By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The city council is being asked, on one hand, to extend the contract of the current caterer at the Forrest City Civic Center, and on the other hand, to abolish the Civic Center Commission.
Both issues, which are strongly related, were presented to the council on Tuesday night, and discussion on both will be continued.
Jim Hitchcock, the current caterer, whose contract expires May 31, came before the council to ask for an extension of his contract to the end of the year. He blamed inaction on the part of the Civic Center Commission.
"At the present, the Civic Center Commission has not produced a (new) contract, and I would like to ask the council to extend the existing contract, to Jan. 1, 2005," said Hitchcock, "with the stipulation that by the end of this contract, May 31, they have a new contract on the table, so people can be looking at it, and award the contract Sept. 1, to be effective Jan. 1."
Hitchcock said this would guarantee a smooth transition.
"You can't just stop today, being the caterer, and start booking for new events," Hitchcock said. "I've already got things booked in July, August and September."
He said he was booking these events because people were calling.
"It looked bad on my part, it looked bad on the city. We couldn't tell them who the food service provider would be. I had a lady back in January get rather angry. I told her, 'Ma'am I just can't tell you.' And after that conversation with her, I just said I won't do that again. So anyone else who has called, I've tried to tell them we can take care of them some way. So I have booked things after the expiration of the contract."
Hitchcock said the commission has had a long time to get a new contract ready.
"There's still no contract," he said. "I don't see a contract on the horizon. You may. But even if they have a contract ready by April 1, that gives a new caterer or whoever two months to get ready. What do we do with the folks who have already booked. We need a smooth transition."
When asked if the civic center has lost events because he couldn't tell people who would be the food provider, he said a few had been lost. He said that was the reason he began booking events for after the expiration of the contract.
"I know the Maroon and Gold has their reunion coming up in July," he said. "They came to me. I did it five years ago for them. They said they would like for me to do this. . .and I need to be there to do it, I guess is what I'm saying. There's no way an off-premises caterer can take care of that big of an event."
No action was taken on Hitchcock's request.
The Civic Center Commission was also the subject of an ordinance introduced Tuesday, which would abolish the commission. Alderman Steve Hollowell had suggested such an ordinance at a previous meeting, and had also suggested the extension of the catering contract.
After the proposed ordinance was read, Alderman Cecil Twillie voiced opposition to abolishing the commission.
"I believe in inclusion, rather than exclusion," said Twillie. "What I mean by that is the more involvement we have with our citizens the more effective we'll be. I made contact with all the persons who serve on the Civic Center Commission. All of them agreed that they see a great need for a Civic Center Commission. I can see the same thing.
He said he didn't think the council would be as effective as the commission, because the commissioners are closer to the subject.
"Maybe we have some problems, but it's basically over a contract, and that will work itself out," Twillie continued. "But there is a need for a Civic Center Commission...My position is, I'm definitely in favor of keeping the commission."
Mayor Larry Bryant said he felt the same. He also said that he believed he main problem is being ironed out.
"By the next council meeting they (the commission) will have you all something to bite on, as regards to a caterer," said Bryant. "It will be on your plate, along with second reading of the ordinance."
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City City Council heard first reading of an ordinance Tuesday to adjust fees for out-of-town fires and out-of-town rescue runs.
The fees will apply only in instances where there is no mutual aid agreement. If passed, the ordinance will impose a fee of $500 for the first hour, $250 for each additional hour or part of an hour, and $20 per man hour.
In addition, there will be a charge of $20 per man hour for use of Haz Mat equipment, plus replacement cost of any equipment or chemicals used.
There will also be a separate charge for the aerial truck, of $500 for the first hour, and $250 for each additional hour or part of an hour.
The ordinance also calls for the same charges for rescue runs.
First reading was also heard of an ordinance meant to clarify penalties for repeated errors, mistakes or malfunctions in alarms.
City Attorney Alan Cline said this ordinance does not address deliberate false alarms, which are separate offenses.
"If you look at the (existing) ordinance the way it is written, it's somewhat confusing in that it uses different terminology."
First reading of an ordinance to amend the 2004 budget to include raises recommended by a special committee was put off until the next regular meeting. Alderman Brent Ponder, a member of that committee, requested that a special budget meeting be called to work out some discrepancies. The meeting will be held on Monday, March 8, at 5 p.m.
In other action, bids were opened for replacement and installation of the air conditioning system for the civic center. Mohr Heating and Air Conditioning of Wynne bid $92,812.50. A/C Services of Forrest City bid $79,722.34 and also made an alternate bid of $77,322.50.
There was one bid for a generator for the civic center, of $18,915.20, from Powerhouse. There were questions on whether the generator would be powerful enough, and also whether the generator would be compatible with the new equipment.
Mayor Larry Bryant said he was mainly concerned with having heat in instances where the power is out and the civic center is used to house people stranded during a winter storm. However, there will be discussions about the power needs and the new equipment before a final decision is made.
Two bids were opened for a new knuckle boom truck. One, from General Truck Sales and Service of Memphis was for $74,746.30. The other, from Glover Truck Parts and Equipment of North Little Rock, was for $77,829. The bids will be turned over to the Public Works department to see if the low bid meets specifications.
No bids were received for a new sign for the civic center.
The council also gave permission to bid for the installation of safety equipment at the Forrest City Municipal Airport.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A project to demolish an old building on the Madison elementary school campus has hit a snag, and the project is now in the process of being rebid.
Forrest City School Superintendent Lee Vent said the low bidder, W.L. Laws Contracting Inc., withdrew their bid of $18,200 to raze the building after issues regarding a performance bond were raised following the bid process.
"Under advice of counsel, we have decided to rebid the razing of the building," Vent said.
According to Laws, the decision to remove the bid was made after he was told that the performance bond was necessary for consideration to receive the bid.
"The original bid specifications did not call for a performance bond, or else I would have had one in there. When they asked me for one, I told them that it wouldn't be a problem, but that I would have to raise my bid by $5,000. That still put me $1,000 under the next lowest bidder, but when they told me that I would need the performance bond just to be kept in consideration, I just decided to pull my bid," Laws said.
Six bids were submitted for the demolition of the building on the Madison campus. The original low bid was over $120,000 lower than the highest bid of $144,055 from Worldwide Excavation Service based in Conway. The bid difference caused some concerns for Vent, who at the February meeting of the Forrest City School Board said he would discuss the bid with Laws to make sure both parties understood what was expected in the demolition process.
Three Hughes residents face a number of charges from the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department after an incident involving a stolen shotgun Tuesday night.
According to a sheriff's department report, Michael-Anthony James, 28, Gene James, 28, and Tawanna Lowe, 21, all of Hughes, face charges of theft by receiving involving a firearm after deputies and Hughes Police Officers stopped a vehicle the three were traveling in and found a .410 caliber shotgun valued at $400. The gun had been reported stolen by the Sherwood Police Department.
Along with the theft by receiving charge, Michael-Anthony James also faces charges of public intoxication and hunting out of season. Gene James also faces a charge of hunting out of season, along with a charge of possession of a firearm by certain persons. The trio was being held in the St. Francis County Jail this morning, and were scheduled to appear in district court this afternoon.
Also on Tuesday, a 64-year-old Madison man was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of selling and possession of beer/liquor without a license in connection with a February search warrant.
According to a sheriff's department report, Joe Goss was charged after authorities found over 140 cans of beer and three half-pints of Whiskey at his home in Madison.
According to the affidavit for Goss' arrest, Detective Herbert Neighbors and Deputy Verle Lee assisted the First Judicial District Task Force in issuing the search warrant on Friday, Feb. 13, at Goss' home. According to the affidavit, Goss spoke with Neighbors later in February and admitted to the sale of beer from his residence.
Evans Seawood Jr., of Forrest City announces his candidacy for re-election for the position as Justice of the Peace, District 5, on the St. Francis County Quorum Court.
Seawood is a lifelong resident of St. Francis County and has observed the changes and transitions of life in this area. After five years as an elected official, the tasks, challenges and decisions on the Quorum Court have been overwhelming at times; but proven to be met with effective outcomes and increased efficiency, said Seawood. He presently serves on the Quorum Court Budget Committee. During his five year s of service, he has attended many Quorum Court training sessions sponsored by the Association of Arkansas Counties in Little Rock.
He is presently employed in his 33rd year at Sanyo Manufacturing Company in Forrest City, serves as treasurer and deacon at Macedonia M.B. Church in Madison, is the founder and chairman of the Academic Scholarship Fund at his church and is a member of the NAACP. He and his wife Vera, of 40 years, have six children and 13 grandchildren.
"Today's times have brought forth additional problems and concerns that call for critical thinking, added understanding and the ability to work together for all citizens. I believe I have demonstrated those qualities. With your continued support and vote in the May primary, I will make an effort to continue my services as part of the voice of change for the citizens of District 5."
Police confiscated over 100 pounds of marijuana during a routine traffic stop Tuesday afternoon on Interstate 40 near Forrest City.
A trooper with Arkansas State Police Troop D headquarters in Forrest City reportedly stopped a 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier about 3:45 p.m. near the 247 eastbound mile marker.
After talking with the driver, Matthew James Zupko, 38, of Las Vegas, Nev., the officer asked for consent to search the vehicle, but Zupko refused the request. According to the trooper, the department's canine was taken to the scene, and while being led around the car alerted troopers to the back seat.
In the trunk of the car, troopers found several suitcases containing an estimated 102 pounds of marijuana. The marijuana is valued at about $102,000.