MINUTES FROM CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, April 15, 2010
6:00 p.m.
The City Council of Monticello, Arkansas met in the council chambers at City Hall on April 15, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Joe Rogers, who presided over the meeting, called the meeting to order with the following council members present: Clifton Bond, Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. City Attorney Bill Daniels, Finance Director Kimberly Fletcher and City Clerk Andrea Chambers were also present.
Mayor Rogers welcomed the visitors and Councilor Bond gave the invocation.
Finance Report – Finance Director Kimberly Fletcher:
- Budget is at 25% for the year thru March
- Two capital expenses purchased was the ice machine for the warehouse and a leak detector for the shop mechanic
- Sewer invested $30,000.00 in March
- Solid Waste invested $70,000.00 in March
- March receipts are up $6,000.00, for year to date and down about $3,100.00 compared to the same time last year
- Paid for top dressor for parks
- Loaned $40,000.00 to airport
Executive Director Glenda Nichols gave the Chamber of Commerce report.
- Repair work was done at the chamber building on the door and the foundation
- Monticello Animal Clinic has moved to a new location and they are a top of the line facility
- Provided a notary seminar clinic
- Downtown improvement members will travel to Little Rock to discuss proposal in May
- New member to the Chamber, a logging company
Executive Director Truman Hamilton gave the MEDC report.
- Small disaster loan progam is set up and running at the MEDC building
- Closed on the Ridgeway Project, inspections are made in stages for the project and funds are released as needed. Cliff Gibson is the legal council for MEDC and he reviews all aspects of the Ridgeway Project.
- FEMA grant denied for the fire station, all funds went to north Arkansas
- Filed grant thru USDA for a tanker truck for the Fire Department
- Filed grant thru DOI for a patrol car and a generator for the Police Department
- Still cutting trees on a 60 acre lot at the lake and they are about 20% complete
- Beavers damaged areas at the lake and about 75% of the new pine seedlings were damaged by deer
- Seminar to be held in Arlington, Texas about converting lignite to oil. The company states that they can process the lignite for $30 a barrel compared to the current rate of $80 per barrel for oil
- House on 423 East Oakland is about gone, no response on letter sent for trailers located on Scott Street. Wood Avenue has had some progess, nothing done to the house on Hyatt Street
Councilor Peer asked if Mr. Hamilton has made any progess to bring industry to the city and Mr. Hamilton responded that he had no leads of any kind. Councilor Peer asked what could be done as an enchancment to bring jobs to Monticello, Mr. Hamilton responded that recently, El Dorado had a package incentive of $5 million and a industry went elsewhere. Mr. Benji Ryburn informed the City Council that obtaining a new industry is highly competitive. Mr. Ryburn further stated that right now, there are jobs in the city for welders and other service type jobs. He stated that the city’s growing areas are in education and healthcare. The hospital is expanding and the retirement center will create jobs. Ms. Glenda Nichols added that shopping local will help to keep jobs and money at home.
The Chair called for any corrections to the minutes from the regular meeting held February 18, 2010. There being no corrections, and upon a motion by Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Bond, and unanimously accepted, the minutes were approved as written.
Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Bond, moved to suspend the rules requiring a resolution to be read in full. After discussion, the Chair put the question and the following councilors voted “yes”: Clifton Bond, Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. The Chair declared said motion passed unanimously.
Councilor Gillespie introduced the following proposed resolution which the City Attorney read the title distinctly and aloud in the hearing of the council as follows:
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING BIDS FOR
MCCLOY PARK RESTROOM CONSTRUCTION.
Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Bond, moved to approve said resolution. Mayor Rogers informed the Council that the restrooms would be located to the south and west of where the restrooms were and that the city would be installing the pavilion. Councilor Hartness asked how long would the construction process last and Mayor Rogers stated it would be complete in 60 to 90 days. Councilor Hubbard asked how big the building would be and Mayor Rogers said it would have three stalls on each side with handicap accessibility. Councilor Chase asked about the reduction in costs from the bid price to the amount on the resolution, Mayor Rogers said that the city will do the sidewalks and a change order will be sent in to reduce the costs, also the commodes will be changed to regular commodes instead of more expensive stainless steel ones on the original plans. After discussion, the Chair put the question and the following councilors voted “yes”: Clifton Bond, Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. The Chair declared said motion was passed unanimously; the same approved as No.10-10.
Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Gillespie, moved to allow appropriation of street funds to be used to resurface one mile of the road, on the west side, leading into Lake Monticello. Mayor Rogers stated that the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will meet next week to decide if they will fund $100,000.00 of the project. They indicated that it was a worthwhile project and it should pass. Also, Mayor Rogers stated that Plum Creek will donate and they were asked to match Game and Fish but they probably will donate $25,000.00 to $50,000.00. The road began to deteriorate when trees were harvested in 2007 by Plum Creek and the road is in very bad shape. Councilor Hubbard stated that the road has been severly damaged, but Plum Creek has access to the road. Councilor Chase asked why an engineer would be needed and Mayor Rogers responded that for Game and Fish to donate, the road must be built according to state specifications. Councilor Hartness asked for more time to study the project because she felt that $500,000.00 was a large amount of money to spend on one mile. Coucilor Hudson said that if we put it off, Game and Fish will not donate. Mayor Rogers stated that it may not cost that much after it is bidded out and anything left over will go back into streets. Mr. Ryburn added that the cost for asphalt in 2009 was $73.15 per ton and it is now up to $95.00 per ton which explains a lot of the extra costs. After discussion, the Chair put the question and the following councilors voted “yes”: Clifton Bond, Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown and Tim Chase. Councilor Claudia Hartness voted “no”. The Chair declared said motion was passed to appropriate street funds to repair one mile of Lake Monticello road by a vote of seven to one.
Councilor Gillespie, seconded by Councilor Bond, moved to suspend the rules requiring a resolution to be read in full. After discussion, the Chair put the question and the following councilors voted “yes”: Clifton Bond, Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. The Chair declared said motion passed unanimously.
Councilor Peer introduced the following proposed resolution which the City Attorney read the title distinctly and aloud in the hearing of the council as follows:
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING BIDS FOR THE
MONTICELLO AIRPORT FINISH-OUT PROJECT.
Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Bond, moved to approve said resolution. Councilor Chase inquired if this was for the offices and Mr. Ryburn responded that it was and that this is an 80/20 grant that was in the budget. After discussion, the Chair put the question and the following councilors voted “yes”: Clifton Bond, Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. The Chair declared said motion was passed unanimously; the same approved as No.10-11.
Councilor Hubbard, seconded by Councilor Brown, moved to allow the Monticello Municipal Airport permission to apply for grants. After discussion, the Chair put the question and the following councilors voted “yes”: Clifton Bond, Sherrie Gillespie, Raymond Hubbard, Al Peer, Beverly Hudson, Carolyn Brown, Tim Chase and Claudia Hartness. The Chair declared said motion was passed unanimously to allow the Monticello Municipal Airport to apply for grants for the airport.
A request was made via telephone for the City of Monticello to allow Enterprise Corporation of the Delta (ECD) permission to lease space on a water tower for a radio station antenna. Mr. Wesolowski, a representative of the company, was not present, however he had sent a request stating that ECD could pay $200.00 per month for this non-profit radio station. Mayor Rogers stated that he felt this amount was to low because AT & T pays for two spaces for $1,000.00 and $1,450.00 per month. The fee is used to maintain the water towers and increases every five years. Mr. Daniels informed the Council that ECD is a company that solicits loans for commercial businesses. Mr. Hamilton added that the close proximity to the fire station could interfere with the radio signals used for public safety and that if so, they would have to change frequencies or pull the antennae. Mr. Hamilton stated that to install their own tower is expensive and that is why so many rent space on water towers. Mayor Rogers stated he would get back with the company about the issue.
Mayor’s Report:
On March 19th, Mayor Rogers attended a meeting held at Lake Monticello with the Game and Fish Commission to discuss resurfacing the lake road. Mayor Rogers attended the meeting for the Local Emergency Planning Committee held at the Hampton Inn in Monticello on March 22nd. Mayor Rogers met with Monticello Middle School East Lab on March 31st to discuss a project to remove graffiti from the city. On April 7th, Mayor Rogers attended the MEDC meeting held at University of Arkansas at Monticello. Mayor Rogers attended a SEEAD meeting on April 8th in Sheridan. On April 12, Mayor Rogers attended the Monticello Airport Commission meeting held in Monticello.
- Repaired water leaks on Old Troy Road, Barkada Road, Conrad Street, West Bolling Street, South Main Street and on Dearman Drive
- Cleaned out manholes on South Maple Street, Hwy 278 West and on West Pauline Street
- Graded parking lot at Burlington Field and graded area around Well #6
- Cleaned storm drain and spread rock at Transfer Station
- Repaired traffic lights at Highway 425 and 278 intersection, Hwy 425 and Hyatt Street and Hwy 425 and Hwy 83
- Replaced light globe on Meadowview Street
- Replaced culvert on South Hyatt Street (old bus shed), East Oakland and in Tanglewood
- Overlaid North Chester Street, Calhoun Street and East Wood Street
- Repaired lights on flat bed truck
- Hauled dirt to McCloy Park and graded the dirt
- Picked up limbs on South Maple
- Department of Correction cleaned curbs to prepare for overlays
- Washed street and sidewalks at McCloy Park and washed concrete slab at Hood Packaging Lift Station
- Installed culvert on North Chester Street
- Cleaned ditches on Willis Street, North Bailey Street, East Oakland Street
- Repaired sewer on Allen Drive
- Installed meter tap on North Chester
- Repaired Pope and Chester Street culverts
- Repaired and cleaned streets to prepare for overlay
- Cut limbs on East Railroad Street
- Installed stop signs and speed limit signs in Spring Branch on Willis Street and on Allen Drive
- Patched streets throughout the city
- Picked up trash on East Bolling Street, East Wood Street, Pine Street, East Godbold Street, East Trotter Street, East Jackson Street, Allen Drive and on North Main Street.
- Picked up bags of trash along streets for the Great One Day Clean-Up
- Washed garbage trucks
- Repaired sewer line on Whitetail Lane
All business having been discussed, and upon a motion by Councilor Bond the meeting was adjourned.