By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Members of the St. Francis County Quorum Court Budget Committee agreed in principle Tuesday to a recommendation that would refill the county's trust accounts beginning next year.
Budget Committee members agreed to the recommendation from committee chairman Henry Wilkinson which will pay back any funds used from the trust account during 2004 with funds from the annual tax settlement.
"Every year that I've been on the quorum court, the majority of the money that we generate comes in at the tail end of the year. For that reason many counties created a trust fund that could help in times of need throughout the year. From time to time, you have to take money from the trust to use in county general. If it is taken in the form of a loan, then you have to put it back, but under some circumstances, money can be transferred from the trust without having to be paid back. I would like to see this committee make sure that the trust has as much money at the beginning of next year as it had at the beginning of this year," Wilkinson said.
According to Justice Regan Hill, the removal of a monthly payment to the trust accounts precipitated the need for the repayment.
"In the past, we've always budgeted a $10,000 monthly payment to the trust account which kept money going into the account and kept the trust building funds. To balance the budget for this year, we had to remove that payment, and now there isn't any money allocated to go into the trust fund on a monthly basis. We need to make sure that we have something to fall back on for next year," Hill said.
According to Wilkinson, the trust account began the year with close to $480,000, and $75,000 of that has been transferred so far this year. Additional funds may have to be transferred due to plans to repair the roofs at the courthouse and jail. The trust will receive a boost later this year with the final payment of $200,000 from the sale of property to Baptist Memorial Hospital.
In other business, committee members approved financing the purchase of four cars for the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department and agreed to lease a copy machine for the office of the Circuit Court Coordinator.
New construction could be on the way at the St. Francis County Courthouse after members of the county's building improvement committee met Tuesday night.
Architect Bob Beavers approached the committee with plans for a 20-foot by 132-foot structure which could be used for additional office space or storage. The proposed building would be placed on the western edge of the county's property on what currently serves as courthouse parking on Izard Street. According to Beavers, the building could be constructed without eliminating any existing courthouse parking capabilities. Beavers estimated that the building would cost the county between $130,000 and $180,000 depending on what the building was used for.
The committee also heard from St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco on a parking lot on Cross Street. According to Cisco, further work on the new parking lot at the intersection of Cross and Forrest streets should begin soon.
"We've worked on the foundation, and now we just have to let it settle before we can go back in there," Cisco said.
Beavers also updated the committee on the status of proposed work on the roofs at the courthouse and jail. According to Beavers, preliminary work has begun on writing the specifications for the bid process, and the next stage is to inspect both roofs before moving further.
Also, the court's personnel committee met and discussed the creation of a salary schedule to establish starting salaries for each position in county government, and would also include periodic pay increases rewarding employees for longevity. The discussion arose after Hill told justices that new employees can now reach the same salary as employees with 10 years of experience within their first three months with the county.
"There really needs to be an adjustment in the personnel policy manual spelling out the length of time it takes for someone who is hired to reach the pay scale of the person who either held the position or has been here for an extended time. Right now, if someone leaves and that position is filled, in 90-days, the person that is hired is being paid the same thing as the person who left the position, and that doesn't give the county any breathing room as far as salaries are concerned," Hill said.
According to county officials, county government at one time did have a salary schedule, but over time the offices moved in a different direction on pay until the current method was in place. At the request of committee member Jack Crumbly, County Clerk Elizabeth Smith agreed to work with the committee to attempt to formulate a plan which could be presented to the Quorum Court this summer.
Each member of the personnel committee was presented with a
copy of the county's policy handbook to inspect for other changes
that might be necessary.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
A study to determine what tourism assets should be promoted in Forrest City has received the support of the city's Advertising and Promotions Commission.
The group agreed Tuesday to partially fund a project through the Mid-South Delta Initiative which is seeking grant funding from the Kellogg Foundation to improve tourism in the area.
"The first thing that we need to do is determine our assets," began Dr. John Alderson. "We find out what we have here that people might be interested in visiting old cemeteries, farms, the museum, etc. We have never developed a marketing image. 'Let's go to Forrest City and' do what? We need to determine what we want our image to be to people who are traveling.
"After the asset survey is done, then we can take it to marketing firms that deal with the type of tourism we are promoting. They know how to reach the people who are interested in what we have to offer," Alderson said. "What I am trying to do now is to find financial support to do the survey. EACC could do the assessment for between $8,000 and $10,000. The advantage of the college doing the survey is that we will know what type of marketing we need without paying a company to do both (the asset survey and marketing)."
Chairman Kem Merrill agreed that the survey would help the A and P Commission. "It will help us know what to promote and how to bring in people who are interested in what we have to offer. I think it is a good idea." Commissioners voted to support the asset mapping study, and the following strategic tourism plan, with partial funding.
In other business, Kathy Martin, an area artist commissioned to create the new mural located at the intersection of Broadway and Washington streets, offered a project update. "The mural is finished," said Martin. "I've got a lot of compliments about it already. I would like to do more of them if you will let me. I've spoken to the owner of the lot next to the (Forrest City) Abstract Co. Building (at the corner of Front and Izard streets), and he is interested in having one there. It would be smaller than the last one, but self standing like the last one."
Martin also added that she is looking for another site for a third mural. The members asked Martin to present more details about the proposed murals at the April meeting.
Wyndell Robertson, president of May Memphis, Inc., and the director of the past two Mightymite Triathlons, gave an update on this year's race and improvements that are in the works.
"We have had a solid race of about 300 people for the past two years," stated Robertson. "We are targeting racers who are in the area more this year. Many of them raced last year and will come again this year.
"This year we are going to work on transportation between race stages. We had problems last year with delays. This year, I will talk to the school district about buses for transportation. Another issue is the finish line. Last year we had to move the finish line from the (Sam Smith) stadium to the Forrest City Civic Center. We weren't allowed to use the field last year because they were afraid we would damage the field. It would be a lot easier to use the field than the center. It is less dangerous with traffic, too."
The commission voted unanimously to renew Robertson's contract for another year for the 2004 Mightymite. Robertson also announced that the annual event will be held on Saturday, July 17.
The commission also heard from Frank Brent of the Circle of Friends Pow Wow who asked for $1,000 to help fund the event which will be held from Friday, March 26, through Sunday, March 28. The members unanimously granted the request.
Also, the board approved spending $4,000 on advertising in
the Arkansas Delta Byways tourism brochure.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Madison Volunteer Firefighters should soon receive a $75 bonus after members of the Madison City Council unanimously overturned a veto by Mayor James Brooks which halted the council's approval of the bonus last month.
Brooks said his decision to veto the council's decision was not a vote against the city's firefighters.
"There's a kind of atmosphere in our city which can be interpreted that the mayor is against the fire department, and there is nothing that's further from the truth. The proof of that can be seen in our actions since this administration took over. When we took over the city had a fire rating of 10, and now it's a seven. When we took over the city had one truck, and now there are two trucks. There was one bay, and now we have two bays. All of those things have enabled us to make the kind of progress that the fire department has made. For the record, I want it known that I'm for the fire department, and the council does not have to defend the firefighters against the mayor because I am for the firefighters," Brooks said.
One of the city's volunteer firefighters also spoke at the meeting. According to Bobby Hardrick, while the mayor's comments on the department's new equipment are true, the improvements were made due to state funding.
"Everything the mayor mentioned is true, but that is because of Act 833 money from the state and because of our certified firefighters and the job that we've been doing. While the new equipment is important, we don't need to forget the men because you can have all the new equipment in the world, but if you don't have the men to use it, then it's worthless," Hardrick said.
The fire department also responded to a citizen complaint regarding the availability of firefighters. According to councilman Lindsey Cowins, citizens have contacted him with questions over an inability to contact firefighters during emergencies. According to MFD Chief Stanley Anderson, the citizens of Madison have not been using the county's 911 system to make reports.
"The citizens need to know that from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. there's always someone at the office to take calls, but at any other time they need to call 911 just like with any emergency. They don't need to call me or Mr. Hardrick or Rev. Brooks, just call 911," Anderson said. "As a matter of fact, anytime they have an emergency they need to call 911 because we have a paging system and the county will page us to let us know where we need to be."
Anderson also said citizens need to make sure they put house numbers in front of their residences to avoid confusion by the department.
"We also need folks to make sure and put numbers on the front of their homes so that we can make sure we're at the right location. The other day, I drove right past a residence and had to go back to try to find it because the house wasn't marked. In a fire, every second is precious and time we spend trying to find your home could cost someone their life," Anderson said.
In other business, the council approved the closing of a road which was described as being in poor shape. Council members voted five to one to approve the closing of River Road after residents petitioned the council last month for the closing. According to council member Ocie Williams, the road was not in good enough condition to even be considered a road.
"That road is in awful shape. I don't even know if it could be called a road because it's more like a path between the two pieces of property. You could see that folks had been driving over the woman's property to get to the other end. I think we should just close it," Williams said.
Brooks also announced a pair of grants that the city has received
for continued work on the new civic center. According to Brooks,
the city has received $3,850, thanks to the efforts of state Sen.
Steve Higginbothom and will receive another $3,850 later in the
year to go towards general improvements to the civic center. Brooks
also announced that state Rep. John Eason has worked to leverage
$7,500 in additional funding for the civic center.
St. Francis County Judge Carl Cisco announced today his candidacy for reelection to office subject to the May 18 Democratic Primary. Cisco is a lifelong resident of St. Francis County and has served as county judge for over 19 years.
"It has been a great honor to serve the citizens of St. Francis County. As county judge, I have been able to work toward completing many rewarding projects that have been of great benefit to the people of our county. An example of one such project has been NEARCO (North East Arkansas Recycling Company), which was established under my term as county judge in an effort to keep trash out of landfills, while at the same time, giving citizens a place to dispose of old appliances and other waste. Businesses now have an opportunity to recycle cardboard and other paper waste in order to reduce their cost for trash disposal," Cisco said. NEARCO has been recognized by the Arkansas Recycling Coalition, and was awarded the 2002 Government Recycler of the Year award.
"Under my administration we have been very fortunate to work with the state in order to improve county roads and bridges. We have had over $250,000 in state aid road work for 2004 and we have plans to pave an additional three miles of county roads," Cisco added.
"I enjoy working with other counties in our area to help entities leverage resources which are used to enhance the quality of life for our citizens. The county was given a grant to $1.2 million from the state for the Patillo Acres sewer project which helped. We also assisted the St. Francis County Rural Water Association in receiving a grant for the Shady Grove Water Project. And we worked with the East Arkansas Enterprise Community to extend the water lines from Cross County into the Pine Tree area of St. Francis County," Cisco said.
Cisco commented on the efforts to build the nation's largest transportation mall saying, "One of the most exciting projects has been the St. Francis County Transportation Mall. Interstate 40 between Little Rock and West Memphis has the highest traffic count of any corridor in the United States -- over 36,000 vehicles every 24 hours. We now have a tremendous opportunity to develop a major economic industry for St. Francis County that would create over 700 new jobs and give us a tax base that would double what we are presently receiving from industry. The feasibility study was very positive and we are continuing to work on this project."
He also commented on other on-going efforts for development in the county.
"Other development projects include the addition of a golf course and lodge at Village Creek State Park and the development of a retirement community in that same area of the county. St. Francis County has many exciting things happening right now, and I look forward to seeing them come to completion."
"My goal as county judge is to continue to pursue all
avenues of development and growth for our area, while at the same
time keeping taxes to a minimum. Working together, St. Francis
County's vision for the future is bright. On May 18 of this year,
I respectfully ask that you cast your vote for continued progress
and good county government. Vote for Carl Cisco, county judge.
Your vote and support is greatly appreciated," Cisco concluded.
A middle school principal is retiring from his duties in the Forrest City School District.
Following an extremely long school board meeting Monday night, the Forrest City School Board held a brief business session where they voted to accept the retirement of Marshall James. James is a principal at Lincoln Middle School. His resignation will become effective at the end of the current school year.
In addition to James, five other certified personnel also announced their retirements. Carolyn Carman is retiring from her position as a counselor at Forrest Hills Elementary School; Delois James is leaving her job as a second grade teacher at Central Elementary; Paula Jones is retiring as a third-grade teacher at Caldwell Elementary; Alice Price Kellum is leaving as a third grade teacher at Stewart Elementary School and Linda Wilson is resigning as an English teacher at the high school.
Two coaches resigned from their coaching positions, but will retain their teaching positions. Sue Jayroe resigned as head senior girls basketball coach and Amber Main resigned from her job as assistant senior girls basketball coach and head girls softball coach. In other resignations, Karen Willis resigned as the junior high girls cheerleading sponsor, but kept her regular teaching position.
Pam England resigned as the assistant girls softball coach to take over as the head softball coach, and Jacky England was assigned as the assistant girls softball coach.
The board also agreed to rebid the project of demolishing an old building on the Madison Elementary School campus.
The Forrest City High School Mock Trial Team won in regional competition over the past weekend, and will be competing for their fourth consecutive state title this weekend.
The regional competition was held in Jonesboro, and there were seven teams. Forrest City received a bye in the first round, and then defeated Newport and Nettleton.
The state competition will be held in the Pulaski County Courthouse in Little Rock.
Jimma Darnell is the team's faculty sponsor. Chris Morledge and Brad Beavers are attorney-coaches. This year's case, based on a real incident, involves a civil suit over alleged use of excessive force during an arrest.
If the FCHS team wins, the national competition will be held in Orlando, Fla. this year.