By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
Widener residents may soon face an increase in their water and sewer rates in order for the city to repay loans through the USDA Rural Development Division.
The city currently has three 38-year loans through USDA. All three loans, dated 1968, 1985 and 1989 respectively, were taken by the city for use on the water and sewer systems.
Jerry Kopke, representing Rural Development, spoke to the council Monday evening about the need for the rate increase. "I was asked by Rural Development to do a rate study on the city. By state law, the city has to establish a rate to pay for things like services, debt services, etc. The current rates are not enough. You have worked very hard to make your system as efficient as possible to avoid the rate increase, but it is still needed. The city has been very frugal, but the rates are just not enough to pay the bills.
"The USDA has recommended an increase for the last two or three years, and the city asked the USDA for a chance to become more efficient, and you didn't raise the rates. The debt reserve account for the city is behind by $8,000. The appreciation account that the USDA recommends that 3 percent of all sales be put into is also behind. It is my understanding that the rates have not been increased for some time."
Mayor Dot Halford stated that it had been 14 years since the last increase in Widener water rates. "We haven't raised them since 1989. What will happen if we don't raise the rates?"
Kopke responded, "Rural Development will send another letter to the city requesting a rate change. The worst case is that they could call your bond and come in and set the rates themselves. That is only worst case though."
Council member Brenda White stated that any increase would, in her opinion be too much. "The rates are high as they are," said White. "People on fixed incomes and the elderly have a hard time paying it now."
Kopke presented threeoptions for rate increases accepted by the Rural Development that was developed by his rate study.
The first proposed option was an increase of the water usage charges by 17 percent, an increase of sewer usage charges by 40 percent and of minimum sewer from the current $7.14 to $9.00.
Option two proposed no change in the minimums of water or sewer, a 17 percent increase in the water usage charge and a 60 percent increase in the sewer usage charge.
Proposed option three was split in two phases. Phase 3A would involve an 8 percent increase in water usage charges, an increase of 20 percent in sewer usage charges and to raise the minimum sewer charge to $9.00. Phase 3B would then increase both usage charges water by 8 percent and sewer by 18 percent.
The option of letting Forrest City take over the water system was proposed. "I spoke to Jim (Beazley, manager of the Forrest City Water Utility) about that, and he said they would have to hire two more people to cover us. Also, if we had a problem with the water, we would have to wait without water for them to fix it."
Member Ronnie Barnett gave his thoughts on which plan the council should pass. "My opinion is if we are going to do this (raise the rate), then we should get it over with. The citizens are not going to be happy either way we go."
Discussion was held about holding a public meeting to let the citizens have a voice in the matter. When asked, city attorney Marshall Wright said he was in favor of the idea. "Maybe you should give the people notice and tell them 'These are our options.' And then let them have their say."
The council agreed to have a public meeting on Tuesday, Dec.
2, at 7 p.m. at the Widener Community Center. Kopke agreed to
attend the meeting. Kopke also stated that he would bring a summary
of the city's options in the matter, and why the rates needed
to be increased.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
While the Madison City Council reviewed a new budget for the city's sewer system, Mayor James Brooks told the members that, in his opinion, media coverage of last month's meeting had caused an increase in "break-ins" in the city.
In October, the Times-Herald reported Brooks was asked several questions from council members, ranging from the scheduling for city officers to the number of officers the city has. During the meeting, the scheduling of officers was discussed and officers' shifts were published.
"Last month, we had several questions about the police," said Brooks. "Anytime we say those things, it goes into the paper. When we mention schedules, the rough elements know when the officers are on and when they aren't. We are concerned about that.
"If you want to know about those things, call me," continued Brooks. "We are supposed to protect them (the officers) and the citizens. We want to keep that out of the media. We have to guard our scheduling. Hopefully we can keep it out of the media (in the future). But, don't get me wrong, the media is our friend."
Councilmember Annie Winfrey then explained why the issue was presented last month. "I asked about that because the officers should be on. The media knows more about us than we do without us saying a word. But the people know more than the city council. They already knew the schedule."
Brooks said he asked the police to attend the council meeting so that any questions could be addressed. "When we change the schedule, it is to throw criminals off. I asked the officers here tonight so you can ask questions, maybe for the last time in this setting."
While the Madison Police Department currently has no chief, MPD Officer Clyde Williams served as the unofficial pokesperson for the four officers present. According to Williams, since the news article, crime had increased. "We have had an increase in crime since last month."
Brooks after the meeting stated that during this year in the months prior to the news report, five break-ins had occurred in the city, but added that in the month since the article, three break-ins have occurred.
Winfrey disputed the claim by Brooks and Williams that the article caused crime. "This article had nothing to do with the crime. Those people have been doing this. This didn't start this. We have had several break-ins before that happened."
"There have been break-ins before," responded Williams, "but since last month's article, we have had an increase."
A comment was made by councilman Ocie Williams that the city would never have 24 hours of police coverage because Madison is a small town. Brooks said other issues contributed to that. "It is not just one thing (that prevents Madison from having officers on duty at all times). If you come by, we can let you (the council members) in on it (the other issues)."
In other business, council members passed the sewer budget so it could be given to the USDA Rural Development before the end of the year.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
An organization that caters to children in need of psychological and educational services was highlighted during this week's Forrest City Rotary Club meeting.
Alonza Giles of the Lord's Ranch, a faith-based substance abuse and psychiatric organization located in Warm Springs, spoke to Rotarians about the organization and the services they offer.
"We provide primary and secondary education as well as psychological services to the children," said Giles. "On our campus, we have seven boys' homes and two girls' homes for the children. The houses are spread out and advisors live with them. With the housing spread out, it helps the advisors council the children better. The children we help come from as far away as Alaska, but we have children from across the state at the ranch."
According to information provided by Giles, the ranch offers two separate programs. The high-intensity program treats residents with very serious emotional and behavioral problems, and the regular residential care program accepts residents with moderate to severe problems. In both programs, residents are placed in specialized treatment programs based on their needs.
"We expect the children to make changes in their lives, and one way to do that is to give them a nice home to live in," continued Giles. "The housing is very nice, and we give them good food. Parents sending their child to The Lord's Ranch get to tour the facility and meet the staff before hand. That helps the children and parents become more comfortable. Both the parents and the staff want to be on the same page about getting the child better, it is a team effort."
Giles also spoke about a trend the ranch has seen in the past few years. "We are getting children who are a lot younger than before. Our youngest child is seven years old. Just a few years ago, we would get one or two kids between the ages of one and 10. Now we get many more."
According to Giles, not all the children at the ranch are juvenile delinquents, some are just having problems with their families. He said that children are referred to the program by families, judges and schools.
Three people were arrested on drug charges during a police raid in a residential neighborhood Tuesday evening.
The Forrest City Police Department executed a search warrant at the home of Wilford Bailey, 41, and Maxine Jackson, 38, at 405 A St., about 6:45 p.m.
According to the police report, during the search, officers found Bailey in possession of 5.5 grams of crack cocaine and 1.2 grams of marijuana.
A visitor at the home, Oliver Millen, 47, of Colt, was found in possession of one rock of crack cocaine in his clothing.
Police reported a 9mm pistol and drug paraphernalia were also found in the residence.
Jackson was arrested for outstanding failure to appear warrants from St. Francis County District Court, and she was also charged with criminal impersonation for providing false personal information to police. Another visitor at the residence was not charged.
Bailey is charged with possession of a controlled substance, crack cocaine, with intent to deliver near certain facilities and possession of marijuana. The residence is located within 1,000 feet of a church. Millen is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
The three were scheduled to be arraigned in SFCDC this afternoon.
A man was robbed at gunpoint Tuesday night, when two masked men invaded his home.
Kim Lamb, 33, of 1516 E. Broadway, reported that he was in his house playing a video game with an acquaintance, Lorenzo Jones, when the front door burst open. According to the report, the two men entered the house, and one of them had a pistol.
The suspect with the gun allegedly demanded money from Lamb, and hit him repeatedly in the face. The suspect also shot into the floor. Jones was reportedly made to lie on the floor during the incident. An estimated $2,500 was stolen.
The men then fled on foot, police reported.
The Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute will hold its next quarterly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m.
On the agenda for the meeting, which will be held on the CRTI campus, is a discussion of a possible increase of the Tuition Credit Hours at the school. Also, a progress report will be given on the COE Accreditation and approval of the schools mission policy. The meeting will follow Advisory meetings that will begin at 5:30 p.m.