By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Madison Mayor James Brooks provided information to council members during Monday night's monthly meeting of the Madison City Council which, he said, proves the accuracy of his administration.
During the October city council meeting, Brooks defended himself to councilmen against accusations regarding bids for city streets and letters sent to city residents regarding the clean up of yards. At last night's meeting, Brooks presented a copy of the bid request published in the Times-Herald and copies of the letters mailed to residents.
"This information is proof of the accuracy of what we're doing in this administration. I don't know why it is that some would take the notion to just come up with thoughts of their own out of the clear blue, not having investigated, and speak things that simply aren't true," said Brooks.
Brooks also told council members that meetings would now follow Robert's Rules of Order to set a guideline for future meetings.
"We decided a while back that we would govern our meetings according to Robert's Rules of Order, and that's what we're going back to. We've tried to deal with each council member on a professional and respectful level. We've tried not to bring discredit to our city through bad publicity, but there are those who seem to want to do that," Brooks said.
Brooks' comments were responded to by council member Annie Winfrey. "Mayor Brooks, I did not sit here and tell you a lie. I said that I hadn't seen this letter, and I didn't until today because you had not given it to us until today. This bid did not appear in the newspaper" Winfrey said.
Brooks responded, "I didn't have to give you this letter. I gave you this information to prove my point. All of this is public information."
In other business, council members voted to sell a 1984 Ford pickup for $150.
According to Brooks, he was questioned about the truck, which has been disabled for over three months. Brooks told council members that the truck was to be sold for spare parts.
Council members also voted to table the issue of wards for the city until more information is made available to the council. Council member Thomas Davis questioned Brooks regarding how the break down of the wards would affect council positions. Brooks told council members that he is unsure exactly what wards the council members would be placed in.
Council members also voted against rebidding street repair work for several Madison streets. According to Brooks, city offices had not been contacted by M&T Paving regarding street work which was bid on earlier this year.
"We let the bid. M&T won the bid and said that they were going to do the work, but they haven't showed up. There is nothing that we can do if they choose not to do the work. They were the only company that submitted a bid," Brooks said.
"I don't understand why we would accept other bids. If someone else wanted to do the work they would have submitted bids. No one else wanted it or they would have tried to get the work when the bids were let," said council member Gail Graham.
Council members agreed to allow Brooks to contact M&T Paving to find out if they plan to follow through on the bid offer.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Hughes officials are looking at a variety of ways to combat the city's increasing costs for providing employees with health coverage.
During the monthly city council meeting Monday night, Hughes aldermen agreed to see if the city could save money by dividing the coverage costs among departments.
The city agreed in August to change insurance providers, a move that was expected to save about $2,000.
However, insurance agent Linda Lindsey told councilmen Monday night the city would be better off staying with its current provider. "Because a former employee is taking advantage of the Cobra Act, a law that allows her to be covered for up to 18 months after leaving the city's employment, the city's premiums for each employee will be raised by 67 percent," Lindsey said.
She said the former employee's health status made it difficult to get lower premiums, regardless of the chosen health provider. According to Lindsey, because the premiums would be locked in for one year, even though the former employee would not be eligible for coverage after April 2002, the premium rate would not change until January 2003.
Councilmen agreed to try to divide the city employees into different categories so the city would not have to pay the 67 percent increase on all workers.
"We could divide up the city employees and the water employees, or even the police department could be separated from the city and covered separately, whichever way could help us to come out cheaper on these premiums is what we should try to do," Mayor Donnie Mooney said.
"A department in the city only needs three employees to be covered separately," Lindsey said, adding that she would review the city employee's to determine how they could be split in a way to help the city.
City employees are currently covered at 100 percent, but have to pay for dependent coverage.
In an update to councilmen, Mooney said the city's water deficit has decreased by as much as three-fourths since new ordinances were adopted earlier this year. "We now have a balance of $5,426, and it was $7,903 just last month. That's a great change from what it was when we started out with a balance of around $21,000," he said.
In other business, Hughes Police Chief Joe Stone told councilmen the city is starting a Neighborhood Watch program this week.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Widener City Council on Monday tabled action on potential raises for city employees until the next meeting.
Several issues need to be worked out, including how much of a raise will be given. Another issue centers around whether a certain employee will be paid hourly or by salary. There is also an issue over when raises should be given. Technically, the council can give raises any time it wants. Mayor Dot Halford said it would be easier to budget if raises were given at the first of the year. Another possible issue is time off, sick leave and vacation time.
"I don't have a problem with people taking off occasionally," said Halford.
City Attorney Bill Snowden said the most important thing for the council to do is to "make sure you treat everybody the same. Don't give this one something that you don't give another one."
The city does not have a written personnel policy, and Snowden said it might not be a good idea to have one.
"We try not to get into a position where we have a personnel policy book which tries to address every conceivable situation," he said.
The council may also discuss the question of bonuses.
On another matter, the council passed a resolution to conduct a Democratic Party primary for municipal candidates. Halford said she had been told it was required. Snowden said he didn't think it would be required, since the council members generally run as independents, anyway. However, after some more discussion, he said if it made them feel better, they should pass the resolution.
Some work has begun on the site of the new community center in Widener, across the street from city hall. Some of the work is being done by volunteers, and anyone is welcome to come help.
Thirty-four Times-Herald readers missed just three in last week's Professor Pigskin Football Contest. Seven readers missed just two.
Most weeks, missing just two or three picks would be good enough to pocket the cash prize, but not this week.
Steve Burnett and John Tarbutton ended in a tie when both missed just one of the picks.
The tie-breaker game -- Arkansas vs. Central Florida -- gave this week's $50 prize to Tarbutton, whose guess of Arkansas 28, Central Florida 21 was the closest to the actual final of Arkansas 27, Central Florida 20.
Burnett picked Arkansas to win but guessed the final as Arkansas 37, Central Florida 17.
So, with just three more Pigskins left this season, Tarbutton gets the cash this time around.
This week's selections can be found inside today's Times-Herald.
The St. Francis County Food Pantry, with the help of several area churches, will again be sponsoring free Thanksgiving meals.
This year, according to Catherine Freeman of the Food Pantry, the meals may be served on either Wednesday, Nov. 21 or Thursday, Nov. 22. Participating churches will be announced at a later date. Any churches willing to participate should contact Lula Clay at the Food Pantry, or Freeman at 633-6255.
A convenience store owner foiled an attempted robbery Monday night at his business on North Washington.
The Forrest City Police Department reported three suspects entered the Fina Store about 8:30 p.m. demanding money from the cashier. She told them she didn't have any money before one of the suspects walked around the counter to the cash register.
Hearing the commotion from the back of the store, owner Mohamed Rawaid turn out the lights and the three fled the business.
The investigation is continuing.