be named the Terrell and
Looney Pool.
There were no items of business on the agenda under old
business or new business. Permission to advertise for bids for
pest control and for maintenance on office machines was requested.
Alderman Grimsley made a motion to grant permission to advertise
for bids for pest control program. Alderman Shelton seconded the
motion and upon voice vote, all aldermen voted "Aye" and it was
unanimously
(pest control) RESOLVED, That permission is hereby
given to advertise for bids for the pest
control program for the City of West
Memphis.
Alderman Grimsley made a motion to grant permission to
advertise for bids for one year agreement for maintenance on city
office machines. Alderman Spencer seconded the motion and upon
voice vote, it was unanimously
RESOLVED, That permission is hereby
given to advertise for bids for one year
agreement for maintenance on city office
equipment.
A11 aldermen voted "Aye. "
Council woman Roberta Jackson stated that City Treasurer,
Aubrey Holt, had requested her, as Chairman of the Budget Committee,
to make the following Treasurer's Report:
1977 Interest income was received as follows:
General Fund $ 55, 492. 56
Firemen Pension Fund 19, 064. 28
Police Pension Fund 15, 974. 20
Utility Department 116, 479. O1
Alderman Jackson called attention to the increase over last year in
interest received from Utility certificates of deposits and savings
accounts. In 1976 $36, 447. 26 was received; in 1977, $116, 479. O1
was received.
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Alderman Grimsley distributed the Utility Commission report
of their least meeting to the council and stated the Commission did grant
permission for the installation of the radio antenna on top of the water
tower.
Alderman Horton requested that a letter of commendation be
written to the Utility Commission for the fast action they took to remedy
the situation in Ward 4 where the sewer had collapsed causing the
residents in the area to petition the council and the commission for relief.
Alderman Shelton, Chairman of the Drainage Committee, stated
his committee had met and determined we had to have help from the Corps
of Engineers to solve our flooding problems. He stated the committee
is going to meet again soon and ask all developers, bankers, real estate people
and others connected with the building industry to participate. He further
stated they hope to get someone to go to Washington to further our cause;
the committee will be asked to meet with Bill Alexander when he comes
to West Memphis March 3 0.
Alderman Hampton, Chairman of the Shop Committee, reported
construction of the new shop is waiting for the weather.
Alderman Jackson, Chairman of the Budget Committee, made
a motion that Dorothy Browning be made a department head. Upon motion
being duly seconded and voice vote, all aldermen voted ''Aye" and it was
unanimously
RESOLVED, That Dorothy Browning (personnel)
is hereby classified as department head.
There being no further business to come before the council,
Alderman Grimsley made a motion the meeting be adjourned. Upon
motion duly seconded and unanimously carried, the mayor adjourned
the meeting at 4:00 p. m.
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Mayor
ATTEST:
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Approved by the council:
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