October 17, 2013 MINUTES
WEST MEMPHIS CITY COUNCIL
October 17, 2013
A regular meeting of the West Memphis City Council was held on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. in the
City Council Chambers at City Hall, 205 S. Redding, West Memphis, Arkansas.
Invocation was given by Reverend Michelle Morris of the First United Methodist Church in West Memphis.
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order. Phillip Para, City Clerk, called the roll. Those present were: Mayor
William H. Johnson, City Attorney David Peeples, City Treasurer Frank Martin and Councilors, Tracy Catt, James
Pulliaum, Ramona Taylor, Herman Coleman, Willis Mondy, James Holt, Melanie Hutchinson, and Lorraine
Robinson. Those absent were: Councilors: Marco McClendon, and Taz Tyrone. Quorum being present, Mayor
Johnson proceeded with the meeting.
MINUTES
Councilman Pulliaum made a motion; seconded by Councilwoman Taylor,to dispense with the reading of the
Minutes of the October 3, 2013 City Council Meeting and approve as presented. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous to approve. The motion carded.
OLD BUSINESS None
NEW BUSINESS
0-1 An Ordinance waiving Competitive bidding for the purchase of health insurance for employees of the City
of West Memphis, and their dependents, if selected, and for other purposes.
Councilman Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Taylor to suspend the rules and read the
Ordinance by title only. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve. The motion carried.
City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the FIRST time. Councilman Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by
Councilman Mondy to suspend the rules and place the Ordinance on the second reading. Upon voice vote, the
voting was unanimous to approve. City Attorney Peeples read the Ordinance for the SECOND time. Councilman
Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Councilman Mondy to further suspend the rules and place the Ordinance
on the third and final reading. Upon voice vote,the voting was unanimous to approve. City Attorney Peeples
read the Ordinance for the THIRD and FINAL time. Councilman Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by
Councilwoman Robinson to adopt the Ordinance. Upon voice vote,the voting was unanimous. The Ordinance
was adopted and assigned No 2325.
Councilman Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Taylor to add a Resolution (R-1)to the
agenda. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve.
R-1 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SETTLEMENT OF AN ACTION STYLED MICHAEL YOUNG v. CITY
OF WEST MEMPHIS, ET AL., AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE SETTLEMENT
AGREEMENT AND TO TAKE SUCH OTHER ACTIONS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE
SETTLEMENT, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Councilman Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Taylor to suspend the rules and read the
Resolution by title only. Upon voice vote,the voting was unanimous to approve. The motion carded.
City Attorney Peeples read the Resolution. Councilwoman Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilman
Pulliaum to adopt the Resolution. Upon voice vote,the voting was unanimous to approve. The Resolution was
adopted and assigned No. 2035.
Councilman Catt reported the city received an Audit Report and commended the Administration and Department
Heads for the excellent review. Councilman Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Taylor to accept
the audit report at presented. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve.
PERMISSION REQUESTS
Councilwoman Taylor made a motion, seconded by Councilman Catt to give permission to pay Shelby Electric
Company the sum of$135,737.10 for the Gateway Lighting & Landscaping AHTD Job# 110558. City Treasurer
Martin advised that this is for 90% of the project only, the 10% holdback is left. Upon voice vote, the voting was
unanimous to approve.
Councilman Catt made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Taylor to give permission to pay Zahner Company
$50,000 for the Fallen Officers Memorial. Mayor Johnson explained the A&P Commission approved a $50,000
contribution to the Fallen Officers Memorial which honors three city police officers, one city fireman, and two
Arkansas state troopers. He said the Commission is authorized to grant this contribution but he can only approve
a check for$49,999 so it will need the City Council's approval. The total fundraising goal of this project is
$350,000. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Airport Commission - Councilwoman Robinson reported City Treasurer Frank Martin provided the Airport
Commissioners with the preliminary Debt Service requirements for the $1 M bond issue which will provide the
Airport's matching funds to the $10M FAA grant. Airport Engineer, Stacey Morris, updated the Commission on
the progress of construction. Weather permitting;the contractor should be complete with the rehabilitation of
Taxiway "A" November 3fa. Several long-term, experienced pilots expressed concern over safety issues related to
helicopter training in the flight path with jet and fixed wing traffic. A committee was appointed to evaluate and
formulate a plan of action.
Councilwoman Robinson then said that at the last City Council meeting at the Keep West Memphis Beautiful
ceremony the certificate was not in. She then presented the framed Keep West Memphis Beautiful Certificate to
Mayor Johnson. Mayor Johnson said he was going to display it in the lobby of City Hall.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Councilwoman Taylor announced Business after Hours was at Steele Guiltner Tires today from 5-7.
Councilman Coleman commended Councilwoman Robinson for her work with Keep West Memphis Beautiful and
Lynda Avery for her work with West Memphis Municipal Airport.
Councilman Coleman reported the Insurance Committee did recommend the city stay with CIGNA for 2014 with a
3.8% increase.
Councilwoman Robinson announced October 26th from 9-12 they are having a Broadway Fall Clean Up Day.
CITIZENS REQUESTS
Berry Brown—812 S. 18th—requested the city put an Arkansas Veteran Council Memorial at the Martin Luther
King Jr., Memorial Park. She also complained about the ditches around Jackson needing to be cleaned out and
said the water is backing up at 18th and Madison and 19th Street. Councilman Pulliaum advised that a program is
in place to clean out the ditches and that should help but people throwing their trash in the ditches was the main
cause of the water backing up.
Having no further business to come before the City Council, Councilman Pulliaum made a motion, seconded by
Councilwoman Taylor to adjourn. Upon voice vote, the voting was unanimous to approve.
The meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m.
PASSED and APPROVED this 7 day of November, 2013.
WILLIAM H. JOHNSON, AYOR
ATTEST:
PHILLI- -ARA, CITY CLERK
Minutes prepared by: Cindy Greenwood, Sr. Deputy City Clerk