12 SEP 20.docCITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
7:00 P.M. – 7:21 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 20, 2012 at the regular meeting place of the City Council. Alderman Howard delivered the invocation and Mayor Fletcher
led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag.
ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Rinker, Traylor, Stroud, Robinson and Howard answered roll
call. Mayor Fletcher also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT NINE (9), ABSENT (0), ONE SEAT OPEN.
Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert Bamburg,
Director of Administration Jim Durham, Finance Director Cheryl Erkel, Fire Chief John Vanderhoof, City Engineer Jay Whisker, Public Works Director Jim Oakley, Police Chief Gary Sipes,
IT Director Barbara McDaniel, Human Resource Director Jill Ross, 911 Communications Director Tabby Hughes, Wastewater Utility Manager Thea Hughes, Parks and Recreation Asst. Director
Kevin House, Rizzell Aaron, Planning Commissioner Jim Moore, Johnny Simpson, Marie Fletcher, Tommy Dupree, Robin Baker, Mary Twitty, Tammy Bourdo, Bishop James Bolden, Helen Stroud,
Roger Sundermeier, Keith Weber, Pastor Ricky Allen, Tommy Bond, interested citizens, and members of the press.
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES:
Mayor Fletcher presented the minutes of the
regular City Council meeting of September 6, 2012 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
Alderman
Howard moved, seconded by Alderman Ray that the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of 16 August 2012 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED.
CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to approve the Regular Monthly Report for August 2012 regarding annual crime statistical comparisons.
Code Enforcement for
August 2012
Assigned Calls 88
Self Initiated Calls 389
Follow up meetings/court 309 Basketball Goals 10
Hearings attended 61 Structures Inspected 1
Citations/Warnings
Issued 3 Rental Properties Inspected 104
Notices/Letters Written 31 Properties Red Tagged 2
Vehicles Tagged 15 Search Warrants Served 2
Vehicles Towed 1 Structures
Rehabbed 0
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
7:00 P.M. – 7:21 P.M.
Lots posted 32 Structures Condemned 0
Signs removed 161 Houses Demolished by
City 0
Trash cans tagged 76 Houses Demolished by Owner 0
Parking Violations 70
Grass Letters 9
Grass Mowed 26
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT
Alderman
Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to approve the regular monthly report for August 2012 from the Jacksonville Fire Department, reflecting a fire loss of $7,500.00 and a savings
total of $0.00.
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to approve the regular monthly Animal Control report for August 2012. Said reports
reflect:
ADOPTION/FINES: $1,105.00
CONTRIBUTIONS: $ 100.00
TOTAL: $1,205.00
ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Rinker, Traylor, Stroud, Robinson,
and Howard voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
WATER DEPARTMENT:
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT: RESOLUTION 682 (#8-2012)
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT
OF OBLIGATION WITH THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Wastewater Manager Thea Hughes stated that Resolution 682 is a repeat of a similar resolution
adopted by the City Council in March 2011; she explained that the previous resolution was for the year 2011 and Resolution 682 is a housekeeping measure for 2012. She related that the
Resolution is a contract of obligation with the Department of Environmental Quality, adding that the Department requires either a bond or a contract of obligation to ensure monies to
address the situation of the containment cells, located at the treatment plant, where sludge is disposed, being closed and covered with dirt.
She related that each year the Utility
produces an engineering report that determines the monetary value of closing the cells. She pointed out that for many years they have utilized a contract of obligation in lieu of purchasing
a bond.
Alderman Elliott moved, seconded by Alderman Sansing to read Resolution 682 (#8-2012). MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Clerk Susan Davitt read the heading of Resolution 682
(#8-2012).
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
7:00 P.M. – 7:21 P.M.
Alderman Stroud moved, seconded by Alderman Elliott to approve Resolution 682 (#8-2012)
in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED.
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
POLICE DEPARTMENT: Request to Accept Bid for Telephone System
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to accept the low
bid from Century Link for $32,714.87 with funds to be drawn from the Capital Improvement Fund. MOTION CARRIED.
STREET DEPARTMENT:
SANITATION DEPARTMENT: Request to Accept Bid 2012
Forklift
Public Works Director Jim Oakley related that currently the Sanitation Department has one forklift that is used on a daily basis to move and process materials at the Recycling
Center. He explained that the current forklift is approximately 17 years old with 10,000 use hours, noting that it is at the end of its service life. He stated that the forklift needs
to be replaced and then answered that the new forklift is a budgeted item. He also answered that he believes the new forklift is 15,000 pounds. He related that the low bidder is a Little
Rock company and the equipment is comparable to the present forklift, both being Nissans.
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to approve the low bid from Lift Truck Service
Center for $23,910.93 with funds to be drawn from the Sanitation Fund. MOTION CARRIED.
PARKS & RECREATION:
PLANNING COMMISSION: ADDITION TO AGENDA: FINAL PLAT Northlake PH XIII-B
Lots 11-18
City Engineer Whisker noted that this is a phase of Northlake that already has several adjacent phases that have been approved. He explained that the improvements have been
completed.
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to suspend the rules and place the item of Final Plat for Northlake PH XIII Lots 11-18 on the agenda. MOTION CARRIED.
City
Engineer Whisker answered that this phase is the area that wraps around the backside of the Lake on the south and west side of Northlake, adjacent to Oneida. He stated that this phase
consists of 8 lots.
Alderman Traylor moved, seconded by Alderman Howard to approve the Final Plat of Northlake PH XIII-B, Lots 11-18. MOTION CARRIED.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
7:00 P.M. – 7:21 P.M.
GENERAL: a. RESOLUTION 683 (#9-2012)
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT NO. 1; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Mayor Fletcher noted that support legislation was recommended by the Municipal League, explaining that the Resolution supports a bill slated
for the November 6, 2012 General Election regarding a bond-financed program for the construction, improvement, and maintenance of Arkansas roads. He stated that this is proposed as
a temporary ten-year sales tax. He related that the good news for Jacksonville, as a city it would mean approximately $500,000.00 annually in revenue, amounting to approximately $5
million over a ten year period. He added that the City would be able to bond for the $5 million and use it to meet needs now. He asked the City Council to support this as a measure for
additional funding for roads and bridges. He stated that as infrastructure ages the need increases.
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Sansing to read Resolution 683 (#9-2012)
with numerical amounts amended. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Clerk Susan Davitt read the heading of Resolution 683 (#9-2012).
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Robinson to
approve Resolution 683 (#9-2012) as amended. MOTION CARRIED.
b. RESOLUTION 684 (#10-2012)
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF STATUTORY AMENDMENTS TO AUTHORIZE IMPROVEMENTS IN INFORMATION PROVIDED
TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS BY THE STATE OF ARKANSAS RELATED TO COLLECTION OF LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Alderman Ray moved, seconded by Alderman Sansing to read
Resolution 684 (#10-2012). MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Clerk Susan Davitt read the heading of Resolution 684 (#10-2012).
Finance Director Cheryl Erkel stated that the Resolution
supports amendments that will allow municipalities to retrieve better information from the Department of Finance and Administration. She related that currently cities can only get sales
tax information on a quarterly basis and the information is based on various business codes, explaining that some businesses are recorded in two or three different codes making it difficult
to decipher here sales taxes are being generated. She added that it is hard to project sales tax collections for the coming year for budget purposes.
She then concurred with Mayor
Fletcher that the tax rebate information is also hard to decipher, and these amendment will make collections and where they come from, clearer.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
7:00 P.M. – 7:21 P.M.
Mayor Fletcher stated that this would make Arkansas more in step with what surrounding
states are doing. He stated that sometimes State law can create a disadvantage, citing the example of Ricky Hayes who has need of statistical data regarding his efforts for the City
of Jacksonville. He added that the economic impact needs to be more precisely broken down for prospective businesses. He related that AD&F has been limited in its collection information,
while the surrounding states find that this is a nonissue regarding small business tax information. He stated that since sales tax is the largest part of cities’ revenue streams, the
information needs to be more open and precise.
Finance Director Cheryl Erkel noted that 3% of the sales tax collected is kept by the State of Arkansas as administration fees.
Alderman
Stroud moved, seconded by Alderman Ray to approve Resolution 684 (#10-2012). MOTION CARRIED.
c. Request to Accept Bid for 911 Communications Console Furniture
911 Director Tabby
Hughes related that only two bids were received from the bidding process, adding that the low bid did not meet bid specifications. She explained that the low bid from Xybix did not
meet specifications regarding the power supply and cable management. She added that they were unable to supply some of the cabinetry and lighting set forth in the specifications. She
requested that Council reject the low bid and award the higher bid to Russ Bassett.
In response to a question from Alderman Traylor, Director Hughes explained that the consoles are
equipped with power supplies that operate the radios and computers. She continued saying that the low bid does not meet specifications regarding the power supply to operate the radios.
She noted that in original research with other companies projections had come in at slightly over $100,000.00. She then stated that the budgeted estimation was approximately $50,000.00.
Alderman Elliott moved, seconded by Alderman Ray to reject the low bid from Xybix Systems for $36,825.00 due to not meeting specifications and award the bid to Russ Bassett in the
amount of $51,726.50 with funds to be drawn from the Capital Improvement Fund. MOTION CARRIED.
APPOINTMENT(S):
ANNOUNCEMENT(S): Mayor Fletcher announced that the Jacksonville Police
Auxiliary is selling “We support the Jacksonville Police Department” stickers for $5.00. He stated that he is appreciative of the Police Auxiliary regarding their support.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
7:00 P.M. – 7:21 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Fletcher adjourned the meeting at approximately
7:21 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully,
________________________ _________________________
Susan L. Davitt MAYOR GARY FLETCHER
City Clerk-Treasurer