By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City City Council on Tuesday, after considerable debate, agreed to seek bids for an architect to draw up a floor plan and help determine the costs of a proposed multi-purpose building.
The building is one of the things Mayor Larry Bryant has included in a list of capital improvements he would like to see made to the city. A one percent sales tax to pay for the building was rejected by voters in 1999, but Bryant has said the city can afford the building without a new tax.
Several people spoke in support of the building.
Mike Morris, representing the Federal Correctional Institution at Forrest City, said the community center could be a good recruiting tool.
"One of the things our employees look at when someone is moving into the area is, what kind of things the town has to offer," Morris said. "And certainly one of the things it would be very nice to be able to tell someone that we have a great multi purpose building, with basketball and youth activities."
He said many prison employees have children.
Morris also said the community center could improve the quality of life. He said presently, only about one third of the prison staff actually lives in Forrest City.
"About a third of our complement lives in Forrest City," he said. "We employ somewhere around 325 people. About a third lives in Wynne and about a third lives in the West Memphis-Memphis area. And I have to say that one of the reasons many people give who don't live in Forrest City is that there are more things offered in those cities."
He said ground will soon be broken for a new phase of the prison.
James Milbrooks, a member of the Forrest City Community Voices, said the multi-purpose building would give young people something to do.
"There is all this talk about how to keep the youth off the street and how to give them a better place after school," said Milbrooks. "The opportunity is here. We don't need to pass it up just to be killing some stray dogs or something like that."
That was a reference to attempts by the Humane Society to get funding for a new animal shelter.
Calvin Blount also spoke for the St. Francis County NAACP. He also said there is a need for young people to have more activities.
Rev. V.L. Faulkner of Beth Salem Baptist Church spoke at length about the need for the facility.
He made reference to the recent school shooting, in San Diego, Calif.
"Such a tragic thing makes me ask first, what is happening in our community that our youth feel compelled to respond in such inappropriate ways, with violent action?" he asked. "And the second thing I have to ask is, what can we do to stop these kinds of things from happening right here in Forrest City?"
He said parents, churches, schools and communities have a responsibility, and he said things like the multipurpose building can be a part of fulfilling that responsibility.
After Faulkner spoke, alderman Cecil Twillie made some comments to him, about the rejection of the tax by the voters.
"I know you're aware that 18 or 20 months ago, the same issue was put before the citizens of Forrest City," Twillie said. "Fourteen hundred-plus came out to voice their opinion. Nine hundred -plus said no. Sixty-six percent said no, we don't want to pay for a multi-purpose building."
He said in his opinion, Faulkner was talking to the wrong people.
"The people who voted us in said they didn't want it," he said. And then you want the council to go out on a limb and say, 'Okay, you said you didn't want to pay for it, but we're going to take your money, $1.6 million of it and then go ahead and do it anyway."
He suggested that Faulkner should try to get support from the community.
Another speaker was Earline Smith, speaking for elder M.T. Dedner. She was also in favor of the center.
After everyone had spoken, Bryant responded to Twillie's comments about the election. He claimed people were voting against the tax, not against the building. He said that by using different math, it was shown that only 18 percent of the eligible voters voted in the election.
After more discussion, it was decided to allow the mayor to look for an architect to do a professionally-rendered floor plan of the proposed building, and to help estimate the possible cost. On the vote, Adermen John Gadberry, Twillie, Mary Jeffers, A.L. Harris, Roy Hancock and J.T. Higgins voted yes, and Chris Oswalt voted no.
Bryant has projected the cost to be around $1.6 million.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City City Council on Tuesday agreed that the city will negotiate with the recently renamed Forrest City Area Humane Society on the possibility of constructing a new animal shelter.
The council also heard first reading on an ordinance amending the city's dog leash and license law.
Attorney Frank Morledge addressed the council on behalf of the Humane Society.
"I'm not here asking you to spend $1.6 million on dogs," said Morledge, referring to an earlier discussion on the possible cost of a multi-purpose facility.
However, Morledge said the city is currently out of compliance with laws on the handling of animals. He also said he had a series of bids for a new shelter.
"You've seen bids that range from $33,000 to $78,000," he said. "None of those take into account those items on the second page I have handed out to you -- things like compliance with codes, compliance with OSHA, compliance with ADA, all those kinds of things...If you were going to do this, in the way that all codes require...it would cost you $105,000 to do it."
He also provided state standards for the operation of an animal control facility.
"For the last two years, you have put up with the Society continuously," Morledge said. "For the last two years, the Society feels like it has put up with the city continuously. I won't come back here. Tonight is the night. We're either going to do this or we're not going to do this. I don't want to get into a fight with the city.
"I'm a realist and I'm practical," Morledge continued. "I have better sense than to stand here and ask you for $105,000 to build a new animal shelter. You're not going to do it and I understand it. I'd be foolish to do that. But I'll tell you that the way it operates now does not comply with any applicable standard, it does not comply with any applicable law. And we've got to do something to fix it."
He said the present structure leaks and has structural damage , "And you have people who are spending their own time their own energy, doing the city's job at no cost to the city. All they want you to do is help them do it."
In the discussion, a lawsuit was mentioned involving a humane society and West Memphis, which was settled by negotiations. Alderman A.L. Harris suggested negotiating first.
The council at first was going to vote on getting a professional drawing, but decided instead that the mayor should meet with a representative of the Humane Society.
The licensing ordinance would increase dog license fees from $3 to $5, with proof of rabies shots required. It also increases the cost of impounding an animal. The first time is $5, the same as in the existing law. The second offense would cost $15, up from $10; third offense will be $25, up from $15. There will also be a per-day boarding fee of $5, up from $2.
This morning, City Clerk Marie Todd, whose office gives out the tags, said the existing law, passed in 1987, has not been strictly enforced, but would be.
"We have a few who come in and buy licenses, but in the scope of things, not many people do," said Todd.
The council also held third reading on, and passed, an ordinance dealing with abandoned vehicles on private property.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The president of East Arkansas Community College said this morning he is disappointed with a committee's vote against merging EACC with Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute, but said there is also some other pending legislation significant to this area.
The Senate Education Committee voted down a bill on Monday which would have merged the two schools.
"I guess I'm disappointed in the outcome," said Dr. Coy Grace. "A comprehensive community college includes technical and occupational programs, and I guess some members of the committee didn't understand that."
He said the school would continue to serve its students the best way it can.
"The bottom line is for us to serve our students -- credit students, non-credit students, students from business and industry," he said. "Sometimes, I guess, politics gets involved in that. But serving students is really our bottom line. That's what we do best and that's what we'll continue to do."
He said the faculty and staff at both EACC and CRTI do a good job.
"It's time to get past politics and get all our attention focused on serving students," Grace said. "I guess I feel like the situation has ended for the time being."
At the same time he said while most of the focus has been on Senate Bill 401, which would have merged the two schools, there is another extremely important bill, House Bill 1498.
"This is a bill, sponsored by Rep. Danny Ferguson. And that's the bill to construct and equip a classroom and Fine Arts building for this campus," said Grace. "We will work diligently toward trying to get this bill passed, because of what we think it means to the community and this area."
The meeting of the Board of Trustees of East Arkansas Community College, scheduled for Thursday, March 8, has been postponed due to schedule conflicts. The meeting will be rescheduled.
The St. Francis County Quorum Court will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the courthouse.
Also on Thursday, the Forrest City Public Library Board will meet at 4 p.m. at the library.