97 MAY 15.DOC CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 15, 1997
7:00 P.M. - 7:20 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 May 15, 1997 at the regular meeting place of the Council. Alderman Smith delivered the invocation after
which Mayor Swaim led the standing audience in the "Pledge of Allegiance" to the flag.
ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, Lewis, Sansing, Ray, Wilson, Williamson, Keaton, and Howard answered ROLL CALL. PRESENT NINE (9), ABSENT (1). Mayor Swaim answered ROLL CALL and
declared a quorum. He expressed appreciation to the audience for their attendance.
Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert E. Bamburg, Deputy City Clerk Susan Davitt, Fire Chief Rick Ezell, Police Chief Larry Hibbs, Executive Director of the Chamber
of Commerce Mr. Mickey Anders, Park & Rec Director Mr. Zack Rowan, Mr. Frank Rowland from the Office of Economic and Community Development Department, Mrs. Dee Dee Hibbs, other City
employees, interested citizens and members of the press.
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES:
Mayor Swaim presented the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of May 1, 1997 for study and action at the next Regular City Council Meeting.
APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Ray that the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of April 17, 1997 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED.
CONSENT AGENDA:
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
Regular Monthly Report/Fire Department
Alderman Wilson moved, seconded by Alderman Lewis that the Regular Monthly Report for April, of the Jacksonville Fire Department be APPROVED. (Said report reflects an estimated fire
loss of $35,000.00 for the month of April.) ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, Lewis, Sansing, Ray, Wilson, Williamson, Keaton and Howard voted AYE. NAY 0. MOTION CARRIED.
b. ANIMAL CONTROL: APRIL 1997
Alderman Wilson moved, seconded by Alderman Lewis to APPROVE the monthly Animal Control Report for the month of April 1997.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 15, 1997
7:00 P.M. - 7:20 P.M.
Report reflects the following:
REVENUES.................................$ 839.50
CONTRIBUTIONS............................$ .00
ADOPTION/FINES ..........................$ 839.50
SECURITY DEPOSITS........................$ .00
TOTAL....................................$ 839.50
ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, Lewis, Sansing, Ray, Wilson, Williamson, Keaton and Howard voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
WATER DEPARTMENT:
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT:
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
STREET DEPARTMENT: PROPOSED 1997 ASPHALT OVERLAY PROGRAM
Mayor Swaim related that projections are a little more than was budgeted. He pointed out $52,000.00 worth of milling costs, which will be contracted out, for streets with height problems
in the gutter areas and driveways which need to be corrected before being overlaid. He said there are funds to cover the expense from street funds not expended in 1996.
The program was presented for the perusal of the Council and will be accepted and approved at a later date.
PARKS & REC DEPARTMENT: Request to accept bid: Soccer Field
Mayor Swaim alluded to a list before the Council noting that the item is one that has been given consideration by the Parks Department who accepted the low bid for the lighting and the
concession and restrooms. He said there was negotiation between the City and Bond Engineering for dirt work.
He said that the reason for Council action is that funds are unappropriated. He pointed out that the first bid for the program was over $400,000.00. He related that the dirt work was
the most expensive part of the endeavor and that contractors agreed that they would do separate portions of the work without getting the entire bid. He said that the final analysis
is three bids; lighting, concession and restrooms, and dirt work. He explained that the dirt work will be done at an hourly rate of $125.00 per hour.
Alderman Keaton moved, seconded by Alderman Elliott to accept three separate bids amounting to a total of $250,000.00, with funding
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 15, 1997
7:00 P.M. - 7:20 P.M.
from the 1% City Sales Tax Funds reserved in Capital Improvement Funds. MOTION CARRIED.
SANITATION DEPARTMENT:
PLANNING COMMISSION:
GENERAL:
APPOINTMENTS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mayor Swaim pointed out pictures displayed in the Council Chambers of undesirable locations which relate to fencing. He noted that action is pending on an ordinance, now being studied
by the Planning Commission, which will come before the Council in the near future for action.
He announced that the "Walk of Pride" dedication is scheduled for Tuesday, May 27, 1997 at 2:00 p.m. with Lt. Governor Rockefeller as the guest speaker.
City Attorney Bamburg voiced that a response from the office of the Attorney General is pending and that he has researched the matter finding no previous opinions rendered with regard
to a similar situation.
Mayor Swaim informed the Council that a Resolution is forthcoming containing proposals to the Quorum Court with regard to the County Jail operation. He explained that there is a recommendation
from the Court to redistribute the sales tax in a different manner; taking 25% off the top, distributing the remainder as it is now. He said the loss of the City of Jacksonville would
be one million and twenty-three thousand dollars per year plus any growth in sales tax for future years. He said that the area of Police and Fire would suffer with the proposed action
of the Quorum Court. He said that he feels the City has cooperated with the County in the area of funding as well as endeavoring to minimize the overcrowding of the facility.
He pointed out that the City is providing its own Police Department at a cost of 2.475 million dollars annually as well as its own Fire Department at approximately two million dollars
annually.
He noted that Little Rock has added some fifty-eight officers to their Police Department, North Little Rock twenty-five or thirty officers, Sherwood four or six and the City of Jacksonville
six.
He voiced that he feels the City of Jacksonville could operate its own jail on the million dollars being given the County.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MAY 15, 1997
7:00 P.M. - 7:20 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mayor Swaim adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully,
___________________________ ____________________________
Lula M. Leonard MAYOR
City Clerk-Treasurer