By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The ever-growing problem of stray dogs was once again the main topic of discussion for members of the Madison City Council Monday during their regular monthly meeting.
Council members were updated by city employee Eugene Nalls as to what progress has been made in efforts to curtail the dog problem. According to Nalls, Jean Guarr with the Forrest City Area Humane Society offered him two options for removing the problem animals erecting a pound to Humane Society standards or capturing dogs and having them euthanized after giving owners an opportunity to comply with city ordinances.
"Mrs. Guarr told me that we can erect a dog pound, but that would require us to build individual pens for each dog we capture and those pens have to be at least 50 square feet, with food and water as well as shelter from the weather. It would be costly, and the last time the city tried to do that we couldn't," Nalls said.
The option of euthanizing the animals drew a great deal of support from council members, but questions still arose about disposal of the animals and whether funding was available to pay the costs of putting the canines to sleep.
"We have some money that we've made from demolition of old houses, mowing and the clean up effort. That money could be used to pay for that. But we all need to remember that a lot of these dogs that don't have an owner now, will get one as soon as we have it put to sleep," said Madison Mayor James Brooks.
In other business, council members unanimously denied a request from a Madison citizen to open a gaming establishment. According to Brooks, Michael Hamlin filed a request to open the business, only after city officials notified him that (Continued from Page 1)
his pool hall was in violation because he did not have a permit.
"Mr. Hamlin wants to put in this gaming establishment with pool tables and such, and I'm really hesitant to approve it because since he began doing business down there over the past two months, we've noticed that the crowds that have been gathering there are the same people who are associated with some of the city's drug problems," Brooks said. "It has been more of a nuisance since it opened than a benefit to the city, and it will hurt us also because our police department isn't staffed to handle groups that large."
The city's efforts to begin construction of a new community center were slowed recently, according to Brooks, but he told council members that he expected work to begin soon. Brooks also updated council members on work being done at the city's oxidation pond by the Army Corp of Engineers.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Damage from recent storms to several homes and city buildings was addressed at the Hughes City Council meeting Monday night.
Mayor Donnie Mooney told councilmen that three city buildings received substantial damage. "The city gas pump has been repaired, and the well house roof was damaged to the point that we had it removed," began Mooney. "The major damage was done to the old fire station. The roof flipped up in the back and hit the A/C unit, causing damage to it. It also created a large hole. It rained inside the building, but we now have it cleaned up."
Alderman Ray Charles Robinson asked questions about the building. "Are we not going to try to repair the building or tear it down? The last thing we need is another building sitting in town deteriorating, we have enough of those." Robinson also asked if the hole in the roof was still open.
"We have closed the hole in the roof," said Mooney. "Our estimate is that the roof repair will cost more than what we have the entire building insured for. The building is connected to another building, so we can't tear it down. It is a real mess, and I don't know if we can repair it."
On a related topic, Mooney told the council that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had declared St. Francis County a disaster area, along with several other counties in the state.
"FEMA should be here late this week or next to assess damage in the area. Hopefully, we can get them to look at the old fire station and the other city buildings and they can help us." Mooney also requested that the members of the council make a list of repairs that the city has already paid for to present to FEMA.
Residents from one area of Hughes presented the council with a request for street lights. Gary Steele represented the group which consisted of several concerned citizens living on Baker and Suzanne streets.
"We need some street lights in our neighborhood," said Steele. "We have people who sit outside on their cars in the dark all night. I understand that the police have a job to do and that they can't come out every five minutes to run them off. If we could have some street lights put up down there, I think it would prevent crime."
Mooney told the group that he would go to their neighborhood after the meeting and call Entergy on Monday about getting some lights installed.
Before adjourning, the council voted unanimously to pay the family of city employee Debra Jones her entire June salary. Jones died on Monday.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Widener City Council on Monday heard second reading on an ordinance covering "inattentive, careless or imprudent" vehicle operation within the city.
The ordinance, introduced in May, establishes a level of violation not as severe as reckless driving, DWI or driving at a high rate of speed. City Attorney Marshall Wright said one example might be driving too fast for conditions or crossing the center line. Being written up under the city ordinance would mean the violation would not go on the driver's permanent record. However, violations like DWI would still be treated the same.
The ordinance, if passed, will carry a fine of no greater than $100, including court costs.
The council briefly discussed suspending the rules and reading the ordinance for the third time and adopting it. However, it was the consensus of the members to wait until the next meeting, to give more time for citizens to contact their representatives about the proposed law.
There was also some discussion over whether there could be more regulation of motor bikes. Wright said he would look into it.
Forrest City School Board members will meet with district administrators during a board retreat Wednesday at the Forrest City Civic Center.
The meeting will be held in the Danny Ferguson Room.
Kristin Gould, an attorney with the Arkansas School Board Association, will meet with the group at 10 a.m.
The main topics of discussion during the retreat will center around school finance and new legislation involving education.
The Forrest City Municipal Airport will receive a new transmitter for its non-directional beacon, it was decided Friday during a special called city council meeting.
The beacon, which is used for instrument flying, is considered a necessity for safety purposes. It has been struck by lightning several times, and is considered unreliable.
Arkansas law allows a city council to waive the requirement of competitive bidding under certain circumstances.
The transmitter, to be purchased from Southern Avionics Co., will cost $6,995. A two-year spare parts package will cost an additional $3,410.