By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A fire substation, improvements to the Humane Shelter, jobs and a new junior high school were among the topics discussed Tuesday night during a town meeting held at the Forrest City city hall.
The meeting was called to get an idea of things that citizens feel are needed.
The fire substation, to be located on the bypass when the bypass is constructed, would serve two purposes. It would give a quick response to fires in the industrial park. It would also make fire protection available to the south part of town, in the event railroad crossings were blocked during a disaster.
Some representatives of the St. Francis County Humane Society were at the meeting, and asked for improvements to the shelter, or a complete replacement. Dr. Thomas Rountree, a veterinarian who works with the Humane Society, said he generally has to euthanize about 400 animals a year for whom homes cannot be found, because there is no room to keep them. He said the roof leaks and there is a rodent problem.
Another subject was the possibility of the city helping the Forrest City School District with some alternate means of funding to help build a new junior high school. Bryant said it is a possibility. He said the city might be able to help some. He also said private citizens donated around $350,000 to help build a new indoor practice facility, and if it was presented in the right way, they might donate even more toward helping build the school.
However, he also said there were many people "on the streets" who believed the school district was asking for more than was needed. "It's a matter of trust," he said.
The cost of the new junior high was estimated by the district to be about $7.4 million.
It was suggested that meetings take place between the city and schools.
The discussion of the need for a new junior high school also got included in the discussion of how to keep workers at the Federal Correctional Institution living in Forrest City. The prison's warden, Marvin Morrison, recently said new prison employees were living elsewhere because of the condition of the junior high.
There was also some questioning of why a new gymnasium facility would be built at the municipal ball complex rather than in the downtown area. Bryant said it would be too expensive to buy the property downtown.
In the original plan for a gym, the idea was to locate it in the downtown area and pay for it with a sales tax, which failed.
The gym would have an aerobics room, weight room, walking track, bathroom facilities, meeting room and office space for the city athletic director.
In answer to another question, Bryant said bids for a tornado warning system were due to be opened at the next city council meeting.
He also said crime had been reduced in town.
Bryant also said the city should try to do as many of the things mentioned at the meeting as possible.
"The big picture is one Forrest City, and we want to be able to accommodate all things." he said.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Errors by the previous St. Francis County Clerk's administration may have contributed to the recent drop in the county general fund balance, according to St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith.
Smith discussed the alleged errors with members of the Quorum Court's budget committee during a meeting Tuesday night at the courthouse.
County Treasurer Ann Harbin showed justices that county general stood at $47,788.35 on Jan. 31. In comparison with last year's Jan. 31 balance of $108,097.44, that figure shows a difference of over $60,000. According to Harbin, the balance as of Tuesday was between $25,000 and $30,000. Harbin also said transfers from other county accounts are expected to be made today into the county general account to put the balance closer to $75,000.
County Judge Carl Cisco said the shortage in county general is not as bad as it appears. "We have to remember that in January we had three pay periods as opposed to the normal two pay periods, and we also had five billing weeks. Then we were close to $112,000 short on our turnback, and there was $65,000 that went back to the school," said Cisco.
According to Smith, the funds that went back to the Forrest City School District were due to an error during the previous administration.
"There was a mistake made that was found to be n the school's favor, so we had to pay them back close to $65,000. That was a big hit to county general," Smith said.
"We also had some bills that had to be checked and rechecked because they had not been paid during the last few months. We had duplicates and triplicates, and may have paid a couple of the bills twice before we noticed that we were double paying them. We've spent the last six weeks sorting through all the bills, and now we're starting to get everything back in order," said Smith.
Totals for all county accounts were down from $2,142,412.54 to $1,531,832.53 a difference $609,580.01. According to Cisco, a large portion of that could be attributed to the closing of the child support enforcement unit's account handled by the county. "That account closing shows quite a hit in comparison with last year's numbers so that has to be taken into effect. We're actually closer to $60,000 down, and that puts us in a much better position."
It was also reported during last night's meeting that there will be a rollback on the millage for the county. "You cannot collect more than $10,000 in taxes during a year than you collected during the previous year, and if that is projected, then the millage is rolled back. Ours is being rolled back to 4.9 and we have to make a decision if we want it at 4.9 or 5.0 so that the assessor's office can put accurate numbers on the tax statements," said Smith.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Decisions were made by the Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission to wait until June to roll over certificates of deposit, totaling $50,000, until the St. Francis County Museum can begin construction on a new addition.
The commission also heard updates from Bill Baxter, Forrest City Athletic Director, on the upcoming 5-A basketball tournament, which will take place at Mustang Arena Feb. 27 to March 3. Commissioners also agreed to allow Niki Jones, with the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce, to put together a survey for those attending the event so the commission can get some idea of how many attended and the amount of money spent in Forrest City.
Baxter told commissioners about security, broadcasting and shuttle travel to and from the games for attendees. "Lt. Eddie Adamson is in charge of security, and he will use the auxiliary police to patrol the event. There will always be the presence of security in the parking lot," said Baxter.
Baxter was questioned about construction on the high school parking lot. He replied, "We could not improve the parking situation, so we're making arrangements to have attendees park at the Civic Center, if there is nothing going on those days, and the First Baptist Church. We plan to provide them with shuttle service from those locations, and that should make the parking situation a little better," said Baxter.
Commissioners also unanimously approved reimbursing the FC Civic Center Commission $10,000 for new sound systems, televisions and screens.
Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant requested $10,000 for new and better sound equipment, such as remote microphones, Internet service and larger screen televisions for the Civic Center.
"We need these items to attract more business to the center," said Bryant. "I would also like a web page to promote the civic center and list the upcoming events."
Bryant agreed to let the civic center commission purchase all items from its money, and he would then submit receipts to the commission for reimbursement.
Kem Merrell, A&P Chairman, read a letter from Attorney Brad Beavers, representing the museum, regarding the progress of the grant the museum is receiving through the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. The AHTD administers the grant the museum has been approved to receive for the construction of a visitors center. The commission approved in November, to give the museum the 20 percent necessary for a matching portion of the grant.
According to the letter, AHD only administers the grant, they have to forward the information and documentation to the Federal Transportation Department for final approval, and then it has to get back to Beavers.
According to Merrell, this makes the process slower than expected. "They still have to receive bids from three architects," said Merrell. " Which will be chosen by SFC Judge Carl Cisco, and 30 days will be given to those three to submit their final proposal. Then the judge selects the architect."
Beavers stated in his letter despite the extra time to receive and choose bids, he still expects construction to begin by June 1.
"If construction doesn't start by then, said Merrell, then we would need to meet with him again in June and either give him an extension or review the whole matter entirely."
The city of Caldwell is involved in a lawsuit over the construction of a pavilion at the city's new park.
The lawsuit was filed by contractor Brian Long, who was responsible for constructing the pavilion.
Caldwell Mayor Gary Hughes told members of the city council Tuesday night that he "regretted to inform the council that Brian Long has chosen the option to file a lawsuit with the Circuit Court against the City of Caldwell to request payment of $24,467 for the pavilion that has been constructed in the city park."
Hughes said that although he regrets that Long did not choose to reconstruct the pavilion, according to the original specifications presented by the council, he was glad that a judge will finally hear this case and make a decision. "I am confident when the judge hears all the facts, he will agree with us that the pavilion erected is not what the specifications and plans call for, and therefore we are not responsible."
During construction of the pavilion, Hughes had noticed that the structure wasn't looking as expected and, upon questioning Long, discovered that he had not included the hipped roof. Hughes said he then told Long to stop construction until he could consult with the council, but Long completed the structure anyway.
Long appeared before the council during their October meeting to discuss the construction. He stated that the specifications he submitted with his bid did not specify a hipped roof, therefore he would not take full responsibility for the mistake. "What is shown here is what is standing out there. I submitted it without the hipped roof...I won't take full responsibility for it, because this was reviewed by whoever accepted it. I'm willing to take partial responsibility."
The council responded by asking why he would submit a bid that did not include what was clearly specified in the original bid specifications.
Hughes said he had discussed the hipped roof with Long, who stated that this would increase the projected cost by about $2,000, to which the mayor agreed, stating they wanted the hipped roof regardless. Long agreed that he had discussed the hipped roof with Hughes.
When questioned, Long stated that reconstructing the pavilion with a hipped roof was not a feasible option, and then offered to take $1,800 off of his price. However, after discussion, the council voted to seek legal advice on the matter.
In other council business, the council discussed money available from FEMA for the removal of ice storm debris from city streets. The council voted unanimously to hire Hobbs Farm Equipment Inc. to remove the debris, and approved a public announcement for the city to gather debris to be picked up.
Hughes then informed the council that work would begin later this week to straighten a portion of Telico Creek to improve a land erosion problem.
Before adjourning, the council members approved bids for several pieces of equipment to be placed in the city park, and decided to begin accepting bids for street repairs.
The Widener City Council on Monday agreed on the time limits and fines to be imposed in a proposed ordinance dealing with abandoned and inoperable vehicles in people's yards.
If the ordinance is adopted, a property owner will have 60 days after notification to either repair or move a vehicle which falls under the definitions in the ordinance as not satisfying the minimum requirements of being a road-worthy vehicle. Fines will run from $50 to $250.
The vehicles will have to be removed from public view if they are not repaired.
During discussion, some concern was expressed that some people who are trying to fix an old car might be unduly hurt by the ordinance.
Police Chief Shelly Bieber said common sense would have to be used.