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08 APR 17.doc CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 17, 2008 7:30 P.M. – 7:48 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 April 17, 2008 at the regular meeting place of the Council. Alderman Smith 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, Rinker, Fletcher, Stroud, Twitty, and Howard answered roll call. Mayor Swaim also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. PRESENT NINE (9), ABSENT (1). Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert Bamburg, Deputy City Clerk Lynette Culpepper, Finance Director Paul Mushrush, Director of Administration Jay Whisker, Public Works Director Jim Oakley, Human Resource Director Jill Fourqurean, Fire Chief John Vanderhoof, City Planner Chip McCulley, Systems Administrator Barbara Daniels, CDBG Director Theresa Watson, Parks and Recreation Director George Biggs, Mrs. Beverly Elliott, Mrs. Edith Smith, interested citizens and members of the press. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Swaim presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of April 3, 2008 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Alderman Stroud moved, seconded by Alderman Howard that the minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of 20 March 2008 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ENGINEERING Alderman Sansing moved, seconded by Alderman Smith to approve the Regular Monthly Report for March 2008. Said report reflects: PERMITS/LICENSE ISSUED INSPECTIONS PREFORMED Building Permits 23 Building Inspections 46 Business License 16 Electrical 48 Plumbing 37 HVACR 19 UNSIGHTLY & UNSANITARY VEHICLES Grass Letters 0 Notice of Noncompliance 3 Property Mowed 0 Towed 0 Trash Letters 170 Trash Removal 8 CONDEMNATIONS Property Maint. Letters 48 Structural Maint. Letters 0 Cost for December $1,145.26 Structural Repairs Made 0 Demolitions 0 1 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 17, 2008 7:30 P.M. – 7:48 P.M. REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/POLICE DEPARTMENT Alderman Sansing moved, seconded by Alderman Smith to approve the Regular Monthly Report for March 2008. Report reflects the Total Value of Reported Stolen Property $78,869. Total Value of Recovered Stolen Property $32,912 and Total Report Sales $1,297. REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT Alderman Sansing moved, seconded by Alderman Smith to approve the Regular Monthly Report for March 2008 from the Jacksonville Fire Department, which reflects a fire loss of $29,500 and a savings total of $481,500. REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL Alderman Sansing moved, seconded by Alderman Smith to approve the Regular Monthly Animal Control Report for March 2008. Said report reflects: ADOPTION/FINES: $2,633.75 CONTRIBUTIONS: $ 20.00 TOTAL: $2,653.75 ROLL CALL: Aldermen: Elliott, Smith, McCleary, Sansing, Rinker, Fletcher, Stroud, Twitty, and Howard voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. WATER DEPARTMENT: WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT: FIRE DEPARTMENT: POLICE DEPARTMENT: STREET DEPARTMENT: SANITATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS & RECREATION: a. Request to Accept Bid for Carpeting Mayor Swaim noted that the item is budgeted; explaining that the Parks Department has recommended the low bid from Nationwide Floor and Window Coverings in the amount $47,500.00. He noted that this bid would cover all the meeting rooms and office areas. He then answered that the bidder has performed satisfactory work for the City previously. Alderman Elliott moved, seconded by Alderman Stroud to approve the low bid from Nationwide Floor and Window in the amount of $47,500.00. MOTION CARRIED. b. RESOLUTION 613 (#6-08) A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE WILLINGNESS OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE TO UTILIZE FEDERAL AID MONIES; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Alderman Smith moved, seconded by Alderman Howard to read Resolution 613 (#6-08). Mayor Swaim explained that Resolution 613 is an amendment to a previous grant application for funding through the Arkansas Recreation Trail 2 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 17, 2008 7:30 P.M. – 7:48 P.M. Program to improve Stonewall Park. He stated that changes are being made regarding recognized drainage issues. At this time, MOTION CARRIED and City Attorney Bamburg read the heading of Resolution 613. Alderman Stroud moved, seconded by Alderman McCleary to approve Resolution 613 (#6-08) in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED. PLANNING COMMISSION: GENERAL: REPORT Pulaski County Treasurer Debra Buckner Pulaski County Treasurer Debra Buckner thanked the City Council for an opportunity to introduce members of her staff and familiarize the public with the responsibilities of her office. She added that she is on a public information mission to inform Pulaski County residents of tax issues and how funding is distributed. She noted that there are eight cities including the unincorporated area within Pulaski County. She expressed the importance for taxpayers to understand where their tax dollars are applied, offering a pie chart percentage poster to the City for display. She noted that each city in Pulaski County has different mileages, offering that the Pulaski County Treasurer website offers a breakdown for each city. She related that 76.7% of taxes collected from Jacksonville residents is disbursed for public schools, and that 1.1% is given to Children’s Hospital as the indigent County hospital. She stated that 5.4% is for City roads, 3.7% is collected for Fire and Police millage, 4.8% is collected for the Library and the amount collected from Jacksonville residents for County services is 9.3%. She noted that the Pulaski County Jail is part of that disbursement. She related that aggregate dollars paid by the citizens of Jacksonville compared with other cities varies, explaining that it is not a cookie cutter situation so people choosing to live here are making an investment in these services. She informed the City Council that there is a large and sadly growing number of younger 100% service related disabled veterans. She related that her father was a veteran, and her husband a Vietnam Navy pilot, adding that her family is extremely touched by service to the Country and community. She explained that those veterans that are 100% disabled are tax exempt, adding that there is a paperwork situation along with a struggle between the Federal laws and Arkansas laws with implications for their surviving spouses. She stated that her office battles those problems, relating that she has a fulltime person at the downtown location who strictly handles well over two thousand veterans or spouses who are 100% tax exempt. She stated that they work with them in a very delicate manner, adding that some may have mental or emotional issues. She assured the City Council that because it is a growing factor, she wanted to make a point of saying that “we at the tax office take that responsibility very seriously and if someone needs to come here to meet 3 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 17, 2008 7:30 P.M. – 7:48 P.M. at the local office then we will send someone.” She related that if there is an uncertainty regarding a discount or waiver then the benefit of doubt goes to the veteran. She continued saying that there are issues with deployment because taxes are charged a year in arrears and many who are deployed do not know they owe taxes. She related that some military members are only here long enough to assess a car before being deployed and then their taxes go delinquent. She explained that it is a horrible journey for administration to find and help these people but that is one reason there is a web site for email, adding that they receive emails from Afghanistan regularly. She stated that she and her office are aggressive in trying to help those deployed military members get their business handled. She said that she does not want to put the names of deployed in the newspapers as a delinquent taxpayer, when they were unable to receive their tax bill. She stated secondly, she wanted to relate that between 45 and 50 thousand residents in Pulaski County are turning 65 in the next year or so, and they need to be aware that part of Amendment 79 that went into effect in 2001 offered a $300.00 homestead discount or credit, which was raised to $350.00 for the 2007 bill due this year. She explained that during the year a person turns 65, they are eligible to apply for the credit and if requested can have the assessed value on their homestead frozen. She added that it would not mean that if the City or School District raised a millage that their tax bill would not go up. She stated that it is believed that there are thousands of people who are not asking for or have not thought to ask for their homestead value to be frozen. She stated that this could be an economic factor to an individual family. She related that she is concerned about getting the word out, asking City Council to inform as many people as they can. She added that the credit is not dependent on income. Thirdly, she stated that she wanted to say that while in the beginning there was some press about the State of Arkansas being slow to pay the $300.00 and now $350.00 per parcel credit, through efforts with the State Treasurer’s office and the County Treasurer’s Association payments are now paid with no delay. She thanked the City Council for the opportunity to speak, saying that her office serves 360 plus thousand people in Pulaski County and they take pride in that service to citizens. She stated that the philosophy they embrace is to treat everyone not as th taxpayers but as customers. She related that this is her 8 year as Pulaski County Treasurer and she loves her job. She encouraged anyone having questions to call. Alderman Smith concurred that it is probably not widely known that homeowners can freeze the value of their home after the age of 65, adding that he and his wife have already done so. 4 CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 17, 2008 7:30 P.M. – 7:48 P.M. Treasurer Debra Buckner reiterated that it is a serious benefit, and if someone is eligible for any tax exemption, they should be aware and apply. In response to a question posed by Alderman Fletcher, Treasurer Debra Buckner stated that 76 cents of every dollar collected in Jacksonville goes toward public schools, adding that in comparison to other cities which range from 64 cents to just over 80 cents, Jacksonville would probably be considered slightly on the high end of that scale. Alderman Twitty complimented Mrs. Buckner’s staff citing a recent experience that was handled efficiently and effortlessly with her office. Mrs. Buckner reiterated that her main goal is to be customer oriented. Mayor Swaim pointed out that no portion of taxes collected goes toward operation of the City of Jacksonville, so for those taxpayers in the City of Jacksonville that pay their real estate tax it is worth noting that no part of those funds collected go into the City’s General Fund. APPOINTMENT(S): ANNOUNCEMENT(S): ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Swaim adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:48 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR TOMMY SWAIM City Clerk-Treasurer 5