By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A presentation for a large truck-stop/motel operation on the Forrest City bypass was given to the Forrest City City Council Tuesday night.
Ellis Bell said he was not asking for anything from the council at this time, but wanted to inform the members of what he wants to do.
"This is a project that has been in the works, probably six, seven or eight years," said Bell. "We knew that one day Forrest City was going to outgrow itself."
He said that meant traffic would have to be rerouted somewhere, "We just didn't know where."
He said as it turned out, the bypass comes across the end of the Bell property.
Bell, a native of Forrest City, is currently an insurance broker headquartered in St. Louis.
Bell said the development he has in mind could include a full service truck stop, lodging accommodations, strip mall commercial or office-type quarters, food and grocery retailers, storage facilities, restaurant chains, a golf driving range and a miniature golf course. The estimated cost of the project is between $12 million and $14 million. So far, only private investors have been in contact with Bell; in a handout, he said no federal or state monetary assistance is anticipated.
"We feel like it's on a roll and we feel like it's a good possibility that it could happen," He said. "I'm not asking anything from the city at this time. It is your intentions to annex, from what I understand. There will be a time, I'm sure, when we'll be working closer together. I just thought this was a good time to come before you, get a chance to have you know me."
Mayor Larry Bryant said he thought it was a positive idea and a good location. "It's something we don't have in Forrest City...Any time we can increase the revenue base...I personally wish it success."
When asked if there was going to be any competition with a similar proposed development in the Widener area, Bryant said he saw no problem.
"We are the county seat, we already have infrastructure, we have law enforcement, fire protection and the whole 10 yards...I think it's a place that will benefit the whole county."
On another matter, the council agreed to let Bryant re-bid a sidewalk project. The bids received at the last meeting were considerably higher than had been anticipated. The council also gave permission to bid on a new garbage contract. The contract with Waste Management expires at the end of October.
On another subject, Alderman Glenn Ford asked Bryant if the city was charging a rental fee on the pavilion at Stuart Springs Park. Bryant acknowledged that there was a recently-implemented fee of $40. Ford asked if that was an administrative decision and Bryant said it was. Ford said he thought the action needed council approval. No action was taken.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The environmental impact of proposed land acquisition for improvements at the Forrest City Municipal Airport will be the subject of a public hearing set for Aug. 23, at city hall.
According to Mayor Larry Bryant, the proposals are all still in the paperwork stage.
"This is one of the things we have to do on the environmental impact study," he said. "Not to discuss it, but for John Q. Public to come in and either submit something in writing or come in and personally go on the record that they're for or against it."
A copy of the Draft Environmental Assessment will be made available for public review beginning July 23, at city hall, the St. Francis County Courthouse and the Forrest City Public Library.
The proposed improvements consist of the following:
*Acquire about 160 acres of property.
*Construct a 5,000-foot by 100-foot runway/taxiway system, weight loaded to 30,000 pounds single wheel loading, and equipped with precision runway markings.
*Establish approaches to Runway 36 using Global Positioning System (GPS).
*Vacate a segment of St. Francis County Road 738, effectively closing through passage between St. Francis County Road 739 and Arkansas Highway 1.
At the Aug. 23 meeting, representatives of the city and the planning consultants responsible for drafting the environmental assessment will present a summary of their views concerning the airport and the proposed projects social, economic and environmental impacts.
Other persons desiring to do so will be afforded the opportunity to present written or oral views. These views can be in favor of the project, in opposition or proposals for revision of the project. Also, written comments will be taken for one week after the public meeting and be included as part of the permanent record. These comments maybe e sent to Airport Comments, c/o Forrest City City Hall, 224 N. Rosser, Forrest City, Ark. 72335.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
St. Francis County's money problems are continuing, but according to a report presented by St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin at Tuesday night's Quorum Court meeting, the county general account actually has more money in it than it had compared to the same time last year.
In her monthly report to justices, Harbin said county general, as of Tuesday, has $35,224.96 as opposed to a little over $24,000 at the same point last year. The general account opened the month at $5,908.46.
Harbin said bills for this month are currently being processed, and the county has close to $16,000 in bills that will be paid and close to $13,000 in fringe benefits. Harbin said this morning that the general account should receive a boost this month from the utilities based on quarterly tax payments being due.
"I'm not sure how much we'll be getting, but we should receive some tax money from the utilities. They have their quarterly payments due, and they will send in some of that money this month," she said.
In other business, justices agreed to three resolutions designed to help the county with a grant procedure that will bring sewer to three subdivisions west of Forrest City.
County officials have been working for months to get a grant for about $1 million for work that would extend sewer to the Patillo Acres 1 and Patillo Acres 2 subdivisions as well as the Red Fern subdivision. According to St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco, the funding for the project could be announced later this week.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A murder suspect from Mississippi was arrested by an officer with Arkansas State Police Troop D Tuesday.
According to the incident report, Trooper Mike Kennedy made a traffic stop on Interstate 40 near the 246 mile marker.
The license of the driver identified him as Darrick Walker, 20, of Tupelo, Miss. A check was run on the car and the license. This resulted in Walker being arrested for driving on a suspended driver's license.
From papers in the car, the vehicle was traced to Tupelo, and it was found that a person who had been driving the car, Charles Richardson, had been murdered Monday night in Tupelo.
Upon interrogation, Walker allegedly made a full confession and admitted to stabbing Charles Richardson. Walker is being held for the Tupelo Police Department.
The 18th annual Mightymite triathlon will get under way this Saturday, July 21, at 8 a.m.., at Village Creek State Park.
Spectators are invited to watch as hundreds of athletes participate in the three-event race.
However, the road leading into and out of the park will be closed to vehicle traffic from 8 a.m. until the last bicycle leaves the park, which is estimated to be around 9:30 a.m.
Fisherman planning to visit the park are discouraged from using Lake Dunn during the event due to the crowded conditions. Boats can be launched prior to 7:30 a.m. and after 9:30 a.m.
Spectator and participant parking will be at the large field across the road from the tennis courts. No vehicles are to be parked along the roadside from the south campground to the entrance of the west campground except for guest registered in the cabin area, according to park officials.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
St. Francis County has been named the new fiscal agent for an ailing East Arkansas Enterprise Community.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said the county is taking over the reins of the program from the Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation (ALFDC) in Fargo (Monroe County). The ALFDC relinquished its title as fiscal agent in April after serving as fiscal agent since 1997. As fiscal agent, Cisco's office will serve as an intermediary between the funding entities and the grant recipients that the EAEC serves.
According to a report, the ALFDC was given funding of $287,000 for four years to cover administrative costs for the program. Cisco said the funding was allocated to cover the full four years of ALFDC's management of the EAEC, but the funds were spent before their management period was completed.
Dr. Robert Cole, who serves as consultant for the EAEC, attended a meeting Tuesday morning in Cisco's office and explained to EAEC commissioners one of the reasons why the funding might have been spent before the contract period was completed.
"When ALFDC took over, they actually spent the first 17 months of their term working without an agreement. When they were approved, a portion of the $287,000 had to allocated to them for the 17 months, and that was paid up front. If you put a pencil to that $287,000 and divide it by 47 months, you'll see that the total comes out to close to $6,100 per month. Their figures show that to be close to the amount that they have been averaging per month," said Cole.
Cisco questioned whether a new budget was presented after ALFDC was named the fiscal agent. "I understand that they were entitled to the funds from the first 17 months, but it seems to me that they would have completed an updated budget which would account for the funding that had been spent," said Cisco.
Wheatley Mayor Larry Nash told commissioners that the board is at fault regarding the ALFDC's administration spending.
"We're placed on this board to oversee the spending of these funds, and we dropped the ball on this one. In my opinion, this board is to blame because we should have kept better tabs on the money that was being spent," said Nash.
Committee member Charlene Sykes disagreed. "We hold some fault in this but the true fault lies with the fiscal agent because they are the people who were entrusted with running the administration, and they obviously didn't handle the administration funds well," she said.
Committee members also discussed a proposed budget that was submitted to the board for funding for the next three years. According to Cisco, the budget included finances for which finances were not assured, and a new budget would be necessary counting money that was known to be in the account on a monthly basis.
"We won't be writing checks counting on money that we don't have in hand. We know that we're going to be getting financing from the Department of Human Services and there are two more places that we're trying to make sure that we're going to have funding through. That will put our yearly budget at close to $78,000, and that's the budget that we're going to have to work administration from," said Cisco.
The county's agreement with the EAEC will last for two years, and according to Cisco, the program will then be re-evaluated to determine whether further funding will be forthcoming.
"Right now it doesn't look good for us because in the administration account we have zero dollars and that just doesn't look good when the government does their evaluation. We have two years to get this program on the right track because it's important to this region to have this project," Cisco said.
The EAEC serves Lee, St. Francis, Cross and Monroe counties and helps different economic development programs with grants and small business loans.