The City Council of Forrest City, Arkansas, met in regular session on January 20, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Alderman Capps opened the meeting in prayer. The following answered roll call: Mayor McCoy, Clerk Cochran, Attorney Cline, and City Council Members: Hollowell, Peacock, Shepherd, Fields, Capps, Oswalt, and Jeffers. Alderman Twillie was absent.

Alderman Jeffers made a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Roll Call: All Ayes. Alderman Peacock abstained due to being absent.

Committees
None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Demolition and Structure Moving Ordinances
Attorney Cline read for the third reading An Ordinance Establishing The Procedure For Demolishing Building or Other Structures; Establishing An Application Processing; Setting Penalties For Violations; And For Other Purposes. Sponsored by Alderman Fields. Alderman Oswalt made a motion adopt the ordinance. Seconded by Alderman Fields. Roll Call: Alderman Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt. All Ayes.

Attorney Cline read for the third reading An Ordinance Establishing the Procedure For Moving Houses Or Other Structures; Establishing The Application Process; Setting Penalties For Violations; And For Other Purposes. Sponsored by Alderman Twillie. Alderman Oswalt made a motion to adopt the ordinance. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Roll Call: Alderman Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt. All Ayes.

Humane Society
Mayor McCoy discussed problems between the Forrest City Humane Society and the Forrest City Animal Control. He then asked the council for their support to allow him and the city attorney to start exploring legal options to totally separate the city from the humane society and become one entity. Mayor McCoy stated he has three options. Option A: Turn it over to the humane society and let them run it 100%. Option B: Let the city run it 100%. Option C: Start the legal process of separation. What ever the case maybe the two entities need to separated. Mayor McCoy also stated there have been several animal control directors hired and the humane society has had problems with all of them. Out of all the discussions and conversations with the humane society nothing seemed to work. He also stated he has made his proposal and that is what he is asking of the council.

Alderman Oswalt stated that is the reason he submitted a proposal to form an animal control committee in December 2008, because of the disagreement between the humane society and the city; there are issues that needed to be addressed. He also stated he would like to see a committee formed to sit down with the humane society to work through the problems and come up with some type of solution before any legal proceedings are started to separate the two entities. As far as the lease agreement, it is very strange. One entity owns the building and the other owns the land.

Alderman Peacock asked if it was contracted out to the humane society, would the city still have an expenditure line item. Mayor McCoy stated yes, it would be contracted out 100% like every other contract, and he would not recommend that the city provide any employees, and no city involvement. He also stated for two years he has been listing to the bickering between animal control and the humane society it has been going on long enough the time has come to take a stand. Alderman Peacock stated if it was contracted out, the city would need to set some guidelines. Mayor McCoy stated that is the reason why he wanted to get with Attorney Cline to set up some type of contractual agreement. Alderman Shepherd asked if anyone had contacted any other municipalities to see what type of agreement they have between animal control and the humane society. Mayor McCoy stated he had asked Gail Carey, President, to check with other cities and towns to see how the humane society is handled and what type of arrangements they have

Alderman Peacock asked was there a representative present from the humane society to speak on their behalf. Mayor McCoy stated he only wanted to hear from the president, and she was not there.

Alderman Shepherd stated he was in agreement with Alderman Oswalt. He also stated to give the humane society two weeks to present their proposal then the council could proceed on the three options. Alderman Peacock also stated he thinks the mayor and the humane society should have a sit down discussion and bring the solution back to the city council as a recommendation.

Mayor McCoy stated in conversation with the chairman of the humane society he did not think any of his proposals were going to work for them. He also stated he knows there was some discussion as to who owns the land and the building, if it gets to that point; a decision needs to be made to sell the property to the humane society or to do something. He would not recommend to anyone to continue operating under the current conditions. Alderman Capps asked Attorney Cline to review the lease and tell them what their options are on the lease.

Alderman Shepherd stated the animals are the city’s responsibility and the humane society is there to protect the lives of the animals, it should be some cooperation between the two entities. He did not think shutting down the system would be a good suggestion. Mayor McCoy stated this is something he is not rushing into. There were problems with the humane society before he became mayor in 2007. Alderman Fields stated she thought they should wait until they received the report from the president of the humane society, she should have it by the next council meeting. She also stated she did not think it was mentioned shutting down the shelter. She felt that the City of Forrest City is responsible for the expenditures and the control of the animal control and the humane society should work in conjunction with the animal control; if they cannot work together then they should be separated them.

NEW BUSINESS

Airport Commission
Mayor McCoy stated when Pat Flanagan was there, he served as chairman of the Forrest City Airport Commission, when he left the commission dissipated. The commission has not met in several months and he recommended that the commission be done away with. He asked the council to repeal the ordinance that created the commission. Alderman Fields asked if the commissioners were done away with, who would be in charge. Mayor McCoy stated the director Gil Gilbreath will still be there and to look at section 3 of the ordinance. Alderman Capps asked would the city be applying for any more FAA grants that would be turned over to the DRAA, would there need to be a commission in place. Mayor McCoy stated he did not intend to apply for anymore airport grants at this time. Alderman Shepherd asked if the current commissioners had been contacted to let them know that the commission was going to be dissolved. Mayor McCoy stated he did not think they were interested anymore.

Attorney Cline read an Ordinance Repealing Ordinance No. 814; Dissolving And Terminating The Forrest City Municipal Airport Commission; And for Other Purposes. Sponsored by Alderman Hollowell.

STREET FUND BILLS

None

GENERAL FUND BILLS

Alderman Oswalt made a motion to pay general fund bills totaling $21,670.65. Seconded by Alderman Jeffers. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Announcements

Alderman Oswalt stated last council meeting the council was supposed to have organized the committees, advisors, mayor pro tem, and the time and date of the meeting. Have all the people on the commissions been contacted by the mayor’s office or the council members as to whether or not they still want to serve on the committees. Mayor McCoy stated that the water commission had been taken care of. Alderman Oswalt stated the civic center commission could not function anymore because there were not enough commissioners.

Alderman Oswalt made a motion to leave all advisors on the committees as is, with the exception of Alderman Shepherd replacing Roger Breeding, re-appoint Alderman Twillie as mayor pro tem, and leave the meeting dates on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Seconded by Alderman Hollowell. Mayor McCoy asked had the council consider changing the meeting time to 5:00 p.m. Alderman Oswalt stated it would be a conflict with the quorum court meetings. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Alderman Oswalt stated he received a telephone call and he was relaying a messing asking why limbs were not being picked up.

Alderman Capps made a motion to adjourn at 6:47 p.m. Seconded by Alderman Fields. Roll Call: All Ayes.

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Gordon McCoy, Mayor

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Derene Cochran, Clerk-Treasurer