By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
A recent ruling in favor of a contractor who built a pavilion at a new Caldwell city park will not be appealed.
The Caldwell City Council this week agreed to pay Brian Long of Bri-My Construction $24,467 plus penalties and attorney fees instead of appealing the judge's ruling to a higher court.
Long filed a lawsuit against the city last year over the payment for the pavilion.
Caldwell Mayor Gary Hughes and council members had claimed Long, the lowest bidder on the project, did not build the roof according to city specifications. The disagreement was over the style of the roof. The city had wanted a "hipped roof," but accepted a bid from Long for a double-sloped roof, which is about $1,000 cheaper than the one specified in the original plans.
Hughes stated Long did not make him aware at the time of the bidding process that the roof he was bidding was not according to specifications on the city's blueprints. "All we wanted was for him to agree to build us the roof he was supposed to have built," said Hughes. "The money was not the important thing to us in the lawsuit. It was the principle of the thing. He did not do what he was supposed to do," added Hughes.
In other business, councilmen agreed to pursue a $10,000 matching grant to be applied toward the purchase of a generator for the city hall and fire department. "That way, in the event of power outages, the city and fire department can still conduct business," said Hughes. "The ice storm from a year ago showed us how important it is to have a back-up in case of another power outage."
Councilmen approved the appointment of Frank Killingsworth to fill a council seat left vacant by the death of long-time councilman Joe Hughes.
The council accepted a low bid of $7,094 from Leco Fire Equipment for the purchase of a new fire hose and passed a motion to purchase new uniforms for the fire department. The money to buy the uniforms was raised during this past year's Caldwell Cotton Pickin Festival.
Council members also learned from fire chief Tommy Skelton and assistant fire chief Shane Dallas that the town has received 200 fire extinguishers to distribute to every resident in the Caldwell Fire District. The extinguishers were purchased with grant money received from the department two years ago. Skelton said residents in Caldwell and the fire district may pick up applications at city hall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Skelton said he expects to start making calls in two weeks to applicants to set appointments to install the devices and to give the residents instructions in operating the extinguishers. "We also want people to know that these are not for putting out house fires, but they will come in handy in the event of a kitchen fire, to prevent a house fire," said Skelton.
By CRYSTAL HOLLIS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Cultural Foundation has agreed to allow the County Museum to use an $18,000 grant from the disbanded Behavioral Health Services, it was learned at this week's museum board meeting.
The museum has been facing budget cuts recently, being cut from $5,000 a month last year, to $2,500 a month this year -- just enough to pay salaries, according to director Laura Mazzanti.
Brenda Fort, staff member at the museum, told the board members the museum will receive close to $1,000 in a grant from the Arkansas Museum Association. She also said the museum association will meet March 13-15 in Helena. Mazzanti and Fort will try to attend the meeting.
In other business, the board was informed the torch Jim McInturff carried in Forrest City during the 2001 Olympic Torch Relay has been donated to the museum by David Bokker, who purchased the torch from the Olympic Relay Committee.
The museum board will meet again on Tuesday, March 5, at 5 p.m., to discuss fund-raising ideas and how to implement them.
The St. Francis County Republican Central Committee met Monday and set filing fees for the upcoming political season. The fees are as follows:
County Judge, $250; Sheriff; $250; County Clerk, $250; Circuit Clerk, $250; Assessor, $250'; Treasurer, $250; Quorum Court Justice, $50; Constable, $50; Mayor, $25; Alderman, $25; Central Committee, $20.
All filing fees may be paid to the Circuit Clerk's office at the courthouse.
A Texas man was arrested Wednesday when 30 pounds of marijuana was discovered in his vehicle after a traffic stop.
According to the report from the Arkansas State Police, a trooper spotted a 1987 Chevrolet Camero in the east bound lane of Interstate 40, near the 251 mile marker, with something dragging underneath the car. The windshield of the car was also broken and taped.
The car was pulled over for being unsafe. The driver, Darrell Lynn Cowan, 44, of Mission, Texas, was reported to be nervous, and visibly shaking. A search of the vehicle turned up about 30 pounds of marijuana.
Cowan was arrested and charged with operating an unsafe vehicle and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.