By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City City Council again heard arguments Tuesday over whether to grant a request to change the zoning of an area on Dawson Road from residential to commercial.
The request, by Bennie Crawford, would rezone 1455 Dawson from R-2 to C-2 to allow for the construction of a convenience store.
Most of the people who spoke, both pro and con, had already spoken at the previous meeting. Those against the convenience store said a promise had been made years earlier that the area would remain residential. They also said they feared a convenience store would increase the risk of crime in the area and cause traffic problems. In addition, they said it would be an eyesore, and one resident of Beech Grove said it would cause her property value to decrease.
Those in favor of the convenience store said it would not be an eyesore, and also said cheap apartments would probably breed more crime than a convenience store. Another argument was that most of the people who go down Dawson are simply using Dawson for commuting, and not many people will make a special trip down Dawson to go to a convenience store. This was meant to counter the argument that the store would increase traffic. There was also an argument made that the whole area may be going commercial eventually.
Two people spoke who did not speak at the previous meeting. Michael Gray, a minister, who lives in Beech Grove, said he did not believe the store would be an eyesore. He also said that zoning changes have been made in other residential areas in the past.
"Why is there opposition?" he said. "You need to weigh previous decisions. I don't see how a convenience store would be detrimental."
Also speaking was attorney Brad Beavers who was representing Crawford. He said that those who said the area would stay residential "could not anticipate" the way the city would grow. He also said that the Dawson Road area was one area that has not grown much at all.
"I don't see a lot of difference in Dawson Road today and in 1981," he said.
The rezoning ordinance had been amended and was on first reading. Three readings are required, and a motion to have second reading immediately failed. Voting yes on the motion were Mary Jeffers, A.L. Harris and Roy Hancock. Voting no were John Gadberry, Chris Oswalt and Richard Benson. Glenn Ford was absent.
Second reading of the ordinance will be at the next meeting.
The council also heard first reading of an ordinance to amend the way the rotation of wrecker service in the city works.
Mayor Larry Bryant said the police department had requested the ordinance. Apparently, the way the system currently works, practically any wrecker service can get added to the rotation, no matter how far away it may be located. He said this was causing unnecessary delays and tying up officers' time.
The ordinance would require that in order to be included in the rotation, a majority of a wrecker company's wreckers must be located within seven and one-half miles of the center line of the intersection of U.S. Highway 70 and Ark. Highway 1 in Forrest City.
Charles Bokker with White Motor Co., attended the meeting and was recognized by Gadberry. Bokker suggested that the city use the Arkansas State Police rotation requirements, which he said are comprehensive.
The ordinance may be amended before passage.
On another matter, Bryant told the council that the city will soon have to start meeting some EPA rules regarding storm water, and will have until March of 2003 to comply.
He said some regulations would include keeping drains clear, and also the building of catch basins for storm water, so the water could be cleaned before being allowed to run off into a river. Also, a specific storm water board may have to be appointed.
Bryant said there is some money available to help implement the EPA requirements, but not enough to pay for all of it.
The council also passed a resolution to make a good faith investment of $50,000 for sewers in each of two areas, the Patillo I and Redfern areas, as a condition for a grant. The grant, for $1.2 million from the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, also includes the Patillo II area. However, the Patillo II area is on the Palestine water system, while Patillo I and Redfern are on the Forrest City water system.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Water Commission approved a 3 percent employee raise and $300 Christmas bonus during their regular monthly meeting Tuesday.
Commissioners voted unanimously to follow the guidelines established by the city for raises and bonuses. One change that FCWU employees will see is in the method in which Christmas bonuses are paid.
Commission Chairman Jimmy King questioned department officials on the method that has been used to pay the bonus. According to utility manager Jim Beazley, employees had been receiving a cash bonus as their Christmas bonus. Commissioners agreed that the method of payment should be changed after they were told that FICA should be removed from the bonuses.
In other business, contractor Larry McNair read a prepared letter to commission members regarding his working relationship with the Water Department and his method of being paid for his work.
"One point I want to make first of all, and I want you all to hear and fully understand, is never has there been any arrangement between myself and Mr. Beazley. There have never been any deals or kickbacks. Mr. Beazley is an honest man and my most important goal is to be able to sleep well with nothing weighing on my mind," McNair's statement said.
"In your last meeting, you talked about my hourly rate and how I got paid weekly. I have this arrangement with every person or company I work for and it has served me and them well. I am one of a very few carpenters that work on a flat hourly rate," the statement said.
McNair's statement also responded to a quote in a previous story in the Times-Herald in which King is quoted as saying, "When you are paying a man by the hour he can work on whatever pace he wants to."
"One thing I will not stand for is for someone to question my character as Commissioner King did. What he is implying here is that I would 'ride the clock' or take more time than is needed to do the job. He not only said it here, but has talked to several people in town about me and some of those people talked to me," the statement said.
Commissioners also agreed to seek specifications on two projects to improve the utility. Beazley spoke to commissioners about the need for a new roof on the Rosser Street facility and also the need for a new phone system. King agreed to help with specifications on the roofing project, and Beazley told commissioners that he would have information on the phone system at next month's meeting.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Extension Service held its annual meeting Tuesday night at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Several speakers reviewed progress made by the Extension Service during 2001 with those in attendance.
Byron Holmes spoke briefly on agriculture in St. Francis County.
"Agriculture is the main goal that the Cooperative Extension Service has. We do several things in farming such as our various variety field tours. Last year, there were soybean, wheat, rice and cotton tours. What we do is take agents, as well as farmers, and look at the crops. We also have farmers from other counties that come over and join in our tours," Holmes said.
Mary Crumley, one of numerous 4-H leaders in St. Francis County, spoke to the audience about the success of the 4-H program this year.
"4-H is the youth development program at the Cooperative Extension Service, and our goal in 4-H is to help youth by leadership, teamwork and sportsmanship which will help them become more productive citizens," Crumley said. "One of the projects that we worked with the youth on was record keeping. This helps the kids with self-discipline, repetition and a written communication skill. The kids also participate in unit camps. One of the things that we focus on is our public speaking program. When you see a four-year-old or five-year-old child standing in front of a large group giving a speech you see what 4-H is helping children with."