17 SEP 21
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2017
7:00 P.M. – 7:38 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - CITY HALL - #1 MUNICIPAL DRIVE
The City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in regular
session on September 21, 2017 at the regular meeting place of the City
Council. Councilman Bolden delivered the invocation and Mayor Fletcher
led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag.
ROLL CALL: City Councilman: Elliott, Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray,
Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Fletcher
also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. Councilman Traylor was absent.
PRESENT NINE (9), ABSENT (1).
Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert Bamburg,
Finance Director Cheryl Erkel, Director of Engineering Jay Whisker, Fire
Chief Alan Laughy, Professional Administrative Consultant Geoffrey
Herweg, IT Director Scott Rothlisberger, Parks and Recreation Director
Kevin House, Human Resource Director Jill Ross, CDBG Director Theresa
Watson, Director of Public Works Jim Oakley, 911 Director Tabby Hughes,
Code Enforcement Officer Tracy Keck, Mark and Suzanne Evans, Rick Kron,
Jeannie Herweg, Lida Feller, LaConda Watson, Patrick Thomas, interested
citizens, and members of the press.
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES:
Mayor Fletcher presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting
of September 7, 2017 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly
scheduled City Council meeting.
APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden that the minutes of
the regular City Council meeting of 17 August 2017 be APPROVED. MOTION
CARRIED.
CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/POLICE DEPARTMENT
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Elliott to approve the Regular
Monthly Report for August 2017 regarding annual crime statistical
comparisons.
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Elliott to approve the regular
monthly report for August 2017 from the Jacksonville Fire Department,
reflecting a fire loss of $0.00 and a savings total of $0.00.
REGULAR MONTH REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Elliott to approve the regular
monthly report for August 2017.
ADOPTION FEES/FINES $ 635.00
CONTRIBUTIONS 0.00
TOTALS $ 635.00
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CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2017
7:00 P.M. – 7:38 P.M.
ROLL CALL: Councilmen: Elliott, Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn,
Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
WATER DEPARTMENT:
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENTS:
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
STREET DEPARTMENT:
SANITATION DEPARTMENT:
PARKS & RECREATION:
PLANNING COMMISSION: ORDINANCE 1570 (#06-2017)
AN ORDINANCE RECLASSIFYING PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
(GENERAL LOCATION: 7418 T.P. WHITE DRIVE, JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS);
AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 213 AND 238 AND THE LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF
JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden that Ordinance 1570
be placed on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Alderman Elliott, Bolden,
McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE.
NAY (0). MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading
of Ordinance 1570.
Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to APPROVE
Ordinance 1570 on FIRST READING and suspend the rules and place Ordinance
1570 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Alderman Elliott, Bolden, McCleary,
Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. NAY (0).
MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of
Ordinance 1570.
Councilman Bolden moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to further
suspend the rules and place Ordinance 1570 on THIRD AND FINAL READING.
ROLL CALL: Alderman Elliott, Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn,
Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. NAY (0). MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon
City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1570.
Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden that Ordinance 1570
be APPROVED AND ADOPTED. ROLL CALL: Councilmen Elliott, Bolden, McCleary,
Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. NAY (0).
MOTION CARRIED.
Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary that the EMERGENCY
CLAUSE be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL: Councilmen Elliott, Bolden,
McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE.
NAY (0). MOTION CARRIED.
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ORDINANCE 1570 (#06-2017) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 21 DAY OF
SEPTEMBER, 2017.
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CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2017
7:00 P.M. – 7:38 P.M.
GENERAL: a. PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCE 1571 (#07-2017)
AN ORDINANCE CONDEMNING STRUCTURES AND REAL PROPERTIES AT THE LOCATION
NOTED BELOW IN JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS, FOR STRUCTURAL DEFECTS,
DEFICIENCIES, AND PUBLIC HAZARD CONDITIONS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND,
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Mayor Fletcher opened the public hearing at approximately 7:05 p.m.
Code Enforcement Officer Tracy Keck offered a PowerPoint presentation
regarding properties located at 125 Central Avenue, 105 Lee Street, and
1417 Stanphill Road, explaining that each of the properties is a burn-
out.
Councilman Elliott moved, seconded by Councilman Bolden that Ordinance
1571 be placed on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Alderman Elliott, Bolden,
McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE.
NAY (0). MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading
of Ordinance 1571.
Councilman Bolden moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to APPROVE
Ordinance 1571 on FIRST READING and suspend the rules and place Ordinance
1571 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Alderman Elliott, Bolden, McCleary,
Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE. NAY (0).
MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of
Ordinance 1570.
Councilman Bolden moved, seconded by Councilman Twitty to further suspend
the rules and place Ordinance 1571 on THIRD AND FINAL READING. ROLL
CALL: Alderman Elliott, Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty,
Smith, and Collins voted AYE. NAY (0). MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City
Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Ordinance 1571.
Councilman Bolden moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary that Ordinance
1571 be APPROVED AND ADOPTED. ROLL CALL: Councilmen Elliott, Bolden,
McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE.
NAY (0). MOTION CARRIED.
Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary that the EMERGENCY
CLAUSE be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL: Councilmen Elliott, Bolden,
McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Twitty, Smith, and Collins voted AYE.
NAY (0). MOTION CARRIED.
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ORDINANCE 1571 (#07-2017) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 21 DAY OF
SEPTEMBER, 2017.
b. UPDATE 2017 Boys’ and Girls’ Club by Executive Director LaConda Watson
Director LaConda Watson presented a pictorial film by Mark Evans
featuring events and happenings at the Boys and Girls Club. She reviewed
the experiences and success of the Club, noting endorsements by the
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CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2017
7:00 P.M. – 7:38 P.M.
parents. She introduced their team with special acknowledgements to all
their volunteers. She then introduced the new Board of Directors along
with other members of the Governing Board and Advisory Board. She related
the importance of funding and partnering for the 2018 year. She listed
the programs being offered at the Boys and Girls Club, noting the After
School Tutoring Program as well as the standard programs featuring Youth
Development, Air Hockey, and Basketball, along with many other
developmental and athletic programs. She related that the member
ethnicity is 76% African American, 12% Caucasian, 1% Hispanic and 11%
Multi-Racial. She reviewed the past, current and future organizational
evolution, emphasizing the impact after school programs have regarding
the decrease of juvenile crime between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 8:00
p.m. She noted that the Jacksonville Police Department has had 110 calls
involving juvenile offenders with 47 arrests. She related the
implementation of Music/Voice, Running Club/Competitive Track & Field,
and Computer Instructional Lab all implemented during the 2017 summer and
touched on the increased safety measure for their clients. She stated
that they are fully compliant with the Boys and Girls Club of America
regarding their charter. She issued an impassioned plea for keeping our
community’s youth safe every day after school, saying that for her this
is in honor of her brother, Brandon. She then noted that she is wearing
the dress she wore to his funeral in his honor. She thanked The Leader
Newspaper and several sponsors for their support and contributions. She
reviewed the monthly and year-to-date facility financials regarding the
building and utility costs as of September 2017. She noted that annual
expenses as of September are $37,121.96, noting that she had not included
the expenses for JBGC Facility Management or Plumbing. She asserted the
need to work on resource plans for the future and secured partnerships.
She introduced new Treasurer for the JBGC, Mr. Freddie Scott. He spoke
about his experience with the Arkansas Department of Education and his
commitment to the JBGC. He talked about the City, the School District
and the Boys and Girls Club coming together regarding after school
programs that would positively affect the juvenile crime statistics. He
related the importance of partnering to transform the facility from just
a recreation center to an education center. He stated that he hopes the
City of Jacksonville with find favor with a continued partnership.
Director LaConda Watson reviewed their resource development opportunities
noting that as a 501(C)3 non-profit it is difficult to raise funds. She
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stated that their application regarding the 21 Century Grant has been
put on hold regarding the new Federal administration. She stressed the
importance for involvement and a call to action regarding strengthening
Community partnerships.
c. PRESENTATION Road construction progress/sound wall at Redmond Road
City Engineer Whisker updated the City Council regarding the Highway
Department’s progress on Hwy. 161 and the sound wall. He noted that this
has been in discussions for at least the last five years and demonstrated
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CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2017
7:00 P.M. – 7:38 P.M.
the location of the sound wall. He noted that it would be placed along
residential areas that are adjacent to the Highway project following the
exit of Main Street. He explained that the height of the wall would vary
anywhere from 16’ to 25’ in different areas. He stated that it is being
proposed as a sound barrier regarding traffic noise. He then advised the
City Council that the sound wall is actually a separate project from the
Highway construction.
Mayor Fletcher stated that he would like to see the funds escrowed and
have it determined after construction is completed if the sound wall is
actually needed. He then added that however the Highway Department is
adamant to have the sound wall and have it completed at the time
construction is completed. He then added that the Federal Highway
Transportation Commission had stated that the funds could not be put into
escrow. He stated that he is worried about the sound wall blocking views
of Jacksonville.
City Engineer Whisker then noted that the wall would also follow the off
ramp. It was noted that the wall would be constructed of a PVC backing to
address costs.
Mayor Fletcher asked that anyone having comments contact his office.
APPOINTMENTS:
ANNOUNCMENTS: PRESENTATION OF PLAQUE to Mayor Fletcher
Chief Laughy announced that the Jacksonville Fire Department was once
again honored to receive the Fire/EMS Service of the Year awarded by the
Arkansas Emergency Medical Technician Association for 2017. He noted
that they received the award in 2015 and was runner up in 2016,
expressing his pride in the Fire Department and its members.
Mayor Fletcher announced that FestiVille would be held at Dupree Park
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Friday, September 29 starting at 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on
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Saturday, September 30 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. He related that this
year FestiVille will be bigger and better, saying that it grows and gets
better every year.
He then announced that Director of Administration Jim Durham’s retirement
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ceremony will be held Monday, October 2 at City Hall beginning at 3:00
p.m. He invited everyone to attend.
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CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 21, 2017
7:00 P.M. – 7:38 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Fletcher adjourned the meeting at
approximately 7:38 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully,
________________________ _________________________
Susan L. Davitt MAYOR GARY FLETCHER
City Clerk-Treasurer
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