By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The St. Francis County Quorum Court Tuesday night appropriated enough money to the county's building and maintenance fund to ensure the completion of two projects which are currently underway.
The move guarantees the completion of new air conditioning units being installed at the courthouse and repairs to a house, owned by the county, at 618 E. Cross. Justices appropriated $85,000 for the projects.
Justice Regan Hill said the move, which transferred $65,000 from the county's trust fund and $20,000 to be transferred from county general at a rate of $5,000 a month for the remainder of the year, was necessary for the long-term upkeep of the courthouse and its property.
"Earlier this year, we stopped making the $3,000 payment to the building and maintenance fund, and as things got better we just never restarted making that payment. Now, we've had to do some work, which was necessary and is good for the courthouse in the long run, and we need to appropriate the money to pay for the work," said Hill.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco said the work being done at the Cross Street location is renovation of two office spaces in the house to serve as the offices for the Juvenile Intake Officers who are currently located in the Child Support Enforcement Building on Kittle Road. According to Cisco, the juvenile offices are being moved in anticipation of a move by CSEU.
The ordinance also created a measure which will repay the trust account with funding received from the rent of the CSEU building and an apartment located in the house on Cross Street. The monthly rent of $2,000, $1,900 from the CSEU and $100 from the apartment, will be applied directly to the trust account.
Questions as to how long the county could expect to receive income from the CSEU building were answered by Cisco who said, "If everything with their new building doesn't work itself out in the next few weeks, then the whole project may have to be rebid. If that happens we could have them there for another year or two. Even if they move then, any income we receive from the building, either through leasing it or selling it, would go to the trust account."
In other business, Forrest City farmer Ellis Bell petitioned justices on the creation of a committee to study possible tax abatement on property he is planning to develop on the bypass near Interstate-40. Bell, who is planning a truckstop/travel plaza, approached the court saying that any tax abatement in St. Francis County would be one of the first in the state. Justices pass the proposal on to the budget committee for study.
Justices also agreed to pay an election commission bill of over $3,800 for county redistricting.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Sandra Taylor retained her position on the Forrest City School Board during the annual school elections Tuesday in St. Francis County.
Taylor defeated challenger Tony Morgan by 487 votes. Taylor received 803 votes, and Morgan received 316 votes.
"I'd just like to thank the community for the support that they've given me. This was a long and hard race and I'm glad that I won," Taylor said.
Palestine-Wheatley School Board member Stan Siler was defeated in Tuesday's election.
Siler lost by 24 votes to first-time candidate Dow V. Lee. With only 111 ballots being cast, Lee took the victory with 67 votes to Siler's 44 votes.
"I'm glad that the turnout was as good as it was, and I'd like to thank my supporters for getting out to the polls. I think that the people over here are ready for a change, and that's something I'm going to try to bring to the table," said Lee.
There were no contested races in the Hughes school district.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City City Council on Tuesday agreed to repair a fire truck, rather than purchase a new one.
Although it was mentioned, there was no serious discussion of buying a new truck at this time. The existing 1975 ladder truck is still salvageable, members decided.
"The drive shaft twisted off in the gear box," explained Fire Chief Dan Curtner. "And when it came off it took out a lot of things."
He said he is seeking three estimates. He has gotten one so far, of $11,500, "but it's an open-ended estimate."
Curtner said no one knew what would be found once they got into the job.
"They've got to go in there and probably replace the gear box. Then, when they break the pump down, they have to determine what's causing the problem and fix it," Curtner said.
"I know we can't replace it (the truck) overnight anyway, and for $11,000 to $15,000, I'd rather get it fixed," said Mayor Larry Bryant.
Curtner said he couldn't say at the moment how much the old truck is worth, or whether it's worth repairing. In answer to a question, he said the drive shaft incident took place when the truck was being moved outside so the floor could be mopped.
"So the truck was not under a lot of stress when it happened," said Alderman A.L. Harris.
Alderman Cecil Twillie said he believed repair was the only option at this time.
"It doesn't seem like a real issue to me," said Twillie. "We haven't had problems with the truck in the past. We know they run about $200,000 or close to that, compared to $15,000, knowing what a (new) truck would cost. It seems like a no-brainer there."
Twillie also said he could understand why the first estimate was open-ended.
"It's kind of like repairing a house. You can't see everything, so I wouldn't give a solid bid, either."
The council voted unanimously to have Curtner seek two more estimates and take the best one on getting the truck repaired. Curtner said he hopes to receive the other two estimates by the end of the week.
In other business, the council agreed to purchase a 55-gallon drum of Scourge insecticide for the mosquito program. The cost will be $16,050, but it will last into next year.
On another matter, Alderman Glenn Ford said he has received repeated complaints about dogs, particularly pit bulls, in the Lewis Street area. He said callers have told them the dogs are "terrorizing the neighborhood."
Also discussed was the possible restoration of a small park at the end of Victor Street.
A man was slightly wounded Tuesday afternoon when a shotgun he was firing malfunctioned, possibly from having a barrel blocked.
According to the report by the St. Francis County Sheriff's office, Brian Minus, 23, of 39 SFC 744, was taking a shotgun out into a pasture. Minus reported that the barrel of the gun had hit the ground a few times.
Out in the pasture, Minus fired the shotgun, and felt something hit him in the chest. According to the report, Minus said he pulled a piece of metal out of his chest.
The investigating officer said he recovered a 20-gauge Springfield pump shotgun with part of the end of he barrel blown away.
Minus was treated and released at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
The Forrest City Car-Mart will celebrate its grand opening on Friday, Sept. 20.
In July, Car-Mart opened its doors in Forrest City, making it the 60th location. Car-Mart has been in business since 1981, and offers in-house financing, a unique layaway plan, and a Buyer's Protection Plan. In addition to Arkansas, there are currently Car-Marts in Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky and Indiana.
According to Forrest City Car-Mart Manager Anthony Yarbrough, a Little Rock native, business over the first month and a half has been good.
"We've been received real well here, and everything is starting to take off. People love our lay-a-way plan and have really been receptive to our way of doing business," Yarbrough said.
Car-Mart is located at 1826 West Broadway.
In a very brief meeting of the Forrest City Water Commission Tuesday, members were updated on the status of replacing equipment at two recent trouble spots.
Jim Beazley, manager of the Forrest City Water Utility, told the commission that pumps ordered for the Mallory Road pumping station and a new pumping station in the Indian Hills area are expected to arrive soon.
"We haven't received the equipment yet," said Beazley. "Both the Mallory station pumps and the new above ground pump station for Indian Hills should be in by October. As soon as we get them in, they will be installed."
The Forrest City Water Commission meets the third Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. at the Forrest City Water Utility building.