07 JAN 18.docCITY 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 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.
July 20th 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.
Northwood Acres Subdivision has completely new sewer lines finished in 2006.
Quince Hill area is almost complete with 14,753 feet of new line and 24 new manholes.
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:
Class I Wastewater = 2
Class II = 1
Class III = 10
Class IV = 3
CDL = 16
Solid Waste = 6
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.
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.”
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.
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