By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A subdivision in the Broadway and Day Street area may not be built, after the Forrest City City Council again took no action on a preliminary plat approval.
The council had also refused to take action on the plat at its previous meeting, because of objections from residents of the area, who feared the building of a new subdivision would create more drainage problems.
The sticking point continued to be the tendency of the area to flood after a heavy rain. Mayor Larry Bryant and council members said more time is needed for the city to come up with a plan to improve the drainage in the area.
However, Derwin Sims, of Di-Com of America, the firm that wants to build Down's Village subdivision at the site, told the council that his option on the land was up, and he had already received an extension once.
"If the city decides not to pass it (the plat), we're going to vacate it," said Sims. "We'll move on and do it somewhere else."
Council member Cecil Twillie said he did not have a problem with new housing, but with drainage. He said if the drainage problem could be corrected, new housing in that area could get his vote.
Sims also defended the quality of the homes built by Di-Com, which he said are built at the factory and then put on a foundation. He claimed they were excellent-quality homes, with a variety of floor plans.
On another matter, the council passed a resolution to approve a petition to the county for annexation of the area, generally known as the Patillo One Subdivision, along with some other land on the bypass area.
The council also heard first reading on an ordinance which imposes a fine of $25 for people who do not remove their garbage carts from the curb after pickup. Bryant said there have been complaints that some people are simply leaving their carts at the curb seven days a week. All the ordinance will do, if passed, is establish the fine.
Bryant said there are waivers for people who have disabilities.
The council also heard first reading of an ordnance to define demolition work.
Also on first reading was an ordinance to waive bid requirements to purchase a used bucket truck from Woodruff Electric.
Also, at the next meeting, the council will take up an issue concerning garbage fees. The question centers primarily around whether charges should be made to the Forrest City Housing Authority for individual residences, when the Housing Authority has dumpsters instead of garbage carts. The discussion began Tuesday, but council members said they need more time to fully understand the question.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Quorum Court voted Tuesday night to extend a temporary budget plan for two months.
Currently operating under a two-month budget, quorum court justices agreed to appropriate over $518,000 to the county's general account. The move will allow the county to operate through the end of April.
St. Francis County Treasurer Ann Harbin said the county was able to stay under budget in January despite close to a $30,000 shortfall in anticipated revenues.
"Last month, our state land sales were down, and we didn't receive much from the delinquent personal real tax. The state land sales were the lowest that I can remember since I've been here, and I started in 1987," Harbin said.
In other business, justices passed a resolution seeking a special legislative session to address the issue of county jail reimbursement. Prior to passing the resolution, County Attorney Fletcher Long was questioned by several quorum court members as to what possible repercussions the county might face if the issue of county jail reimbursement was pursued.
"There's really nothing that the Governor can do to take funds away from the counties. That decision is up to the legislature. Anything that you can do to bring pressure for a special session is good, and anything that can be done to get his name in an unfavorable light might also help. So, my suggestion is that we keep trying to get something done," Long said.
Justices also agreed last night to pay Burl Lieblong an additional $14,800 for a total of $20,000 to be paid for damage that occurred to his property during the construction of a new bridge over Crow Creek on Highway 284. St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said the payment will close the matter which has been disputed for about two years.
"We originally made a $20,000 offer, which was above what the state offered for the property, and they declined to accept it. We paid them $5,200 to start with because that's what the state said the value was. Last week, we were told that they would settle on the $20,000 amount, and $14,800 is the balance of that," Cisco said.
A pair of issues affecting county employees were tabled until the March meeting so justices could gather input from county employees.
The first issue is the holiday schedule for the courthouse which would close the courthouse on July 4 and July 5, instead of just for Independence Day.
"We've got some employees who have expressed an interest in having both days off because the fourth falls on a Thursday and that would mean being off on Thursday, coming back in on Friday and then being off for the weekend," Cisco said.
The second matter deals with a proposal which would allow county employees to open individual Christmas Club accounts and save $10 per pay period with the county matching the employee investment.
"In the past we've been able to pay a Christmas bonus, but this year, due to the budget constraints, we weren't able to pay the bonus. This plan would allow employees to save some money out of each paycheck to go into a Christmas Club account, and the county would then match their deposit so that we could give something back to them at the end of the year," Cisco said.
Questions were raised regarding whether the county or the employee would receive the interest from the accounts with Justice Author Witherspoon objecting to the idea of the county receiving the interest.
"I don't see why the county should receive the interest from these accounts. It just doesn't seem fair to me to get the money from them and then keep the interest saved on it," said Witherspoon.
Justice Evans Seawood, who supported the county keeping the interest, said, "Justice Witherspoon, the county is going to match the amount put up by the employee so I think that is fair enough. The county isn't going to be receiving much from this at all. This will still benefit the employee. If you go to a bank and open a Christmas Club account, they aren't going to match the money that you put in, and that's what the county is going to do."
Both issues are scheduled to be voted on at the March quorum court meeting.
The Forrest City School District has been awarded a $150,000 grant to replace a roof at the Lincoln Middle School campus, according to a press release from the district's Finances and Foundation Resources department.
According to the press release, the School Renovation Grant is a federally funded grant being administered through the states to districts on a competitive basis.
"We really had short notice in putting this grant together; however, because of previous roofing needs analysis conducted by Superintendent Lee Vent and the school board, I had all the ammunition needed to state our case in the grant application. We could really use six or seven times the amount of this grant to get the roofs of our numerous older buildings in the shape they need to be, but $150,000 was the maximum available from this particular source," said Pat Flanagin, director of the Finances and Foundation Resources department.
"We will, of course, continue looking for outside funds as well as funds within our already strapped local budget for continued needed roof repairs this year," Flanagin added.
According to Superintendent Lee Vent, the funding could not have come at a better time.
"Our current budget took a heavy hit in November, losing $437,000 due to cutbacks in state funding. Other state sources had been eliminated before the fiscal year started in July. The local citizens have been supportive in passing a millage for the new junior high school, which is now under construction. We will be proud of that new facility for our children and it will save a lot in maintenance costs, unfortunately, we still have a lot of older buildings with high ongoing maintenance and renovation needs that will be a continuing concern for the Board and Administration," Vent said.
"I really appreciate the work that Pat Flanagin and others have done on this and other grants to bring well over a million dollars in outside funding to our schools in the past couple of years. We have acquired numerous resources for computer labs, high tech distance learning capabilities, educational television broadcasting, roof renovation and other programs and services that would not have been possible with the limited funding in our local budget." said Vent.
An invitation to bid on the roofing renovation will soon be advertised locally and statewide in accordance with Arkansas bid laws. Bidders will be required to meet specifications and hold a state contractor's license.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Water Commission opened bids on several items Tuesday, and took all of them under advisement.
There were two bids for a new phone system. A bid from Apex Communications of Wynne ranged from $9,274 to $12,284, depending on features. A bid from Universal Solutions ranged from $9,662 to $12,284. The two bids will be studied to see which comes closer to the specifications required.
There were also two bids opened on new pickup trucks. Machen Ford bid $18,225 each on two pickups and also bid $22,387 for a truck with a utility bed. Steve Jones bid $16,522 each on three Chevrolet pickups, and did not bid on a truck with a utility bed.
There were four bids received on the job of painting and repairing the Kittle Road ground storage water tank. The apparent low bid was from Utility Service of Perry, Ga., which bid $137,810. Other bidders included Maintenance Painting of Brighton, Tenn. $145,320; Leher Painting of Mayflower, $184,280; and Protective Linings and Coatings of Alexander, $200,780. Those bids will also be studied.
On another matter, water manager Jim Beazley told the commissioners that the water utility had lost one of its wells, due, he believed, to a retaining barrier collapsing, allowing sand to fill the well.
Beazley said the loss of the well does not create an immediate emergency.
"It just cuts down a little spare," he said. "It will need to be replaced, the question is, when. It's not of those things where you've got the gun cocked and aimed at your head, but it will need to be done."
Beazley reminded the commissioners that last year, the utility sank two test wells. He said all the information on what was learned is almost ready, "and we'll be able to make a decision on short, medium and long range planning."
On another matter, he said that he had told the Forrest City Area Humane Society about the commission's decision not to grant them space at the water plant to build a shelter, but would allow them to buld a shelter at the wastewater treatment plant.
"It's in their court," he said.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
Officials at Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute are bracing for an anticipated reduction in state revenues.
CRTI President Burl Lieblong discussed funding with board members during a quarterly meeting Tuesday afternoon. "We were told there will be a 40 percent reduction in our Workforce funding," said Lieblong. Currently, the institution has received a total of $275,100 in Workforce funding so far this school year with 69 percent of that amount spent through the period ending Jan. 31. Additional funding is expected through the fiscal year which ends in June, Lieblong said.
"We are in good shape for financing this year, but next year, it may hit everyone here," he said. "The governor has already announced there will be a $161 million cut in financing next year for the state."
Lieblong said he has seen hard times hit the school before. "I remember when we were trying to build these shops out here, and the budget was cut five different times. But, we stayed in there and we got them built. So, I think we can handle the cutbacks. We've done it before and come out all right," said Lieblong.
Lieblong also updated board members on two new policies implemented at the last board meeting.
The first change is in regard to an identification tag policy for staff, students and visitors. "That has been going real well, and everyone has been complying with the policy," said Lieblong.
He also said the new computer Internet usage policy had been signed by all staff and students at the school, and has worked to cut down on the misuse of computers and the saving of too many e-mails. "The staff and students have signed the policy so they are aware of the penalty of misuse, which would be dismissal or termination from the school. And with that, we no longer have people storing 700 e-mails, which would slow down the computers and give us problems in the past, so I am pleased with this policy," Lieblong said.
In other business, board members learned that CRTI will host a counselors' day on Friday, Feb. 22, at 11:30 a.m. Lieblong said area counselors from other institutions and high schools will be at CRTI to learn more about the school, programs offered there and financial aid. He said so far, 22 counselors have agreed to attend the event.
The next scheduled board meeting is set for Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m.
The Forrest City School Board is scheduled to meet Thursday, Feb. 21, in the administration building.
Board members are scheduled to discuss revisions to the school calendar in an effort to make up two days recently missed due to snow. The board will also review the proposed 2002-2203 school calendar.
In other business, board members will hear an update on the construction of the new junior high school.