By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Mayor Larry Bryant has vetoed an ordinance forming a regional airport authority, which was passed last week by the Forrest City City Council.
"I feel it's pretty much cut and dried," Bryant said this morning. "The veto spoke for itself."
In a letter dated Sunday, June 8, Bryant wrote, "After much thought, consideration and reflection, I regret that I must veto the city council action regarding an ordinance to form a regional airport authority."
The ordinance passed by a 6-1 vote last Tuesday, with one council member absent. It authorizes the city's participation in a regional airport authority. It, along with passage of similar ordinances by other governmental entities involved in the airport authority, would give legal status to the body. The authority had previously been formed by resolution.
While the vote was one-sided, several people spoke against the ordinance. One of the complaints was that information had not been forthcoming from the authority's chairman, Dr. John Kerr of Wynne.
"I feel that much has been said about a regional airport partnership between first, the City of Wynne, Cross County Transportation committee, St. Francis County Transportation Mall Committee, and secondly, the city of Forrest City, Arkansas," Bryant's letter stated.
Bryant has complained in the past that Forrest City is not being included properly in discussions about the regional airport. He has appointed three members to the airport authority, but at least one member, Shirley Harvell, has complained of the treatment the Forrest City contingent receives.
"Thus far, due to the lack of information, this partnership is of unequal parts, and is in my view unfavorable to my city, and the constituents I represent," Bryant'sletter stated. "To this day, FOI questions relating to the regional airport have not been answered; therefore, I veto the regional airport ordinance passed on June 3, 2003 by the Forrest City Council by a 6-to-1 vote."
Bryant said this morning there was nothing to add.
"There's nothing to say, other than what was in there," he said. "I think it was to the point. Enough's been said."
Alderman Steve Hollowell said there might be an attempt to override the veto at the next regular meeting, provided all the council members are there.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
The final hurdle in efforts to deed the county hospital property to Baptist Memorial Hospital was cleared last night as Quorum Court members agreed to an ordinance transferring ownership. The move also allowed the county to accept $1 million that will be allocated to the county's coffers.
According to the ordinance, passed 10-0 with justice Earlene Smith absent, the physical plant at the hospital site will now belong to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City. The court's decision will now allow Baptist to complete over $5 million in renovations and new construction and to split the five quarterly $200,000 payments the county will receive equally into $66,000 payments to the county general account, the county road department account and the county savings account.
"This was the fairest way that we could come up with to split the funding up," said St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco. "The public's biggest concerns are their police protection and the county's roads, and both departments will be helped here. With the money going into the general account, it will be able to help the Sheriff's Department because it will increase their funding from the general account and it will also help with the increased funding to the road department," he added.
"This is really a windfall, and will be greatly appreciated. The road department needs help, and the general fund always needs help. Our savings will definitely benefit," said budget committee chairman Henry Wilkinson.
In other business, justices passed a budget of over $490,000 for the months of July and August. According to the ordinance agreed to last night, $480,275.73 will be appropriated to the total general account, and $15,920.21 to non-general expenditures.
However, if projected revenue figures from County Clerk Elizabeth Smith's office this morning are accurate, based on revenue received during the same months in 2002, the county will receive only $341,742.25, a shortfall of $154,453.69.
The projected revenue figures were not requested before the court voted to approve the two-month budget, according to Smith. The projected revenue figures were not discussed during last night's meeting.
Justices also agreed to appropriate $10,000 to the drug law enforcement account to cover an error in 2000 which paid $4,335 to attorney Jerry Roberts. According to a county official, the payment to Roberts was in conjunction with a court order to pay Roberts the money.
It was later discovered that the money had been forfeited to the drug fund, and attempts to get the money back from Roberts were refused. After several other attempts were made, the county learned it would have to get the money from the county's general account.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Advertising and Promotion Commission heard several updates on projects and events on Tuesday afternoon at their regular monthly meeting.
Wyndell Robertson, president of May Memphis, Inc., and the second-year director of the Mightymite Triathlon, gave a final update on the progress of this year's event.
"This year the Mightymite will be held on Saturday, July 19. We are ahead of schedule. Over 100 participants have signed up already. I feel comfortable in saying that we should have about 350 participants this year, that is 50 more than last year. I have had many people ask me about the event and how to sign up. I think that this year we are finally reaching out and getting people talking about the race.
"On Thursday, June 26, we will have a volunteer party at EACC," said Robertson. "We will serve refreshments and be asking our volunteers from last year to attend along with new volunteers for this year."
Commissioners then asked Robertson about money and other items promised to volunteers from last year's race that allegedly have not been received.
"They will receive them (money and items) if they attend the meeting on June 26," Robertson answered.
On another matter, local artist Kathy Martin, who was asked to bring cost estimates back for a free standing mural, presented her report to members. The mural is to be located at the intersection of Washington and Broadway streets on the north side of the Forrest City Plumbing building.
"The mural I have designed is 10 feet high and 32 feet wide," said Martin. "There will be exposed I-beams at the base and a nature scene depicted in the mural itself. My best estimate for both materials and labor for the project is $10,200."
Chairman Kem Merrill questioned Martin about the exposed I-beams.
"Is there a way we can cover those beams? I think it would look nicer and less like a billboard." Many suggestions we offered about disguising the beams and it was agreed that Martin would look at the options and present a redesign covering the beams. The commission also unanimously voted to approve the funding of the mural project up to $15,000, and to pay Martin 50 percent of the money up front and the rest in two 25 percent installments.
In other news, Laura Mazzanti, director of the St. Francis County Museum, presented visitor numbers for both the new website and the museum itself. Mazzanti was asked to bring a year-to-year comparison in addition to the year-to-date that she presented, and to give a monthly update on visitors to the website, which the commission agreed to fund last month.