07 JAN 18.doc
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 18, 2007
7:00 P.M. – 7:25 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 January 18, 2007 at the regular meeting place of the Council.
Alderman Ray delivered the invocation and Mayor Swaim led a standing
audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag.
ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Rinker,
Fletcher, Stroud, and Howard answered roll call. Mayor Swaim also answered
ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT nine (9), ABSENT (1). Aldermen Twitty
was absent.
Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert Bamburg, Deputy
Clerk Linda Dulaney, Parks and Recreation Director George Biggs, Fire
Chief John Vanderhoof, Battalion Chief Joe Bratton, Police Chief Robert
Baker, Wastewater Manager Thea Hughes, Water Superintendent Ken Anderson,
Chamber of Commerce Director Bonita Rownd, Mrs. Judy Swaim, Mrs. Edith
Smith, Mrs. Glenda Fletcher, Mrs. Addie Gibson, Mr. Larry Smith, Mr.
Alfonso Nations, interested citizens and members of the press.
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES:
Mayor Swaim presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of
January 4, 2007 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly
scheduled City Council meeting.
APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Howard that the minutes of the
Regular City Council Meeting of 21 December 2006 be APPROVED. MOTION
CARRIED.
CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ENGINEERING
Alderman Stroud moved, seconded by Alderman Ray to approve the Regular
Monthly Report for December 2006. Said report reflects:
PERMITS/LICENSE ISSUED INSPECTIONS PREFORMED
Building Permits 15 Building Inspections 57
Business License 9 HVACR 50
Electrical 63
Plumbing 66
UNSIGHTLY & UNSANITARY VEHICLES
Grass Letters 1 Notice of Noncompliance 30
Property Mowed 0 Towed 0
Trash Letters 109 CONDEMNATIONS
Trash Removal 10 Structural Maint. Letters 0
Property Maint. Letters 2 Structural Repairs Made 0
Costs $ 926.33 Demolitions 0
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT
Alderman Stroud moved, seconded by Alderman Ray to approve the Regular
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Monthly Report for December 2006 from the Jacksonville Fire Department,
which reflects a fire loss of $141,100 and a savings total of $117,000.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 18, 2007
7:00 P.M. – 7:25 P.M.
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/POLICE DEPARTMENT
Alderman Stroud moved, seconded by Alderman Ray to approve the Regular
Monthly Report for December 2006. Said report reflects the Total Value of
Reported Stolen Property $101,835. Total Value of Recovered Stolen
Property $17,307 and Total Report Sales $1,014.
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL
Alderman Stroud moved, seconded by Alderman Ray to approve the Regular
Monthly Animal Control Report for December 2006 and annual 2006. Said
report reflects:
ADOPTION/FINES: $2,110.00 ADOPTION/FINES: $17,540.00
CONTRIBUTIONS: $ .00 CONTRIBUTIONS: $ 115.00
TOTAL: $2,110.00 TOTAL: $17,655.00
In response to a question posed by Alderman Fletcher, Chief Baker related
that only violent offenders are kept at the County Jail. He stated that
it would be hard to determine of the number arrested in 2006 how many
were actually kept at the County Jail for any amount of time. He noted
ongoing efforts to open the Jail to all felony offenders, adding that bed
capacity is at 880 and there are already 926 in the County Jail. He
stated that the current situation presents a real dilemma with no quick
answer.
ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Rinker,
Fletcher, Stroud, and Howard voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
WATER DEPARTMENT: Annual Report presented by Ken Anderson
The following are highlights from the statement read by Mr. Ken Anderson.
The Utility had zero water quality violations in 2006.
The Utility continues to work toward the goals set out in the
Master Plan, achieving in 2006 the raising of the Paradise Water
Tank by 11.5 feet.
The transmission main from CAW that will supply Jacksonville up to
12 million gallons of water daily, has been completed up to the
Arkansas River and will cross the I-40 Bridge this summer.
Bids have been let for the Wilson Plan pump station and I-430
Bridge crossing totaling $12.1 million. Jacksonville’s share is 3.5
million.
The transmission main is projected to be completed by 2010 or 2011.
In 2006, the Water Department installed 19,397 linear feet of pipe,
29 fire hydrants, 77 valves, 56 upgraded water services, and 329
new water services.
2006 ended with 9,458 active meters.
Out of a work force of 33 employees, 9 are licensed by the Arkansas
Health Department.
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th
July 20 reached a high for the year at 6.9 million gallons, down
from the 2005 year high of 7.3 million gallons.
Total production for the year was 1.6 billion gallons, a 2.7%
decrease from the previous year.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 18, 2007
7:00 P.M. – 7:25 P.M.
Average daily flow was 4.4 million gallons.
Bids were received to replace water meters with drive-by automated
meter reading systems at a cost of $2.2 million. Neptune
Technology Group will supply the meters and Triton Water Technology
will perform the installation. Project to begin in February and be
completed by June 2007.
Mr. Anderson thanked the City Council for an opportunity to report on the
Water Department’s activity for 2006.
In response to a question posed by Alderman Stroud, Mr. Anderson
explained that computer systems would be installed in trucks that would
read meters as the employee drives down the street versus using a
handheld meter reader.
In response to a question posed by Alderman Fletcher, Mr. Anderson stated
that the water meters are due to be changed and is part of the decision
to upgrade into the new system. He stated that the new system would allow
the meters to be read more efficiently. He further explained that another
reason for the change is that water loss keeps creeping up, which has
been determined to be coming from the meters which are slowing going
dead. He then answered that the life expectancy of a water meter is
approximately 10 years.
In response to a question posed by Alderman Smith, Mr. Anderson stated
that Cabot has recently built wells and have backed off regarding the
amount of water they were purchasing from Jacksonville.
Discussion ensued regarding mandates to decrease the use of wells. Mr.
Anderson stated that the Soil, Water and Natural Resources Commission
would mandate Cabot to stop using the wells.
Alderman Ray commended the Water Department employees for their quick
response to water leaks in the City.
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT: Annual Report presented by Thea Hughes
The following are highlights from a statement read by Wastewater Manager
Thea Hughes.
The Wastewater Department finished its eleventh consecutive year
with zero permit violations.
As required by EPA when the administrative order closed June 2004,
the Utility has continued the rehab plan.
a. Northwood Acres Subdivision has completely new sewer lines
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finished in 2006.
b. Quince Hill area is almost complete with 14,753 feet of new
line and 24 new manholes.
c. An area east of the freeway is scheduled for relay in 2007.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 18, 2007
7:00 P.M. – 7:25 P.M.
Responded to 228 customer calls (main lines & service lines), only
5 were due to rain - an indication of successful rehab. 64% of
calls were related to grease blockage – indicating a continuing
need to educate the public about pouring grease into the drains or
garbage disposables. Costs to the Utility are approximately $595
per call to respond to a grease related call. At 56 calls in 2006,
that equates to $33,320.
Televised 112,183 feet of line for investigative purposes.
Accepted 15,932 feet of new subdivision line, along with 74 new
manholes – Stoneridge Phase I, Base Meadows Phase II, Lost Creek
Phase I, Forest Oaks Phase III, Graham Settlement, Jacksonville
Commerce, O’Reilly’s Auto Parts, Worley Place Apts.
Inspected 369 private service lines and property owners repaired 11
service lines
Successfully treated 2,068,800,000 gallons of wastewater with zero
permit violations.
330 inspections were conducted at restaurants for proper grease
trap maintenance.
180 oil/water separators at mechanic shops and garages were
inspected.
Received “Excellent” ratings in laboratory certification by EPA.
Passed annual inspections by ADEQ in all areas.
All industries complied with their discharge permits.
Our laboratory ranked first out of 120 for accuracy in the EPA/DMR
sample check.
Licenses held by employees are:
i. Class I Wastewater = 2
ii. Class II = 1
iii. Class III = 10
iv. Class IV = 3
v. CDL = 16
vi. Solid Waste = 6
vii. APIA = 5
Operating Revenue from sewer use fees were up 11% in 2006 over 2005
due to the fourth phase of the 5-step rate increase. Even with the
increase, the Utility experienced a $28,000 loss in operating
revenue for 2006, which is much less than in past years.
Mrs. Hughes thanked the City Council for the opportunity to report on the
Utility’s activities during 2006.
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FIRE DEPARTMENT:
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
STREET DEPARTMENT:
SANITATION DEPARTMENT:
PLANNING COMMISSION:
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 18, 2007
7:00 P.M. – 7:25 P.M.
GENERAL: a. STATE OF THE CITY delivered by Mayor Swaim
“I looked back over the last 20 years and recognized that we have had
some challenges and some successes; some good years and some outstanding
years. The thing I recognize most is that through thick and thin, the
City Council members and our City employees did whatever was necessary to
provide the required City services. When funds were short in the early
years requiring reduced hours and no raises, they continued to do their
job.”
“Many of our goals have been reached. However, we cannot sit on our
laurels and reflect on past accomplishments. Together we must continue
to expand our efforts and seek new goals for the future.”
“First and foremost, we must maintain our financial stability. To that
end, we have developed a strong financial base to work from while
continuing to be conservative with your tax dollars. This allows us to
expand our infrastructure and enhance existing operations to better serve
our citizens.”
“Without a strong, progressive thinking City Council, and the greatest
citizens any city could possibly have, we could not have established this
strong financial base. Combine them with employees who take pride in
their work and continually improve the process and you have a formula for
success.”
“There are 35 pages to this report and, as always, I encourage you to
read them completely. I do want to list some of the accomplishments from
this year. They include:”
The new library
“After much time and intense negotiations, we purchased 2.7 acres
of prime downtown property. Five structures have been removed and
the architect’s preliminary construction plans are being completed.
Because of donations for the land purchase, no bond funds were
used, leaving $2.5 million for construction. The projected start
date is early to mid summer.”
Joint Education Facility
“The $5 million committed to this project has been collected from
sales tax and reserved. Military construction funds of $9.8
million have been secured through Congress with the help of our
delegation.”
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Police and Fire Training Center
“Funds are being set aside each month from sales tax to complete
this project. Preliminary planning is in progress.”
Growth
“Many new subdivisions were completed this year. One new
development was started on 160 acres of newly annexed land. New
home construction, following national trends, slowed slightly, but
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 18, 2007
7:00 P.M. – 7:25 P.M.
was still brisk with 126 new homes constructed at a cost of
$13,231,700. Seventeen multi-family homes were built at a cost of
$1,512,000. New and existing commercial costs totaled $6,342,442.
Adding other construction projects we had gives a grand total of
$22,160,897.”
“The City of Jacksonville’s Comprehensive Development Plan, developed
through a community-wide study in 2002, has provided the outline for all
of the above accomplishments. Our Capital Improvement Plan, approved
with the 2007 budget, provides the direction that you, our citizens, have
chosen as a guide for an even brighter future for Jacksonville.”
“Although I get the privilege of presenting the State of the City Report,
I cannot and do not take credit for these accomplishments. I may have
played a small part in what happened during 2006, but it takes a team to
be successful and I am pleased to be a member of the Jacksonville team.
Thank you for allowing me that privilege.”
In response to a question posed by Alderman Howard, Mayor Swaim related
that bids have been opened for the addition and remodeling of the fire
station, which will be presented at the next regularly scheduled City
Council meeting. He stated that six bids were submitted; expressing some
disappointment that no local contractor submitted a bid. He further
related that there was only $35,000 between the high and lowest bid.
Alderman Elliott commended the Mayor and the various Departments for
their contributions to the City.
b. Request to amend the 2006 budget
Mayor Swaim stated that Finance Director Paul Mushrush has requested that
the item be removed from the agenda, noting that the request to amend the
budget would be presented at a later date. He noted that the amendment
comes as a result of how monies have to be recorded, reminding the City
Council of the changed methods involving recording of Pension fund
monies. He stated that initially Pension fund monies have to be recorded
as income into the General Fund, which appears to inflate the fund, but
are then withdrawn and placed into the Pension funds. He noted that the
proposed amendment is characteristically the same type of transaction,
involving a change in accounting procedures.
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APPOINTMENT(S):
ANNOUNCEMENT(S): Alderman Stroud announced that tomorrow the
certification ceremony for “Keep America Beautiful” affiliation will be
held and Jacksonville will be a “Keep America Beautiful” city. He
encouraged everyone to attend the ceremony at the Community Center
tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JANUARY 18, 2007
7:00 P.M. – 7:25 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Swaim adjourned the meeting at
approximately 7:25 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully,
________________________ _________________________
Susan L. Davitt MAYOR TOMMY SWAIM
City Clerk-Treasurer
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