12 SEP 20.doc
CITY 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
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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