By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Members of the Delta Regional Airport Commission attempted to finalize several preliminary issues Thursday night during a meeting that was best described by one board member as "ridiculous" at times.
The group, which consists of appointed members representing Forrest City, Wynne, St. Francis and Cross counties, met in Colt Thursday evening.
Much of the meeting was spent discussing the necessity of a possible feasibility study. Board member Shirley Harvell, speaking much of the night on behalf of the Forrest City Airport Commission, told the board of a plan originated Monday night at a FCAC meeting which would have the Forrest City and Wynne Airport Commissions both equally funding a feasibility study on the need for a regional airport before the commission continues with the project.
"The Forrest City Airport Commission approved the spending of up to $50,000 on a feasibility study Monday night which would determine if a regional airport is even a good idea. If the study comes back and says that it isn't needed then all of this isn't needed," Harvell said.
Commission chairman Dr. John Kerr, who also serves as the head of the Wynne Airport Commission, argued that getting a feasibility study at this point was unnecessary due to the fact that once the board is fully legal, a master plan for the airport would include a feasibility study and many other aspects which would determine if the project is viable. According to Kerr, the matter of the Wynne Airport Commission funding 50 percent of the proposed study was also not an issue because that commission has agreed to use all Federal Aviation Administration funding, with the exception of maintenance and upkeep funds, to pursue the regional airport concept.
"As far as I'm concerned, there shouldn't be any talk about the Wynne Airport Commission or the Forrest City Airport Commission. Our main focus has got to be on pursuing the idea of a regional airport. We in Wynne have committed all of our future FAA entitlement funds to that goal, and if we're to get this accomplished, I'd hope the Forrest City Commission would do the same thing. We've got to pool all of our funds together at this point so that we can make this thing work," he said.
"There is no future, as far as I can see, in the Wynne Airport or the Forrest City Airport if we're going to get this regional airport off the ground. I see this move by the Forrest City Commission as the first move, but you have an asset that the Wynne Airport doesn't right now," Kerr said.
Kerr was speaking of an estimated $100,000 in entitlement funding that the Forrest City Commission has to spend in the near future or risk losing the funds. "That $100,000 would be Forrest City's first money in, but down the road the Wynne Commission would match that as we pooled our monies together."
When asked if the FCAC was prepared to commit their present and future funding to the regional airport concept, Bill Hays, chairman of the FCAC and vice-chair of the DRAC, could not answer the question, saying he would have to discuss the matter with the full commission.
Commission member Shannon Hobbs of Wynne expressed a strong desire to see the project through. "This board, and the idea of a regional airport, has the opportunity to unite two communities as they've never been united before. It seems like we're discussing a lot of things that come down to language. We, as a board, need to keep our focus on working together to accomplish the goal of a regional airport."
In other business, commission members discussed getting the final language on both their by-laws and an ordinance which must be approved by the Forrest City and Wynne city councils.
According to Kerr both city attorneys have agreed to language for an ordinance which will give the board legal authority.
Harvell argued that the ordinance might be "putting the cart before the horse" if the feasibility study was going to be done.
Board members also agreed in a voice vote to approve language clarifying the duties of the treasurer for the commission. No one has been elected to that post yet.
In other action, the board voted 7-to-0, with Harvell abstaining,
to match the terms for board members to state requirements listed
in the ordinance.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
State Rep. Danny Ferguson, D-Forrest City, had just two words to describe the compromise which will make up for a shortfall in state revenues.
"It's done," he said, speaking from Little Rock.
The bill to raise taxes on income and tobacco to keep human services operating, open new prisons and fund college scholarships passed on a 27-8 vote in the Senate -- meeting the required three-fourths majority without a vote to spare.
In the House, the bill passed 80-18, also meeting the three-fourths majority.
"The Senate put an amendment on it," said Ferguson of the bill which had passed the house but was held up in the Senate. Senate members were concerned over the temporary nature of an income tax surcharge.
Originally, the tax bill had a provision for a 3 percent income tax surcharge to expire in two years, along with a 25-cent per pack increase on cigarettes and a 7 percent tax increase on other tobacco products at the wholesale level. It was the provision for the surcharge that the Senate amended.
"Instead of basing it on two calendar years, they've based it on the performance of the state economy," said Ferguson. "If there is a 4.3 percent growth rate by 2006, it (the surcharge) goes away."
There are other provisions for reducing the surcharge if the economy improves a lesser amount. Ferguson said the 4.3 percent growth rate is achievable.
"Over the last 20 years, the average growth rate has been well over 4.3 percent," he said. "It's just in the last couple of years -- post 9-11 and the huge downturn in the economy -- that projected growth has fallen short."
He also said a future General Assembly could also do away with the tax.
Ferguson said a lot of thanks goes to Sen. Steve Higginbotham, D-Marianna, who he said worked hard in the Senate.
"Steve deserves a lot of credit for getting it through the senate end," he said.
Ferguson said some people are confused by the 3 percent surcharge.
"It is a 3 percent surcharge on what you owe, not on your entire income," he said. "An average family, making $30,000, if they file a short form, their tax bill will be $1,059. A 3 percent surcharge would cost them $31 bucks a year."
Ferguson said everyone was hoping to finish today.
"We're finishing today," he said. "We should be done and this special session will be history."
Another special session is expected this summer. June has been mentioned as a possibility, and Ferguson said some of the governor's staff have mentioned July instead of June.
Another special session will be needed in the fall, to deal with education.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Declining tax revenue for the City of Wheatley is being investigated, according to Mayor Larry Nash who told councilmen that the money has been declining over the past several months.
In April, Nash told council members that up to that point, the city sales tax collected was about half the amount collect by that period in the previous year. On Thursday, he told them of an investigation by the state.
"I called the sales tax people about the situation," said Nash. "They are investigating to see where the shortfall is coming from. I don't know if it is caused by people not paying or if collecting is just down, but they are looking into it. We will know what is going on after they have finished."
Nash told the council that one of their fellow members, Woodrow Harris, moved from the city, but before doing so, suggested a replacement for his council seat.
"He suggested James Smith to take his place on the council. I've spoken to James and he is willing to serve on the council. I feel we should go with Woodrow's suggestion and allow James to serve in his place." The council agreed, voting unanimously to accept Harris' resignation and replace him with Smith.
In other news, bat boxes (devices that are designed to attract bats) were discussed by the council to help alleviate the mosquito problem in the city. No action was taken.
Nash then updated the council on the sidewalk project, saying that as soon as the contractor for the project gets a bond that he is waiting for, the construction will begin.
Also, a Rural Development Grant that was intended for police equipment had an item added to it. "We added a request for funds to purchase two storm sirens for the city in case of emergencies. I feel that we have a good chance of receiving this grant, including both the police vehicles and the sirens."
The Colt City Council on Thursday voted to accept the low bid on a well project.
The low bid, of $86,310, was from Elder Drill and Supply of Carlisle.
On another matter, City Attorney Steve Routon told the council that there has been a survey of the land adjacent to the city hall property, which the city wants to purchase.
"Nothing unforeseen has come up," said Routon, who said the deal should be closed by sometime next week.
On another matter, the city's new policeman, Michael Hall, was introduced.