By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The group appointed to begin the process toward locating a regional airport between Wynne and Forrest City held lengthy discussions on several subjects Thursday, including a feasibility study, advertising for engineering firms and when the group will have a legal standing.
The Regional Airport Authority, or the Delta Regional Airport Authority as it may be eventually called, met at the city hall in Forrest City.
Bill Hays, chairman of the Forrest City Airport Commission and vice-chair of the Regional Airport Authority, said the group still cannot do any real business. The Authority was formed by resolution only.
"We're told -- our attorney is of the opinion -- that an ordinance will have to be passed before we have the authority to make decisions," Hays said.
Dr. John Kerr of Wynne, chairman of the authority, said he concurred, and said he believed the city attorneys were coming up with the proper ordinances to enable the Authority to transact business.
"We are not going to be in a position, until sometime down the road, to give or receive grant money," Kerr said. "We're not going to overstep our bounds in that sense."
The discussion over a feasibility study showed a sharp difference between Hays and Kerr on how to go about it.
Hays said he believed a feasibility study should be done before any other action is taken. Kerr said he did not believe that should be the course.
"I don't believe I'm hearing what I'm hearing," said Hays.
Kerr answered that a feasibility study would be expensive, costing at least $100,000. He said the best procedure would be for the Authority, once it gets legal status, to hire an engineering firm and pay it with grant money.
"Our next hurdle is to get sanctioned, and then to hire an engineering firm," said Kerr.
There was then more discussion on engineering firms. The Wynne Airport Authority had previously advertised for engineering firms to contact them for a feasibility study at the Wynne airport, but the advertising also stated that there might be a change of location.
Hays said the advertising should be done again. He and member Shirley Harvell of Forrest City said the wording of the advertisement might need to be changed.
Kerr said the wording would be pretty much the same, because a sample advertisement from the Federal Aviation Administration had been used.
At that point, Hays and Harvell said they wanted to see both the advertisement which the Wynne Airport Commission had run, and the FAA's sample ad, to decide for themselves if the ad should run again.
The discussion then turned to how the advertisement should be paid for if it were run again. Hays said all the involved entities -- Forrest City and Wynne, plus St. Francis and Cross counties -- should split the cost. Kerr said the Wynne Airport Commission had already paid for one advertisement, and said he felt that those who wanted a new ad should be the ones who pay for it.
Kerr said the Regional Airport Authority itself has no money at this time.
The cost of running the ad in a large newspaper is about $1,500.
A vote to run a new advertisement failed. There was some confusion over who could vote. Kerr said that since the bylaws had not been passed, it was not clear over whether he, as chairman, could vote. He said he was willing to vote yes if Forrest City was willing to pay for the ad. But even that would make the vote 4-4, meaning it failed, anyway.
On another matter, Kerr said he had written the FAA in answer to some earlier concerns voiced by Hays and Harvell. He said he received by fax that afternoon, from Edward N. Agnew, manager of the Arkansas/Oklahoma Airports Development Office. Copies were provided later.
The letter does not address the Forrest City Airport Commission's concerns over its proposal to lengthen and widen its runway. In fact, the letter says, in part, "The FAA does not presently possess a grant application or even a written notification from either the Wynne or Forrest City Airport Commission requesting use of available entitlement funds for airport capital improvements."
However, the letter does address the regional airport concept, saying, in part, "This office supports the cities of Forrest City and Wynne's collective efforts to study and assess the feasibility of a new regional airport through the Delta Regional Airport Authority."
On another matter, the commission let die a proposal to add two more members, from the business community.
On a final matter, Kerr suggested that the Authority meet at least twice a month. It was learned that the Colt City Council was considering allowing the Authority to meet at the Colt Community Center. All agreed that this would make it easier on everyone. The next meeting was tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 24 at 6:30, at the Colt Center.
A civil lawsuit has been filed against a former state trooper who is charged with stealing money from Special Olympics.
Arkansas Special Olympics, Inc., filed a lawsuit on Thursday in Pulaski County Circuit Court against former Arkansas State Trooper Howard Smith.
The charitable organization is seeking restitution from Smith, a 25-year veteran of the Arkansas State Police, in the amount of $94,426.67. The suit claims that Smith embezzled the donations, which were intended for the ASO, and used the money for his personal use.
Smith left the state police on Jan. 31, soon after investigators started looking into his financial dealings with the ASO. He was charged in February with one count of theft and six counts of forgery. No hearing date for the civil suit has been set.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
In an abbreviated meeting Thursday, members of the Colt City Council agreed to allow city manager Bobby Clarkson to pursue purchasing property adjacent to city hall. According to Clarkson, the 2.9 acres of property was offered to the city at a cost of $18,000, and could be used for a variety of things, including equipment storage.
"Even though I don't have anything on paper, I spoke with the owner of that property a couple of weeks ago, and he told me that the city could have it for $18,000. If that price still stands, I think it would be a good idea for the city to buy it because even though we may not need it today, it will keep us from being boxed in if someone else decides to purchase it," he said.
"There's also the fact that with the new well coming in, I could move our heavy equipment further away from the well and that would make the health department really happy," Clarkson added.
Also during the meeting, the group agreed to allow the regional airport committee to use the Colt Community Center twice a month at no charge. According to Colt Mayor Virgil Keeler, the primary reason for allowing the use of the building was because of the public format of the committee's meetings.
"We've always allowed public meetings to be held in the center for free, for churches and other non-profit organizations, and I don't see how this would be any different. This committee is working to bring a regional airport to the area, and that can only benefit the city of Colt," Keeler said.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Although nothing was on the agenda at Thursday night's Wheatley City Council meeting, Mayor Larry Nash used the time to update councilmen on some projects in the city.
Nash told the group of a trend that has been noticed recently in the city's tax revenue.
"The city sales tax numbers are about half of what they were last year at this time," said Nash. "We did lose some money from the county sales tax, but I don't see how the small amount that we lost could cut us down so low. I really don't know what might be causing it. It's something for us to keep in mind in case we are short at the end of the year."
Nash also discussed an Arkansas Rural Development grant that would be used for the police department. "We are looking into filling out a grant with Rural Development to purchase a new police cruiser. I know that we have put in for the sponsored cars (with advertising logos on the vehicles), but that is not a sure thing. So instead of waiting, we are starting this rolling."
A California couple was arrested Thursday after officers with Arkansas State Police Troop D found 350 pounds of marijuana stashed in a water tank on a recreational vehicle during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40.
According to a report from the ASP, Luciano Lopez, 48, of Kerman, Calif., and Diana Jean Turnipseed, 57, of Fresno, Calif., were traveling east on I-40 in a 1977 Itasc Motor Home, driven by Lopez, when a Trooper observed the motor home weaving onto the shoulder of the interstate.
The 120 compressed bundles of marijuana is valued at $350,000, and was found underneath a bench seat, inside a large water tank.
Both were arrested on drug charges.
The Forrest City Public Library is holding an Amnesty Week for those who have overdue books.
Dashaune Hill, co-director of the library, discussed the program. "We started yesterday, and we will stop on Saturday, April 19," said Hill. "If you have an overdue book with a fine, the fine will be forgiven."
"We encourage anyone who owes a fine to come and take advantage of this program," added Hill. For more information, contact the Forrest City Library at 633-5646.