By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City City Council on Tuesday passed a budget for 2003, in which extra money was added to expected revenues and expenditures.
Expected income was increased from $7.9 million to $9.1 million, while expenditures were increased from $7.8 million to $8.4 million.
The increase was so that several items labeled "discretionary" could be included in the budget. If they are eventually adopted, money will have to be transferred from surplus funds. The discretionary items included new police cars, a new fire truck, remodeling of Southside Pool, a tractor for Parks and Recreation, a net truck for the animal shelter, a new animal shelter building, a civic center sign, a pickup for Solid Waste and a street sweeper. A multi-purpose center had originally been included, but was not included in the budget revisions because of its $1.6 million price tag.
The items were added to the budget after Alderman Cecil Twillie questioned why they were still in discretionary funds. He said he thought the council had agreed to include them as budget items.
On another matter, the council gave Mayor Larry Bryant permission to seek bids for a new heating and air conditioning system for the old portion of the civic center.
"It's going to be a big price tag," said Bryant, "between $100,000 and $150,000. What we have in there has been there since 1967. It's served us well," but needs replacing, he added.
One recent example was the runoff election, during which polling places had to be moved from the big meeting room in the old section to a smaller room in the new section, because the heating failed.
In other action, the council adopted a resolution for condemning and removing 40 structures in the city. Act 80 of 1983 permits the city to condemn property considered "deteriorated, dilapidated, unsafe, unsightly, unsanitary and/or a public nuisance." After receiving notification of the city's intent, if the property owner does not act to remedy the situation, the city can collect the costs of removing the structure. The city can also put a lien on the property to recover the costs.
The council also approved two ordinances, one to adopt the 2002 National Electrical Code and one to adopt the Arkansas State Fire Code. Both codes have been amended over the past year, and the city had to adopt them before Jan. 1.
The council also got into a discussion over whether the city should accept the donation of an extension of Ophelia Street, which continued a discussion begun at an earlier meeting.
Interim City Attorney Chris Morledge said he had been in contact with the family which owns that strip of land. He said the family is willing to give the land to the city. However, the family is not willing to pave the street.
Bryant said he was worried that if the city failed to require that a street be paved before the city would accept it, then any new subdivision developer could question the city's requirement for paved streets.
Morledge said that it was being offered as a gift to the city, "if the city is willing to accept it."
Twillie said he thought that this particular instance was different from the building of a subdivision. At the same time, Alderman Roy Hancock said he believed that if the city paved the street, it would be increasing the property value of the area.
One side of the street in question borders a trailer park. The other side borders a bean field. It was stated that the owners of the road and the owners of the trailer park were not the same.
Twillie asked that the attorney draw up a resolution, accepting the road. No vote was taken on the matter Tuesday.
On another matter, Bryant said he had attended a recent meeting of the Arkansas Municipal League. He said the league was going on record as being against a 5/8 of one percent sales tax proposal by Gov. Mike Huckabee. However, he said the league is interested in looking at some things that are presently excluded from sales taxes.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
St. Francis County Quorum Court members adopted five ordinances Tuesday night during an abbreviated meeting at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Justices unanimously adopted ordinances which appropriated funds for the first two months of 2003 which will pay off some of the remaining expenses from the 2002 elections.
The first ordinance adopted appropriated $558,553.24 to the county's general account for January and February. This move amended the 2003 budget which was approved in November. Justices agreed earlier this year to pass a budget for 2003, but continue to appropriate funds on a bi-monthly basis to better control county general spending.
Justices also approved an ordinance which appropriated $17,000 to the election account to pay remaining bills from the 2002 elections. The appropriation did not include an $11,000 bill to Elections Systems and Services of Omaha, Neb., for ballots for the May primary election.
In other business, justices appropriated $9,000 to the grant account which will be used to pay two local charities. The St. Francis County CARE Center and Forrest City Food Pantry were both recipients of an additional $4,500 in funding when justices agreed to pay the charities' lump sum payments before the end of the year. In November, justice Jack Crumbly went to bat for the charities, reminding justices that although the court had agreed not to pay the organizations until July, the court had agreed, in principle, to pay them their normal allocations before the end of the year. Crumbly again reminded justices of this during a meeting of the budget committee last week.
The St. Francis County Clerk and St. Francis County Sheriff and Collector's offices also received approvals from the court last night.
According to St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith, she petitioned the court to transfer $1,000 from one account to another to cover the salary of a part-time worker who was used during the November general election. Sheriff Dave Parkman petitioned justices last week regarding the appropriation of $12,631 for a Local Law Enforcement Block Grant.
Prior to the quorum court meeting, justices attended the annual year-end meeting of the St. Francis County Cooperative Extension Service. A packed audience was updated on the success of the extension service during 2002. Speakers centered on agriculture, the 4-H program and the Family and Consumer Services Departments within the Extension Service.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
A 2003 budget for the water department and a pay raise for city employees were among the topics discussed at the Colt City Council meeting Tuesday night.
City Treasurer Bobby Clarkson presented the council a budget for the department with some urgency. "The water department budget has to be approved tonight," said Clarkson. "They needed the budget on Dec. 12 or 13, but we didn't learn that until after the last meeting."
After a short debate, the council unanimously voted to approve the budget.
Mayor Virgil Keeler discussed the possibility of raises for city employees with councilmen. "We have been giving 3 percent raises to full-time employees the past few years, but whatever you feel is fair we will do," Keeler said.
Councilmembers agreed to give city employees a 4 percent raise to cover cost of living expenses.
Clarkson then suggested that the city change insurance companies for the city employees.
"When we first got health insurance, we paid through the nose for it and we changed policies. The company we are with now is based on a group rate. The new company gives individual policies that are catered to the individual's needs and will save the city about $8,500."
Clarkson made a further request that the city pay deductibles on the new insurance.
"The deductible per employee is $1,100; $1,000 for doctor visits and $100 for medicine. If the city pays our deductibles, it will still save $6,300 over the last plan." The council voted to replace the insurance and to reimburse the employees up to their deductible.
The meeting went into executive session on a personal matter, but councilmen did not make any decisions.
They also voted to adopt a proposed city budget for 2003, but tabled discussion on the budget until next meeting.
The tractor of an 18-wheeler reported stolen in Mississippi on Friday was apparently set on fire in St. Francis County Monday morning.
The St. Francis County Sheriff's Department reported an International cabover tractor, leased to Global Intermodel Systems in California, but based in Memphis, was reported on fire on County Road 802 about 9 a.m.
Deputies reported the truck appeared to have been set on fire, and that the rear wheels and rims were not burning although fuel had been poured on them. Also a 10-foot fire trail was discovered in front of the truck.
The truck is registered to Jody Wolfe of Hernando, Miss., who reported the truck had been stolen from Southaven, Miss., on Friday.
The 1995 International truck tractor has an estimated value of $30,000.
With Christmas less than a week away, area schools are getting ready to release students for the holiday break.
All schools in St. Francis County will dismiss for the holidays on Friday, Dec. 20, and resume on Monday, Jan. 6.
All campuses in the Forrest City School District will release students at 2 p.m. on Friday. The Hughes School District will dismiss at 1:30 p.m., and the Palestine-Wheatley Schools will release students at 1 p.m. Calvary Christian Schools will release elementary students at 2:10 and 2:20, and students at the high school will be released at 2:15.