By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The preliminary plat for a proposed new subdivision in Forrest City still awaits approval, after the city council decided Tuesday that more discussions are needed.
The lengthy discussion centered mostly on whether Meadowbrook Park, proposed to be built at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King and Ophelia streets would be an asset to the city.
The subdivision would consist of 40 single-family housing units. Federal tax credits to investors allow rents to be lower.
The Forrest City Planning Commission had taken no action on the request for plat approval, and simply forwarded it to the city council.
During discussion, Alderman Roger Breeding stated that there are numerous subsidized housing units which are not occupied. At one point, he said there are more than 500 vacancies.
"I just want to know why do we need more," he said.
J.D. Davis, Calvin King and Rosia Davis represented the Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corp. at the meeting.
They answered Breeding by saying that the quality of the housing might have something to do with it. Davis said some of the existing housing was older and may not have been well maintained. He said the homes in Meadowbrook Park would be a step up for many people.
They said they had already built multiple-family housing in El Dorado and single family units in Marianna. They distributed photos of the Marianna subdivision.
Alderman Cecil Twillie also objected. "I don't see it meeting the needs of Forrest City," he said, and he again mentioned the number of unoccupied housing units in town. According to Twillie, there have been numerous complaints about the proposal.
"Rental houses are going to be a revolving door," he said. "Normally, I don't get 55 calls on any subject. But I assure you, I did this time."
Timothy Michael, president of a citizens' group in Ward I, said his group was concerned over the possibility of more public housing in their midst, in spite of protestations on the part of the development corporation representatives that the subdivision wouldn't be like public housing in the strictest sense. Breeding said it was still subsidized, whether it was on the rent itself, or on the front end as tax credits.
J.D. Davis said the subdivision would have "aggressive, effective management" which would mitigate the potential problems which were the concern of the citizens' group.
Rosia Davis also spoke, and reiterated that the subdivision would be a good thing for Forrest City.
"We're talking about a single dwelling, with a front yard and a back yard," she said. "Put people in a house and let them know what a house is all about...We don't know what all the vacant housing consists of."
Mayor Larry Bryant suggested a cooling off period.
"It seems as though we have gotten into a condition of forgetfulness," he said. "I think we need to go back and all parties look at it through a prism that's clear. I think the council ought to have a committee at least go and look at what's in Marianna and look at other places, to make sure before we say no. I think that's what's resonating at this particular time, to say no to poor folk."
In explaining what he meant by forgetfulness, he reminded council members of what the condition of housing, especially for poor people, was when they were all younger.
"I can remember not too long ago, living in a two-room house with no running water. And I remember when my mother got into those houses where she lives to this day," Bryant said. "And if the people on Water Street, around the corner, had had the same attitude toward those people who were getting those subsidized houses (as was being expressed), then my mother still wouldn't have a house."
He said he does not like Section 8 housing because of the management.
"You move in, and you live, and you have no control," he said. "What I'm hearing here is, is that we want to make sure that we don't have something like that."
He said that he believed that with some tweaking, the proposal could be a good thing for the city.
"I don't know if you all have read the assurances or not. But I think everybody needs to cool down and take a look. And you can still come back to the next council meeting and say no," Bryant said. "I think we can get beyond ourselves...We need to look at the whole picture...I don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water at one time. I know it's a heated subject right now."
Danny Capps, chairman of the Planning Commission, requested that the issue be returned to the commission, with a full master plan.
After some more discussion, a motion passed to send the request back to the planning commission and to form a group to check on existing projects done by the firm. Breeding said he would like to study the last five projects done by the company.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Forrest City's solid waste hauler will be asked to refigure its request for a rate increase, it was decided Tuesday.
At the Sept. 21 meeting of the Forrest City City Council, King Disposal Inc. had asked for an increase based on an increase in fuel costs.
An example provided by King Disposal stated that there had been a fuel cost increase of $15,200 a month. However, Tommy Martin, sales manager for King Disposal, said the company was only asking for a fraction of that -- more like $2,000 a month.
At the time, City Attorney Alan Cline said he wanted to study the proposal, and the contract.
On Tuesday, Cline gave his opinion. He stated that the contract "provides at least some evidence" that a fuel adjustment is allowed. However, he said he felt the best way to do it would be to multiply the fuel cost increase by the gallons purchased. He said the formula in the contract was confusing.
Representatives of King Disposal agreed to come back at the next meeting with a new request.
On another matter, the council heard the first and second of three readings of an ordinance to contract with the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce for industrial recruitment.
In a recent county-wide special election, voters approved a proposal to transfer $125,000 a year, for four years, from Forrest City's share of the county solid waste tax to the FCACC.
The ordinance authorizes payment of $95,000. Bryant said the Chamber had already received $30,000.
On other matters, Alderman Roger Breeding asked to include the Forrest City Area Humane Society on the agenda for the next meeting. The society recently announced that it would no longer accept any dogs at the shelter, citing health risks.
Also, Alderman Brent Ponder requested that the question of a caterer at the civic center be included on the agenda of an upcoming meeting.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
Four members of the St. Francis County Transportation Commission met Tuesday and voted to cancel all contracts remaining with the commission and make changes to the commission's bylaws.
The special meeting, which was called by the four commissioners, was held after each member received a letter from commission chairman Cecil Twillie refusing to call the meeting and stating that any meeting would be illegal under the commission's bylaws.
With commission treasurer Rausch Hodges acting as chair, commission members Regan Hill, Kevin Lewey and Rujay Burke met Tuesday in the quorum court meeting room at the St. Francis County Courthouse. Hodges commented briefly on why the meeting was being held and the circumstances under which it was called.
"Last week during our meeting, we had some Robert's Rules of Order that were pulled on us which we have since found out were incorrect, and Mr. Hill asked for a meeting which was subsequently turned down by chairman Twillie. A letter was drafted that night and submitted to all members stating that a meeting was going to be held today. At approximately 3 p.m. today, we received notification from chairman Twillie that he had not authorized today's meeting and it would be an illegal meeting if it was held. But we're here, and we're going to meet," Hodges said.
Following a verbal roll call, which noted that Twillie and commission member Jack Crumbly were absent, Hodges said, "Basically, we're having trouble with some of the wording in two of the contracts that we still have. We're concerned about both Mr. (Frederick) Freeman's contract and Mr. (Ebony) Mills' contract, and at this point I feel it would be best if the contracts were canceled," Hodges said.
On a motion from Kevin Lewey, the four commissioners voted to cancel the remaining three contracts still in force. The third contract, which is with Sorrell Engineering, was canceled even though commissioners do not dispute a remaining $5,000 balance with Sorrell for work which has been scheduled to be done, but cannot be completed until land is purchased.
"We're all here trying to serve a purpose, which is to bring a transportation mall to St. Francis County which will possibly be the largest of its type in the entire nation. This would bring hundreds of jobs to this area, and we need to be working together for the good of this project and the good of this county as a commission to see that we get this done. It was clear at the meeting last week that the will of the majority of this commission was to cancel the contracts. We're working to bring in several hundred jobs for the people of St. Francis County, not just to save two jobs," said Hill.
In other business, commissioners voted to amend a section of the bylaws which explains how special or called meetings should be held. According to the commission bylaws, "Special meetings, including special public meetings of the committee may be called at the discretion of the chair when it is deemed to be in the best interest of the commission. Any three of the five commissioners may petition the chairman to call special meetings. Written notice shall be sent at least five days prior to the called meetings."
The commissioners in attendance yesterday voted 4-0 to amend the bylaws changing it to read, "Special meetings or called meetings of the committee may be called at the discretion of the chair or at the request of the majority of the members of the commission when it is deemed to be in the best interest of the commission. Written notice shall be sent at least five days prior to called meetings."
In a letter to the members of the commission and the media dated Oct.4, Twillie said that any meeting of the commission did not meet the procedures outlined in the bylaws and would be considered illegal. Former commission attorney Chris Morledge was not available for comment today, but county attorney Fletcher Long said that he felt Tuesday's meeting would be considered legal.
"The short answer to the question of whether the meeting was legal, I think is yes. Now the long answer is that the bylaws provide some discretion for the chairman, and he said no without providing any reasoning for his answer. If someone saw fit to want to challenge any actions taken in the meeting, then I suppose they could file suit," Long said.
Twillie was not available for comment this morning.
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City and the Forrest City Junior Auxiliary will host Kids Fest on Friday, Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the hospital.
Children can enjoy a day of fun with nutritious snacks and giveaways. Local professionals will provide free dental and eye screenings, and parents can have child identification kits made for each child as well as having them fingerprinted. Also, P.D. Parrot, Baptist's pediatric mascot, will make an appearance.
"We want to provide a fun atmosphere in which families can learn about child health issues," said Jerry Pope, CEO and administrator of Baptist Forrest City. "Teaching children the importance of being healthy and showing parents ways to encourage good habits can help lay the foundation upon which children can build healthy lives."
In addition to Baptist Forrest City staff, there will be representatives from many community and state organizations on hand to provide free information and giveaways. Those agencies include: Forrest City Junior Auxiliary, Dr. Donald Perkins, Arkansas Operation Lifesaver, Wal-Mart Vision Center, Forrest City Police Department, St. Francis County 4-H Club, Boys and Girls Club of St. Francis County, Tobacco Prevention, St. Francis County Health Unit, Arkansas Poison Control, Our Kids Count Coalition, Wynne Church of Christ, Counseling Services of Eastern Arkansas, East Arkansas Enterprise Community and the Forrest City Fire Department.
For more information about Kids Fest or Baptist Forrest City,
call (870) 261-0006 or visit forrestcity.baptistonline.org.
The northern leg of the Forrest City bypass will be officially opened Thursday, with a special ceremony at 11 a.m.
A ribbon cutting will be held where the bypass crosses Interstate 40.
Arkansas Highway Commissioner Buddy Benafield is expected to attend the event, along with other dignitaries and Greencoats from the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce.
Coming from the south, the bypass begins on Ark. Highway 1 South, and goes west of the Federal Correctional Institution-Forrest City. It crosses U.S. Highway 70 (Broadway) and I-40, before ending back on Highway 1 near Caldwell.
There will be interchanges at Highway 70 and I-40.
Completion of the bypass was delayed earlier this year by rainy weather, and the opening date was pushed back from Labor Day to October. Dry weather in August and September allowed the work to continue unabated.
It has been theorized that the construction of the bypass will give new areas for businesses to locate, and give easy access to the interstate for existing businesses.
Building permits for projects valued at a total of $1,225,397 were issued during September in Forrest City, according to the mayor's office.
Commercial projects took up a majority of the value. Southern Furniture at 4000 N. Washington is constructing a new building valued at $480,000. McDonald's at 2301 N. Washington has a $218,000 remodeling project. St. Francis County Furniture Association at 2345 W. Broadway is adding storage room valued at $50,000. CCR Inc. is building two new homes in Oak Subdivision, one at Lot 8 and one at Lot 13.
In addition, permits issued to private citizens included three new homes, two additions and a new porch. There were also permits issued for one new fence, two repairs, one remodeling, one shed, one siding project, new windows and a garage.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the union representing employees at the Federal Correctional Institution-Forrest City, have reached a settlement on a grievance, in which the BOP agrees to pay $3.6 million.
According to Roger D. Payne, president of Local 922 of the American Federation of Government Employees, the grievance involved compensation.
"What the case deals with are people required to be at work before their starting time and be at work after starting time, without being paid," Payne said.
The grievance was first filed in 2001, he said, and actually covers about six years in all.
A notice from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service states that the union and Federal Bureau of Prisons had agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding that the agency would pay the $3.6 million plus reasonable attorney fees.
Payne said, "The amount, in my mind, is pretty much solid."