By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City City Council followed the recommendation of the Planning Commission on Tuesday night, denying a variance request for sign placement.
Perry Oldner with Condray signs was requesting a 12.5 foot variance from the required 25 feet to place a sign at a new car wash located at 1911 N. Washington. The request had received an unfavorable recommendation from the Planning Commission. A similar request from Kentucky Fried Chicken had also been turned down previously.
"I don't think I did a very good job last time in presenting the case to the board of adjustment (Planning Commission)," said Oldner. "We feel like we have a textbook case."
He said the required setback in Forrest City is more than most cities. He said the side of the street on which the car wash is located is also a utility easement, which puts the sign requirement even further back.
Under questioning from Alderman Glenn Ford, Oldner admitted that there was no provision for a sign in the architect's blueprint. The car wash is now near completion, and Oldman said the required setback would interfere with vacuum lines.
Alderman Chris Oswalt commented. "It sounds like to me that you're coming to us with a problem that should have been corrected a long time ago. And now you're asking us to give you something that we wouldn't have let your neighbor to the north (KFC) have. The placement of their sign right next to the building is because they pulled the same thing."
After some more discussion, Oldner said that a six-foot variance would be acceptable, but said he had discussed six feet with the Planning Commission. The minutes of the Planning Commission and an earlier Times-Herald story mentioned eight feet instead of six.
Oldner was told that if the 12.5-foot variance was denied, his proper course would be to try the Planning Commission again for a lesser variance, which he might or might not get.
On a voice vote, the council voted to deny the 12.5-foot variance.
In other business, the council granted a request from Scott Vandiver to tear down a building at 120 West Street and replace it with a metal building. The Planning Commission had agreed to the request, provided the new building was no larger than the existing one.
On another matter, the council scheduled another budget meeting, to take place Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m. A budget ordinance was set for first reading last night, but council members decided they wanted some more discussion.
The council also heard first reading on two ordinances, one to adopt the newest Arkansas State Fire Code, and one to adopt the newest Arkansas Electrical Codes.
There was also a resolution for the condemnation and removal of 40 buildings in Forrest City, under Act 80 or 1983, which provides for the removal of buildings which have been allowed to become "deteriorated, unsafe, unsightly and unsanitary." The act allows the city to collect the full cost of removing or razing the structures. The resolution was not read, however, because Mayor Larry Bryant said he wanted to make sure there weren't any problems with the list.
Bids were also opened for a snow plow attachment. Scruggs Equipment Co. of Memphis submitted two separate bids -- one for $6,389 and one for $6,794. There were no other bids. Bryant said the bids would be turned over to the Street Department for the specifications to be checked.
A man facing drug charges after catching himself and his mobile home on fire has been sentenced to prison.
David Dwight Like, 27, was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections Tuesday during circuit court proceedings at the St. Francis County Courthouse.
Like was originally charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of anhydrous ammonia in an unlawful container, reckless burning, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and endangering the welfare of a minor. Some of the charges were merged.
Like was arrested in connection with an incident on March 24 this year when police found a clandestine methamphetamine lab at his home at Lot 96 in the Stuart Springs Trailer Park.
Like was injured in the blaze and taken by a private vehicle to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City where he was treated and released.
According to an affidavit included in Like's file, during an interview conducted by police while he was at the hospital, Like reportedly told authorities he was "cleaning some dirty dope with some acetone and was drying it with a lighter and it blew up." The fire started in a bedroom at the residence.
Two adults and a five-year-old child were at the Planning Commission had agreed to the request, provided the new building was no larger than the existing one.
On another matter, the council scheduled another budget meeting, to take place Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m. A budget ordinance was set for first reading last night, but council members decided they wanted some more discussion.
The council also heard first reading on two ordinances, one to adopt the newest Arkansas State Fire Code, and one to adopt the newest Arkansas Electrical Codes.
There was also a resolution for the condemnation and removal of 40 buildings in Forrest City, under Act 80 or 1983, which provides for the removal of buildings which have been allowed to become "deteriorated, unsafe, unsightly and unsanitary." The act allows the city to collect the full cost of removing or razing the structures. The resolution was not read, however, because Mayor Larry Bryant said he wanted to make sure there weren't any problems with the list.
Bids were also opened for a snow plow attachment. Scruggs Equipment Co. of Memphis submitted two separate bids -- one for $6,389 and one for $6,794. There were no other bids. Bryant said the bids would be turned over to the Street Department for the specifications to be checked.
The St. Francis County Board of Equalization recently selected Delta Mass Appraisal of England to handle the county's reappraisal over the next five years.
According to a press release from St. Francis County Assessor Craig Jones, Delta was the only bidder for the job, which will pay $607,350 over the five year term. According to Jones, the new contract is close to $84,000 less than the contract the county is currently under. Jones agreed with the choice saying, "I think the board made a wise choice by selecting this company. This contract is actually $83,865 cheaper than the contract we are currently under, however, the taxing entities will not see any of this savings due to the fact that the money will go to Little Rock to a fund administered by the Assessment Coordination Department," Jones said.
According to Jones, the state will reimburse the county, up to $7 per parcel per year. If the county selects a bid of $5 per parcel, the remaining $2 per parcel goes back to the fund. The fund is used to assist counties in projects such as mapping and other reappraisal related endeavors.
According to Jones, county taxpayers may receive additional good news due to a decision by the state on St. Francis County growth.
"The state ran their numbers and it was decided that there was not enough growth in St. Francis County to justify a three-year reappraisal. Starting in 2003, the county will start a five-year reappraisal and this will give most taxpayers a break in tax increases by at least 2005," Jones said.
"I am glad that we will have a few years of tax stability, this will help taxpayers know what to budget for taxes each year and not dread opening their tax statements in the spring," Jones concluded.
The lineup for the 2002 Forrest City Christmas Parade has been announced. The parade will begin at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Forrest City High School, travel to Washington Street and head south.
The scheduled lineup is as follows:
1. Forrest City High School N. J. R.O.T.C.
2. Forrest City Junior High School Cheerleaders, carrying Merry Christmas sign.
3. Grand Marshalls, the Forrest City High School Mock Trial Team, state champions 2001 and 2002.
4. St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco
5. St. Francis County Sheriff Dave Parkman
6. St. Francis County Clerk Elizabeth Smith
7. St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin
8. St. Francis County Assessor Craig Jones
9. Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant
10. Forrest City Chief of Police
11. Forrest City Fire Chief
12. Forrest City Fire Truck
13. TBA
14. Delta Motor Patrol, Shriners
15. TBA
16. Loomis armored car
17. Christmas from Cross County
18. Cross County Judge
19. Miss SFC Amanda Ramsey
20. Sr. Miss SFC Skyler Haycraft
21. Jr. Miss SFC Lena Cline
22. SFC Little Miss Caroline Nimocks
23. Wee Miss Calvary Christian Deanjaneek Malone
24. Tiny Miss Hanna Bokker
25. Miss Central Arkansas Cinderella Baby Lexy Mitchell
26. Preteen Arkansas Jr. finalist Hannah Crouse
27. Little Miss Randolph County Connar Fletcher
28. Forrest City Junior High School Band, line up at band hall.
29. Native American Float
30. Order of the Eastern Star
31. Spring Grove Masonic Lodge #305 and Eastern Star
32. Essence Elite Civic and Social group
33. Berry's Shop of Wynne
34. St. Francis Search and Rescue
35. Miss Caldwell Cotton Fest Taylor Blankenship
36. SFC Wee Miss Presley Doyle
37. Cub Scout Pack 224, line up at band hall island.
38. Girls Scout Pack Troop 266, line up at band hall island.
39. Girls Scout Pack Troop 289, line up at band hall island.
40. Federal Correctional Institute
41. TBA
42. Gary Chapman, antique car
43. Richard Leake, antique car
44. Donald Blankenship, four antique cars
45. Chris Ward, antique car
46. Leon Ward, antique car
47. TBA
48. Bennie Hollowell, antique car
49. James Fryer Auto Recovery, two antique cars
50. TBA
51. Robert Smith, antique car
52. Darrel Neeley, old fire truck
53. TBA
54. TBA
55. Forrest City Masonic Lodge #198 and Eastern Star
56. TBA
57. Good Hope Baptist Church
58. Greater Mt. Olive Church
59. Rhonda's Twirlers
60. Nu Alpha Phi
61. Delta Bridges U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps
62. Omega Diamonds
63. TBA
64. Arkansas Soul Devils
65. Lula Clay
66. Forrest City High School Band, line up at the band hall.
67. Bret Hartman and Calvin Hartman, three antique tractors.
68. TBA
69. TBA
70. Larry Flemming, antique tractor
71. Jeff Neeley, antique tractor
72. Rodney Kelso, antique tractor
73. Nicky Milton, antique tractor
74. Kurt Neeley, antique tractor
75. Jerald Burns, three antique tractors, a flat bed truck and a Ford truck all used in the motion picture "A Painted House".
76. TBA
77. Crowley's Ridge Horse Project and 4-H Club
78. Tony Dawson, South Forty Horses
79. James Fryer, antique tractor
80. Tracy Douglas, big truck
81. TBA
82. Crowley Ridge Technical Institute, Santa float
Winter may still be more than two weeks away, but much of Arkansas is under a winter storm watch for the next few days, with freezing rain, sleet and snow forecast for north Arkansas.
Accumulations of up to four inches of snow were considered possible in the extreme northwest of the state, with significant ice accumulations in the north central northeast parts of the state.
Mike Davis, customer service manger for Entergy Arkansas, said preparations are being made in case the weather does turn nasty.
"We can't control the weather," said Davis. "But we can make sure that all our line crews and contractors have the equipment they need to restore power in the wake of a winter storm."
According to Davis, Entergy has drawn up potential crew rosters, notified contractors and made sure crews and trucks are equipped for winter conditions.
"In severe winter storms we are going to have outages," said Davis. "Ice storms, freezing rain, sleet and snow do cause more than just a little inconvenience."