22 AUG 18CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - CITY HALL - #1 MUNICIPAL DRIVE
The City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in a regular session on August 18, 2022 at the regular meeting place of the City Council. Jeff Elmore delivered the invocation
and Mayor Johnson led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag.
ROLL CALL: City Council Members: Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Rains answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Johnson also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum.
PRESENT NINE (9) ABSENT (1). Council Member Bolden was absent.
Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Stephanie Friedman, Public Works Director Jim Oakley, Finance Director Cheryl Erkel, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House, Police
Chief Brett Hibbs, Fire Chief Alan Laughy, City Engineer Adam Whitlow, IT Director Emily Osment, Jim Moore, Jeff Elmore, Johnny Norton, and Debbie Fulton.
PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Johnson presented the minutes of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of July 21, 2022 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled
City Council meeting.
APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES:
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Twitty that the minutes of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting of July 7, 2022 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED.
CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to approve the regular monthly report for July 2022.
JULY
PERMITS/LICENSE ISSUED INSPECTIONS PERFORMED
Building Permits 19 Building Inspections 46
Business License Electrical 41 Plumbing 32
HVACR 11
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to approve the regular monthly report for July 2022 from the Jacksonville Fire Department, reflecting a fire loss of $37,000.00
and a savings total of $1,655,000.00.
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/POLICE DEPARTMENT
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to approve the Regular Monthly Report for July 2022 regarding annual crime statistical comparisons.
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/CODE ENFORCEMENT
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to approve the regular monthly report as presented for July 2022.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
Assigned Calls 125
Self-Initiated Calls 203
Follow Ups 186 Apartment Complexes Inspected 0
Three Day Notices 65 Red Tags Issued 7
Seven Day Letters 256 Search Warrants 2
Citations Issued 13 Rehabbed Structures 0
Vehicles Tagged 65 Structures Condemned 0
Vehicles Towed 12 Demolition by City 0
Garbage Cans Tagged 1 Demolition by Owner 0
Basketball Goals 3 Parking Violations 0
Structures Inspected 328 Grass Mowed 102
REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to approve the regular monthly report for July 2022.
ADOPTION FEES $ 0.00
SPAY/NEUTER FOR ADOPTED DOGS 0.00
FINES 1,609.00
CONTRIBUTIONS 150.00
TOTALS $ 1,759.00
ROLL CALL: Council Member: Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
WATER DEPARTMENT:
WASTEWATER DEPARTMENTS:
FIRE DEPARTMENT:
STREET DEPARTMENT:
POLICE DEPARTMENT:
SANITATION DEPARTMENT:
PARKS & RECREATION:
PLANNING COMMISSION: a. ORDINANCE 1700 (#19-2022)
AN ORDINANCE RECLASSIFYING PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS (10000 SOUTH HIGHWAY 161); AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 213 AND 238 AND THE LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE,
ARKANSAS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Council Member Sansing moved, seconded by Council Member Ray to place Ordinance 1700 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty,
Smith, and Rains voted AYE. (0) voted NAY. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Ordinance 1700.
Council Member Dietz related this property is located in a mixed zoning area, detailing how there was a trailer park beside it, along with an auto part business there previously. He
explained how the buyers decided they would like to construct a single-family residence. He stated it would the best use for the property rather than having it vacant waiting for commercial.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
Mayor Johnson confirmed it is the vacant lot around the corner of Highway 161 and Burroughs Road that has been vacant for a long time.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to APPROVE Ordinance 1700 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1700 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Council
Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Twitty moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to APPROVE Ordinance 1700 on SECOND READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1700 on THIRD AND FINAL READING.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to APPROVE AND ADOPT Ordinance 1700 in its entirety. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor,
Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing that the EMERGENCY CLAUSE be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor,
Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
ORDINANCE 1700 (#19-2022) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 18th DAY OF AUGUST, 2022.
b. ORDINANCE 1701 (#20-2022)
AN ORDINANCE RECLASSIFYING PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS (721 AND 723 SMART STREET) AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS. 213 AND 238 AND THE LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE,
ARKANSAS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to place Ordinance 1701 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty,
Smith, and Rains voted AYE. (0) voted NAY. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Ordinance 1701.
Council Member Dietz explained this is a duplex that should have already been zoned R-2, pointing out everything around it are duplexes. He related it has been completely remodeled and
the mortgage and title company would not approve financing without it being reclassified to R-2 because it did not conform to theirs, or the City’s, rules and regulations. He affirmed
this would reclassify the property to what it should have been. He answered there was already a duplex on the property when Mayor Johnson asked.
Council Member Sansing noted the property had a variance for the last 25 years.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
Council Member Dietz affirmed the owners have remodeled it completely, resulting in it looking really good and upgraded to where anyone would be proud to live there. In response to
a question from Council Member Traylor, he answered that there are duplexes on either side of the property and those are zoned R-2.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to APPROVE Ordinance 1701 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1701 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL: Council
Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to APPROVE Ordinance 1701 on SECOND READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1701 on THIRD AND FINAL READING. ROLL
CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Sansing moved, seconded by Council Member Ray to APPROVE AND ADOPT Ordinance 1701 in its entirety. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor,
Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing that the EMERGENCY CLAUSE be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor,
Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
ORDINANCE 1701 (#20-2022) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 18th DAY OF AUGUST, 2022.
c. ORDINANCE 1702 (#21-2022)
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING PREVIOUS JACKSONVILLE CITY ORDINANCE 1611 (#18-2019), RECLASSIFYING PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS (1900 GENERAL SAMUELS) AMENDING ORDINANCE NOS.
213 AND 238, AND THE LAND USE MAP OF THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, ARKANSAS; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Mashburn to place Ordinance 1702 on FIRST READING. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty,
Smith, and Rains voted AYE. (0) voted NAY. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Ordinance 1702.
Mayor Johnson reminded the City Council this is where Christopher Homes is going, but in the process of preparing to sell this property they discovered the paperwork had the wrong legal
description, so this corrects the legal.
City Attorney Friedman clarified that Christopher Homes gave the City the wrong legal description.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
Council Member Twitty confirmed even with the legal description correction the purchase price has not changed; it is still $10,000.00 per acre.
Mayor Johnson concurred, affirming the price is still $10,000.00 per acre, noting nothing has changed.
Council Member Sansing moved, seconded by Council Member Mashburn to APPROVE Ordinance 1702 on FIRST READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1702 on SECOND READING. ROLL CALL:
Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to APPROVE Ordinance 1702 on SECOND READING and SUSPEND THE RULES and place Ordinance 1702 on THIRD AND FINAL READING.
In response to a question from Council Member Traylor, Mayor Johnson responded that the property is located on General Samuels close to Motor Pro and Arkansas Office Products, catty
cornered toward Arkansas Federal Credit Union.
ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Twitty moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to APPROVE AND ADOPT Ordinance 1702 in its entirety. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn,
Traylor, Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Mashburn that the EMERGENCY CLAUSE be approved and adopted. ROLL CALL: Council Member Dietz, Blevins, Sansing, Ray, Mashburn, Traylor,
Twitty, Smith, and Rains voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED.
ORDINANCE 1702 (#21-2022) APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 18th DAY OF AUGUST, 2022.
COMMITTEE(S):
GENERAL: a. RESOLUTION 818 (#03-2022)
A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION 785 (#08-2019) IN SUPPORT OF AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF SALE DOCUMENTS FROM THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE FOR CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN (GENERAL
LOCATION – 1900 GENERAL SAMUELS); AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Sansing to read Resolution 818 (#03-2022). MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Resolution 818 (#03-2022).
Mayor Johnson stated this Resolution would allow the City to sell the lot to Christopher Homes at $10,000.00 per acre with the amended legal description.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
Council Member Blevins requested that the price be put in the Resolution because there is nothing that says it is $10,000.00 per acre.
City Attorney Friedman replied that she could amend to include the price.
Mayor Johnson noted that the lot is 2.1 acres.
Council Member Blevins asked if Christopher Homes amended that because when they first came to Council it was 2.9 acres.
Mayor Johnson confirmed they amended it to be 2.1 acres and now they are going into agreement to sell it for $10,000.00 per acre.
City Attorney Friedman concurred, adding they gave the City the original legal description with 2.9 acres, but the contract presented to the City stated 2.1 acres, so they are going
back to change both the rezoning and Resolution authorizing to sell.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Mashburn to adopt Resolution 818 (#03-2022) in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED.
b. RESOLUTION 819 (#04-2022)
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF SALE DOCUMENTS FROM THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE FOR CERTAIN REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN (GENERAL LOCATION – 106 JAXON CIRCLE)
AND, FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Mashburn to read Resolution 819. MOTION CARRIED. Whereupon City Attorney Friedman read the heading of Resolution 819 (#04-2022).
Mayor Johnson reminded that the couple purchasing the property came before Council previously, explaining they own property adjacent to this city-owned lot and the City agreed to sell
it to them. He explained this is a Resolution allowing the City to enter into a sale agreement.
Council Member Ray moved, seconded by Council Member Mashburn to adopt Resolution 819 (#04-2022) in its entirety. MOTION CARRIED.
c. INTRODUCTION of Chamber of Commerce Director Kathy Perez and Economic Developer Paul Harvel
Council Member Twitty introduced the current Chairman of the Board for Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Dustin Cole.
Mr. Cole stated they have some exciting changes at the Chamber, pointing out they had struggled a bit over the last few years without solid leadership. He explained that Larry Wilson
introduced them to Paul Harvel a few months ago, noting Mr. Harvel’s experience in reclamation projects for Chambers around Arkansas and the Country. He shared that Mr. Harvel has said
he is willing to take this opportunity to help the Jacksonville Chamber. He recalled they
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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gladly accepted and he is now the new President of the Chamber, along with being the Director of Economic Development, which is the majority of his background. He related that Kathy
Perez came to them from the Little Rock Chamber, and is a long time Jacksonville resident. He stated that he believes we will see some positive momentum, adding they already have a
lot built on the Board and everyone is excited by things that Mr. Harvel is going to bring to the Chamber. He affirmed that they want to make sure the relationship between the City
and Chamber is strong as it is certainly needed to go where they are aiming to go.
Mr. Harvel introduced himself to the City Council, noting he has worked in Chamber Economic Development for 55 years. He related that his alma mater is the Little Rock Chamber where
he started as an Economic Development Director. He detailed how he ran it for 22 years resulting in a total of 29 years with them. He shared that when he was with the Little Rock Chamber,
he interviewed Kathy Perez and hired her, so it looks like they are doing it again. He related one important thing in all communities that he would like to do are leadership programs.
He explained that when he ran the Little Rock Chamber years ago, he told them he would only do it if he could start Leadership Little Rock, adding that today there are over 2,000 alumni
of the program. He related that when you see the elections they have run, Alltel Arena, the Convention Center, and downtown; the Leadership group is the group that made them happen.
He stated that he believes in leadership groups, further explaining after being there for 22 years, the State Chamber was having difficulties and asked if he would come run it. He recalled
that he told them he would do it on one condition; if he could start something called Leadership Arkansas. He noted Jacksonville has never had a leadership program, adding that the
Chamber has voted to start one. He stated they named it Jacksonville Leadership Academy Class 1 and they will make it work since it will be good for the community. He affirmed if you
look down the line 8-10 years from now, you will see people who are involved in things, assuring that it works. He then passed out handouts, instructing Council to look on the first
page where it mentions Economic Development return on investment. He noted they will see Russellville mentioned on these since he just came from there and told how it is his work that
he left with them since they adopted all of it. He shared that he served 5 years with them, enjoyed it a lot, and hired his replacement in January. He pointed out that Economic Development
is not what it used to be when it was just finding a piece of land, getting someone interested in your community, get them to move there, and hire them to go to work. He related that
is only one part of it. He explained how they spent $253,000.00 on new and existing industries and $183,000.00 on quality of place, noting that people look at quality of place as much
as they look at anything today with it consisting of what a community is like, what your parks look like, etc. He mentioned Workforce Development and explained how they had a Request
for Information (RFO) last week from the State, Metro Little Rock Alliance that asked what type of Workforce Development they had in place that everyone is supporting. He admitted they
will need to do some work on that since people are asking for it. He mentioned Leadership Development, pointing out that people are also interested in what cities are
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REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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going to be doing with their town, what they have in place for future leaders, and so forth. He related that retail is a part of economic development, referencing a publication he put
together previously to hand out to retailers, hotels, and restaurants at retail shows. He explained he would be doing a map similar to the one in the handout of Jacksonville’s region,
Metro Little Rock, that consists of approximately 1,100,000 people in an approximately fifty-mile radius. He shared that he is thinking about putting the phrase “one in a million” on
Jacksonville’s publication since retailers are going to be interested in that number. He stated they will get publications ready, bring them to Council for review, and use them as a
tool. He affirmed the number one place they go to sell this is Las Vegas where the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) has a show every year. He detailed that you cannot
see every booth at the show in even a three-day period, adding that Ms. Perez will be attending it the second week in September. He noted that the ICSC is coming to Little Rock for
the first time ever to offer a three-hour program. He shared that he is a member of the ICSC so they will send him a list of who all is coming to the convention so he can set up appointments
to visit with those people when he goes to Las Vegas. He related there is a lot of work involved to be ready to sit down and talk with them, but the phrase “one in a million” will catch
their eye and that is what he plans on using if the Chamber will let him. He concluded, saying this is just a part of what they are doing now and there will be several other things
they will send to Council in the future and over the next two weeks.
Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Kathy Perez stated she has lived in Jacksonville since she was eight years old, went to high school here, and is glad to be
here. She would like to get to know each and every one of the Council Members more and see how they can together help Jacksonville thriving once again.
Council Member Blevins requested clarification if the figures Mr. Harvel presented were yearly.
Mr. Harvel concurred, noting it was not just the city, but mainly other public-private partnerships. He explained that the total budget is close to a billion dollars, but those listed
are just the things he has determined are economic development related.
Council Member Blevins then asked Mr. Harvel if he intends to eventually request investment from the City since he had mentioned return on investment.
Mr. Harvel responded that his main intent regarding return on investment is to start going one to one raising money. He surmised they would not be able to raise as much mentioned, noting
the population of Russellville is equal to Jacksonville, but they have a bigger concentration of businesses they are able to raise money from. He affirmed it is easier to raise money
there than it is going to be here, but they will. He related how he called the same program they had in Little Rock, “Stocking the Rock,” adding that every town
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REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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has one of these to raise money through public-private partnerships. He shared they could come to the City with requests at times where they will see the numbers regarding return on
investment.
Council Member Blevins asked how long Mr. Harvel was with Russellville, what was the average percentage of the return of investment for that time, and was it always going up, even during
the Covid period.
Mr. Harvel replied that he was with them for five years, adding that the Covid period, out of his entire career, was his most rewarding of what he had done. He shared how they were able
to get their small businesses in Yell and Pope Counties $3.6 million in grants, describing how they would fill out the paperwork, send it in for them, and how he had hundreds of emails
and phone calls, sometimes at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday nights. He recalled that during that time they were afraid of what it would do to their income and it was not a good time to raise
money, so they did not since he did not want to go asking for it during the hard time. When Council Member Blevins inquired, he responded that the grants he got were for small businesses
and came from AEDC, adding that their loan values went close to $80 million.
Council Member Ray welcomed Mr. Harvel to the City of Jacksonville, adding that they met at the Jacksonville Rotary Club a few weeks ago.
Mr. Harvel recalled that the first location he ever did as the Economic Developer of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce was Remington Arms in Lonoke. He stated that Council Member Ray
shared with him that he was the third person that Remington Arms had hired.
d. Debbie Fulton/citizen concerns
Council Member Blevins shared that last week he had a citizen call him and request to speak to Council. He explained that, at the time, it was an incident involving the Police Department
regarding questions on how to file charges, etc. He confirmed he had spoken to Police Chief Hibbs which resulted in him sending an officer to go speak to her, but she would still like
to speak to the City Council. He affirmed he approved for her to come speak regarding this police issue, noting there were other issues that were brought up afterwards that which were
not explained to him at the time. He noted he has brought her to speak specifically on the incident regarding the police incident and how hard it is to file charges against someone.
Citizen Debbie Fulton stated the issue she has with the police is response time, detailing that in her neighborhood, it takes thirty minutes to an hour or more to get a police officer
there following a call. She related that the police officers do not fill out the reports properly or entirely, explaining how she has to take a recent one they did, for when someone
vandalized her and her daughter’s cars, back to them since the daughter’s car was not even mentioned in it. She noted that she cannot even go to the prosecuting attorney to file the
lawsuit because it is incomplete, stressing that it should not take a police officer thirty minutes or more to come to their
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house. She explained how her granddaughter was missing and it took an hour and a half to get an Officer there, while everyone was frantically looking for her. She stressed that in their
neighborhood, the police response is not two minutes. When Mayor Johnson asked if this was a response to an ongoing event or was it just to file a report, she responded it was just
to file a report. She explained it was the first incident with this particular person at her house, but not the first incident with this person in their neighborhood.
Police Chief Hibbs did not agree with Ms. Fulton’s statements, explaining on that particular call, she made a Facebook post about it and made completely inaccurate accusations. He explained
he has the call and the time the officers were dispatched, noting that it came in and the first officer was dispatched at 10:13 and arrived at 10:21, which equals to eight minutes because
that officer was not in the area. He noted the second officer was dispatched at 10:14 and arrived five minutes later at 10:19. He went on to say their average response time was two
minutes and forty seconds in the 53,000 calls they received in 2021. He assured there is no time, he is aware of that takes them an hour and a half to get anywhere, affirming the claim
is completely inaccurate. He pointed out if it was, there was a hostage situation going where everyone would be tied up, but they have not had that. He related that on occasion, he
has every officer tied up on calls because they run shifts at minimum right now since he is down on manpower and has struggled with hiring. He told how they keep their shifts manned
at six or seven officers, depending on the times and dates, twenty-four hours a day. He stated he pays a lot of overtime to fill holes in shifts where officers can have days off, vacations,
sick, or military leave, affirming they always have at least six officers out going call to call that still average the two minutes and forty second response time. He noted this particular
call that Ms. Fulton brought up took one officer five minutes to get there and the second one eight minutes. He assured they handled the call accurately, adding that Captain Washington
also talked to her since he was out of state at the time. He shared that they handled the call according to state law rules of criminal procedure, that with misdemeanors, if the officer
does not witness the crime, he does a report and refers that person to the prosecutor where they go and file a complaint. He affirmed it has been done that way at least the last twenty-seven
years he has been with the department, confirming if a misdemeanor occurs outside their presence, they do not make an arrest unless it is a domestic violence or a few other situations.
He confirmed if it were a felony and they have probable cause, they make an arrest right then. He recalled this particular incident was a misdemeanor, stressing that he cannot, by law,
without violating someone’s rights, make an arrest on a misdemeanor that does not happen in his presence. He stated that the prosecutor now takes complaints at the main office in Little
Rock, but used to do it here several years ago. He surmised this was because of budget issues, adding if they do it for Jacksonville, they would have to do it for Sherwood, Maumelle,
North Little Rock, and everyone else which would mean
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having a full-time prosecutor, a secretary, and an office for each. He explained that it is campaign season for the prosecutor right now where two are running for election, adding maybe
that issue could be brought up to them, but he cannot answer to that. He is not familiar with the incident regarding the missing child, but in the other particular incident, it took
his officers five minutes to get there. He shared that back in Spring, they started doing a version of Compstat and from the trend around the Country, the past two years violence is
up everywhere, noting there were seventeen shootings in Little Rock last weekend. He pointed out that we have a gun, violence, and gang problem and he knew it was going to be a bad
Summer if he did not start early. He recalled they were having a shots fired problem that was pretty high at the beginning of the year, but they were actually way down because of the
effort his officers have made. He told how he has an analyst that tells them the times, dates, and areas these incidents normally occur and he sends officers to the area to flood it
with officers. He affirmed that to say there are no officers in Sunnyside, or in the south end, is completely ridiculous because that is where he puts most of them. He assured there
are more officers there now since the Spring than there ever have been and that is something he has been doing with staff meetings with his Captains and Lieutenants as a focused effort
to reduce crime. He related they have had one homicide this year where all of the other cities have had way more, adding that he believes they have done a tremendous job. When Council
Member Dietz request clarification on a required wait time to report missing children, he replied it is a myth often seen in movies and television. He shared that his officers have
had state-mandated training on missing persons, adding that the report is taken, no matter what, at that time whether they think it happened or not.
When Council Member Dietz inquired about what happened to the child, Ms. Fulton responded that she was at a friend’s house she did not get permission to go to. She stated she was told
by an officer that because she was not technically kidnapped, there would not be an Amber Alert put out for her. She told how they did not know where she disappeared to or if someone
took her from the bus stop; they just knew she did not come home from there. She stated that with the kids being taken nowadays, it would not matter if a kid ran away, an Amber Alert
needs to be put out.
Police Chief Hibbs affirmed they are not allowed to without knowing if the child is in imminent danger, noting there are different levels of Amber Alerts. He explained how they call
the State Police regarding a particular case and then they tell them whether or not it meets the criteria, pointing out they had one the other day they knew did not meet the criteria,
but they still called anyway. He recalled they had a 12-year-old child missing they found out-of-state with her mother who she was not supposed to be with. He confirmed she did run
away and everyone on Facebook were saying they should do an Amber Alert, but she was not in imminent danger since she ran off with her and they knew about what was going on. He affirmed
the problem is if they do not know where the child is, it does not mean they are in danger, and they have to know they are in danger in order to issue an Amber Alert. He noted it was
a three-minute response time for the missing child Ms. Fulton is
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
referring to, not an hour and a half. When Ms. Fulton mentioned they had been searching for the child, he responded they may have searched, but they may not have informed police of it
while they were searching.
Ms. Fulton related they were searching as her daughter was calling, she knows they searched for over an hour, and by the time she got back home, that is when the police showed up. She
shared that she does know a lot of the time there is no response from the Police Department for at least thirty minutes.
Police Chief Hibbs disagreed, assuring they respond to every call they get.
Ms. Fulton mentioned the incomplete police report, detailing that her daughter’s car was involved in a vandalism, but she was not mentioned on the police report at all.
Police Chief Hibbs recalled that the daughter said her car was hit with a brick, yet the brick never even touched her car, but was only thrown in the direction.
Ms. Fulton affirmed she has pictures where it did touch the car, noting there is damage to the windows and mirror.
Police Chief Hibbs pointed out she would still have to take that complaint to the prosecutor’s office because they cannot issue the warrant until she does.
Ms. Fulton reiterated they cannot file the complaint if she is not on the police report.
Council Member Twitty asked Ms. Fulton if she had gone to the Police Department to speak to the Chief or another officer about this instead of coming before Council to speak, because
the stories are not matching up.
Ms. Fulton assured she spoke to the officer they sent to her, adding that lately when she tries to talk to anyone to get anything done, nothing gets done, so the only way to fix things
now is to go to City Council meetings or the news. She explained how she has tried for seventeen years to get a drainage ditch put in front of her and her neighbor’s house. She responded
yes when Council Member Twitty asked if she had spoken to Public Works Director Jim Oakley one-on-one. She stated the issue has still not been taken care of where they still have stagnant
water that sits in front of her and the neighbor’s house. She explained they and the neighbors across the street have children and the stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitos,
noting the mosquito truck only comes through maybe twice a year. She recalled for seventeen years she has been trying to get it fixed, sharing that former Mayor Gary Fletcher had said
the City is not responsible for flooded yards. She affirmed she is not talking about the yard, but is talking about the little gutter between the sidewalk and the road.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
Council Member Sansing stated it was very obvious to him in the pictures that people have filled in the gutters at their driveways with concrete resulting in the water standing between
driveway and driveway.
Ms. Fulton disagreed, noting Galloway Park and Pike is uphill from where they are at, adding that there is a pipe in the middle of that concrete so water can drain through. When Council
Member Sansing stated that the concrete should not be filling in the gutter, she replied that those are all through Sunnyside and have been like that for almost twenty years. She pointed
out that the water is not going to go anywhere since it is uphill both ways, toward Galloway and Pike since they are in a valley.
Council Member Blevins stated after Ms. Fulton had called him, he did call and speak to Captain Washington, noting that an officer went to talk to her the very next day. He shared how
she still wanted to speak and confirmed that someone did come out to speak to her one-on-one.
Police Chief Hibbs stated there was no damage to her daughter’s car and the daughter did not want a report, according to the officer.
Ms. Fulton disagreed, saying she did and the officer is wrong. When Council Member Dietz asked if she was there when her daughter talked to the officer, she replied yes because her car
was damaged at the same time. She noted her daughter was furious and doing a lot of cussing because they damaged her window, mirror, and there were bricks thrown. She told how her own
mirror was ripped completely off which cost $300.00 to replace the mirror with $150.00 to install it. She mentioned a misdemeanor being $400.00 and that went over the charge being $450.00
to fix one mirror, making it a felony. She recalled how they put the person who did it in the back of the car, took her around the corner, and turned her loose.
Council Member Blevins clarified that she was dropped off around the corner at her house.
Ms. Fulton told how the next day this same woman was on Pike doing the same thing and the day before that she was at a gas station destroying it.
Police Chief Hibbs explained that the person being mentioned is a regular for them, with officers being familiar with her. He confirmed she does a lot of things, but their hands are
tied sometimes by the law.
Council Member Dietz related that the Police Department did talk to her and are good at communicating, noting they have had no problem with most of these people and the Chief. He mentioned
talking to Police Chief Hibbs and Public Works Director Jim Oakley and apologized that she has had issues. He noted they have heard her concerns and will take them into consideration,
but they have done all they can do here at this point.
Council Member Twitty suggested she make an appointment to calmly talk one-on-one with Police Chief Hibbs.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
Ms. Fulton shared the reason she sent pictures to all of Council is because in seventeen years nothing has been done and the road is falling apart now.
Public Works Director Jim Oakley concurred when Council Member Mashburn asked if the placement of that particular concrete is illegal. She surmised they could solve the drainage problem
by going in and taking them all out.
Public Works Director Jim Oakley explained one reason they did not do it when they saw it is because it will not fix everything, but will only help. He pointed out that the person that
lives next door to Ms. Fulton on the left is handicapped and needs to be able to get a wheelchair out to the car. He explained he had deferred it some for that reason, but confirmed
they can take those out.
Ms. Fulton stated she had hers removed years ago and if she is not careful going into the driveway, she will hit bottom.
Council Member Twitty related that they cannot have it both ways because if you have it, it keeps the water from draining.
Ms. Fulton surmised if there was a drainage ditch put there it would make a world of difference because it is uphill both ways since they are in a valley. She affirmed it is not going
to go anywhere even if you remove the concrete.
Public Works Director Jim Oakley acknowledged it does have its challenges since it is pretty flat over there, noting they can look at making some small improvements, but it would take
a major redesign of that subdivision to do anything.
Council Member Mashburn recalled that they spoke about the drainage several years ago and they could not find a solution to it then.
Public Works Director Jim Oakley reiterated it would be difficult without a major redesign of the subdivision, adding that City Engineer Adam Whitlow will help him look at it next weekend
to see if they can find some repair that will help without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Council Member Twitty mentioned the House Watch service the Police Department provides, explaining every time she goes out of town, even though she has cameras and alarms, it is nice
to have Jacksonville Police Department do a thorough job checking her residence every day she is gone. She detailed how they went from the front of her house, completely all of the
way around, down into the basement, and even around the pool. She affirmed they did an excellent job, thanked Police Chief Hibbs, and mentioned that for everyone who is not aware of
it, it is a service they offer that has been fantastic. She noted she signed up on the website, adding they will drive by at least one time a day.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
Police Chief Hibbs recalled they have been doing those for thirty years or more. He acknowledged they are not perfect, noting he has a tremendously young, inexperienced department with
an average patrolman experience being two years. He admitted they do make a lot of mistakes having to go call to call with times where calls are backed up and they cannot get to them
resulting in extended times, but they still average a good response time better than big cities. He explained how he has to pay people overtime to work shifts to keep them on the streets,
so he has worked them pretty hard to try to make it a quiet Summer. He affirmed that shots fired and violence are down, recalling it was way worse in the Spring and even in January
and February. He stated they made a team effort to organize it and made a response resulting in a decrease of crime here versus increases everywhere else. He recalled his goal was to
have a quiet Summer and that is what he told his officers when they started the program they are doing. He pointed out that it is new to them dealing with crime analysis and they are
learning it. He acknowledged there are times when complaints are valid, recalling in the past if someone told him an officer did something, he would not have believed it, but now he
would check into it since they are young and inexperienced and the only way to get experience is to do the job. He related they have made mistakes, but he gives them room to grow, coaches,
and supervises them while trying not to discipline too hard.
Council Member Twitty noted Police Chief Hibbs and his officers are doing a great job and shared her appreciation.
APPOINTMENTS: A & P COMMISSION Appointment of Andy Rehm to fill the unexpired term of Jim Hurley set to expire 03/31/2023
Mayor Johnson stated he is unable to approve this appointment tonight, noting that according to the past ordinances regarding qualifications for the A & P Commission, the candidates
have to live in Pulaski County, and this person does not. He mentioned that Council Member Twitty had brought up a concern at the Chamber meeting about not having an absentee rule for
this commission.
Council Member Twitty affirmed she and City Attorney Friedman are working on it.
Mayor Johnson suggested meeting with the A & P Commission to get their input on it before they do anything.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Hope for Hazel Benefit
Council Member Twitty announced that Friday, September 16th there will be the third annual Hope for Hazel benefit. She explained it is in memory of Marsha and Jim Dornblaser’s daughter.
She detailed that it is a benefit for Cystic Fibrosis and invited all golfers to give them a call to get signed up.
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 18, 2022
6:00 P.M. – 6:59 P.M.
Titan Obstacle Course
Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House confirmed they had 236 participants in this year’s Titan Obstacle Course.
Jacksonville Museum of Military History A Night at the Victory Canteen
Council Member Ray announced the Military Museum benefit will be this Saturday night.
Pit Bull Committee
Council Member Blevins announced the final Pit Bull Committee meeting will be next Tuesday, August 23rd 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
City-owned Sunnyside Lots
Council Member Dietz stated the City still has 16-17 lots left in Sunnyside and they need to figure out how to get clear title to see they can let someone else own them so we can stop
mowing them.
Mayor Johnson related that the citizen that bought 102 would like the list and possibly purchase them all.
Council Member Dietz confirmed if they are willing to pay $750.00 to $1,000.00 and it is close to their house, it is time the City relieve itself of them and put the money in the coffer.
He affirmed the City does not need to be mowing since they are mowing enough yards for citizens where it is wearing down the Parks and Recreation Department. He stated he will have
an update on it at the next meeting.
Mayor Johnson responded no when Council Member Blevins asked if there is a way for the City to offer financing for them.
Council Member Blevins explained it would have been good for that neighborhood to make it happen.
Council Member Dietz mentioned another option would be to put little homes on them so people can finance them. He affirmed the best way to do that would be to clear title, suggesting
to go ahead and let the people close to them or beside them buy them.
ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at approximately 6:59 p.m. MOTION CARRIED.
Respectfully,
________________________ _________________________
Susan L. Davitt MAYOR BOB JOHNSON
City Clerk-Treasurer