By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City City Council, on a split vote, turned down a request for preliminary plat approval Tuesday for a subdivision proposal which has been the center of controversy.
The vote to approve the preliminary plat was 3-4-1. Aldermen A.L. Harris, Roy Hancock and Richard Benson voted yes. Voting no were council members Mary Jeffers, John Gadberry, Chris Oswalt and Cecil Twillie. Glenn Ford abstained.
Some residents of the Day Street area, where the Downs Village subdivision was to be located, had protested that the area was prone to flooding, and said additional houses would make the problem worse if the drainage was not improved. Concerns had also been voiced over the quality of the housing.
The council had taken no action on the plat at its previous two meetings. At the Feb. 19 meeting, Derwin Sims of Di-Com of America, the company which wanted to develop the subdivision, had said the development plans might have to be scrapped, because his company's option on the land was expiring. On Tuesday he asked that the council vote the plat either up or down.
During discussion, Mayor Larry Bryant said it had been recommended that some new culverts and some riprap (stones and/or chunks of concrete used to prevent erosion) in some ditches might help the drainage in the area. On a voice vote, the council agreed to hire an engineer to study the area.
However, that was not enough to satisfy those who were opposed to the subdivision on the basis of flooding.
On the one hand, Harris suggested the efforts to improve drainage in the area might be enough to encourage approval of the preliminary plat and let planning for the subdivision go forward. However, Twillie said he would have to see the effectiveness of the drainage improvements before he would vote for the subdivision. There was a lengthy discussion which mainly centered on those two views, after which the vote was taken.
In other action, the council decided to seek legal counsel on a disagreement over how the city was to be billed for garbage collection. The current contract with King Disposal Inc. states that apartment complexes with 10 or more residents "may be treated as commercial." There is a disagreement over what that means, and whether per-cart charges can apply when a dumpster is used at a complex. The cost difference to the city is about $3,000 to $5,000 a month.
On another matter, the council heard the first two readings on an ordinance to re-zone 851 N. Izard from residential to commercial, to allow the building of a warehouse. The council declined to hear third reading, in order to give anyone in opposition a chance to respond. The request received a positive recommendation from the Planning Commission.
The council held second and third reading and passed an ordinance to purchase a used bucket truck from Woodruff Electric Coop. The council had expected to pay around $11,000 for the truck, but Bryant said he had received word from Woodruff that the cost would be only $6,508.
Second reading was heard on an ordinance to impose a $25 fine on people who do not remove their garbage carts from the curb after pickup. Second reading was also held on an ordinance to define demolition work.
In other business, two bids were opened on 10 air packs and cylinders for the Fire Department. Metropolitan Fire Extinguisher Co. of Little Rock bid $26,923.22. Pro Fire Equipment of Mississippi bid $22,923.22. The bids were turned over to Fire Chief Dan Current for study.
The council also heard from Michael Gray, who said the board of the Forrest City Housing Authority is not fulfilling what he called its obligation to provide training and job opportunities to tenants. Gray, a former employee of the Housing Authority, who has a suit pending against the FCHA, said the board simply does what the director, Janet Duncan says. He further stated that the board is racially unbalanced, with three white members and two black members, "and the two black members are basically going with the flow." He asked to council to consider future recommendations for reappointment to the FCHA board, and scrutinize nominees more.
Anna Hunter, a Housing Authority resident, also said the tenants should be given more input into actions taken by the FCHA, including the recently announced face-lifting of the Turner Circle apartments.
On another matter, the council voted to reappoint Willard Ryland to the Water Commission.
Forrest City Alderman Chris Oswalt announced today that he will be seeking the office of mayor of Forrest City in the November general election. Oswalt has represented Ward 4 since 1999 and has served on the Advertising and Promotions Commission for the same length of time.
He is married to the former Amy Traylor and they have one son, Zachary. He is employed as an ABC Preschool teacher for the Forrest City School District and attends First United Methodist Church in Forrest City.
Oswalt said the areas he will work on immediately if elected will be crime, downtown revitalization and industrial recruitment.
He said he will implement a plan with the police chief and the detectives that will aggressively pursue drug dealers, and a narcotics officer will be hired whose sole responsibility will be drug cases. "There will be a zero tolerance policy put into effect by the police department. If you break the law, the police will be able to do the job they were hired to do," Oswalt said.
Downtown revitalization is another area which will have Oswalt's attention, he said. "I want to appoint a committee of local business owners from the downtown area, local historians, and other people interested in getting our downtown active again. They will have the task of working with state programs such as Main Street Arkansas and the Department of Arkansas Heritage to try and have Forrest City designated as a Main Street city. This will enable businesses in the downtown area to apply for special loans and grants to help renovate their buildings."
Oswalt said he will work on cleaning up the downtown area by encouraging businesses to build in the vacant lots which will discourage loitering. "If people don't feel safe, they won't shop downtown," he said.
Industrial recruitment will be another area Oswalt said he will work on if elected mayor. "Perhaps the most important thing to the citizens of Forrest City is the availability of jobs. I will work with the Chamber of Commerce as they recruit industry to our area. The city and the chamber need to have a codependency on each other to help Forrest City grow. A working relationship with the chamber director and the mayor must exist."
Under Oswalt's administration, he said all department heads will submit a five- to 10-year plan which will show what equipment and personnel will be needed as the city grows. "I feel every department head knows what is best for their department. I will however meet with them monthly, if needed, to find out what they think needs to occur to make the department more efficient."
"I need everyone's vote for mayor of Forrest City in the November election. I will work hard to make Forrest City the best city in Arkansas that every citizen can be proud of."
Bette Clair Surginer Green announced today she is a Democratic candidate for the office of St. Francis County Circuit Court Clerk, subject to the 2002 Democratic Primary.
Green is seeking reelection as Circuit Court Clerk for St. Francis County. The Circuit Clerk also acts as ex-officio recorder for the county. Green states that she has the necessary experience required to administer the duties of the position. "With my qualifications, years of service and commitment to serve the citizens of St. Francis County, I respectfully ask the voters of St. Francis County to reelect me to the office of Circuit Clerk." Green has been employed as Circuit Clerk for 12 years, first elected to the position in 1988.
The Legislature and courts establish the laws and procedures governing the duties of the Circuit Clerk. Continuing education relating to the constant changes affecting county government is essential to effectively administer the responsibilities of the Circuit Clerk's office. Green said she has successfully completed the Circuit Clerk's Certification program and annually receives continuing education hours to be updated on matters related to her office. "During my 12-year tenure as Circuit Clerk, I have developed and implemented many office procedures and polices which ensure the efficient maintenance and preservation of all land records and Circuit Clerk records and files."
The audits conducted by the State of Arkansas Legislative Audit Committee have noted "substantial compliance with Arkansas laws and sound cash management procedure," under Green's administration. The reporting of all court filings and dispositions of cases is required by the Administrative Office of the Courts. This agency has commended Green and her staff for an excellent job of reporting.
Green has implemented an automated document imaging system for the purpose of scanning and storing records maintained in the Circuit Clerk's office. Copies of these records serve as a secure backup should a disaster occur at the Courthouse. These copies will be stored in vaults in various offsite locations.
The farming industry is essential to the economy of St. Francis County. Green is currently upgrading the UCC program which enables the office to provide lien searches of farmers, financial institutions and researchers in an expedited manner.
"I am committed to assisting the public with their problems. Working together with the Quorum Court and other elected officials and their departments is a key factor in moving St. Francis County forward." Efficient, impartial and courteous service in a timely manner is the goal of Green and the dedicated staff of the Circuit Clerk's office.
She is a member of the Arkansas Circuit Clerk's Association. She also serves on the advisory board to the business department of Forrest City High School.
Green is married to H.N. Green, and they are members of the First Baptist Church. She has one daughter, Sara Harris, who attends Arkansas State University.
Building permits for projects valued at $368,670 were issued during February, according to figures released by the city.
The largest single permit was for $175,000 for siding at Indian Hills Apartments at 1731 Indian Hills.
Next, were three new houses, valued at $40,000 each, to be constructed by Commercial Group South at 1230, 1250 and 1280 Highway 334.
Other permits included one to Oscar's restaurant, located at 500 E. Broadway, for a $15,000 addition, and a canopy at Christ Temple Pentecostal, located on 434 "B" Street, valued at $15,000.
The rest of the building permits were for private homes. These included one remodeling, one fence repair, a burnout, one siding installation, two additions and three storage buildings.