The City Council of Forrest City, Arkansas, met in regular session on March 3, 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: Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt. Alderman Twillie came in at 6:10 p.m.

Alderman Capps made a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Roll Call: All Ayes.


Committees

None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Airport Lease
Mayor McCoy stated at the last council meeting Alderman Capps asked if there was a current lease in place with the Forrest City Airport. He stated the last lease in place was dated April 10, 2003 they have the option to renew the lease up to 2012. Attorney Cline stated the original lease expired December 2007, the lease provided a 5-year term, commencing January 2008. “I guess there would be some questions to what their intentions are, whether their intentions would be to stay on the lease and renew or what.” The options would be #1. Get with current lessee and try to provide some kind of mutual agreeable arrangement to extend the lease, subject to whatever may happen with the regional airport. #2. Advertise or seek proposals from other interested parties, subject to whatever may happen with the regional airport. Attorney Cline also stated the prudent thing to do is contact Hutcherson Flying Service to find out their position. If they are interested in renewing, go on and formalize the extension, get it in writing and signed. Alderman Peacock asked if the contract language states, if the party does not notify the city by a certain date it automatically renews. Attorney Cline said, “It does not, it gives the lessee the option to renew on the same terms and condition, it does not have a date.”
Alderman Capps asked if Hutcherson had the option to sub-lease the airport. Attorney Cline stated he did not think so. Alderman Capps then asked, if the city had a lease agreement with East Arkansas Turbines. Attorney Cline said the city did at one point and the lease does have a provision upon closing or the sale of the airport. Alderman Capps stated he would like to know if there is a lease in place with East Arkansas Turbines if so, how long, or if the lease has expired if Mr. Lester is sub-leasing from Hutcherson Flying Service. He would also like to know the effect it would have on the lease when the airport is sold. Mayor McCoy stated the lease has all the provision in it, but he would follow up on the information.

NEW BUSINESS

Promotions
Mayor McCoy presented the three new corporals with the Forrest City Police Department, Shane Rogers, who has been with the city over 12 ½ - years, William Sparkmon 8-years, and James McElroy 16-years. Chief Duch presented the new officers with certificates of promotion and outstanding contribution of law enforcement for service rendered to the Forrest City Police Department. Alderman Fields asked what a corporal’s job is. Sergeant Tucker stated that the corporal supervises and takes on the responsibility of the sergeants in their absent. Chief Duch stated the corporals are there to supervise the shifts when the sergeants are off duty; they are second in command on each shift.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Skate Park
Park Director Kenneth Taylor asked permission to seek bids on the stations for the skate park. “As you all know, the concrete slab has been out there for almost a year.” The money for the stations was not included in the grant money. Alderman Hollowell made a motion to give Mr. Taylor permission to bid for the stations. Seconded by Alderman Jeffers. Alderman Shepherd asked if there would be a projected time for the stations to come in. Mr. Taylor stated he would have the paper work done by the next council meeting. Alderman Capps asked how many stations are needed. Mr. Taylor stated he had several diagrams, one with ten, one with eleven, and one with five or six. Mayor McCoy stated that the city had applied for a grant to pay for the stations, but it was denied. He was asking the council for permission to bid for the stations. Alderman Oswalt asked if there was any money left from the original grant. Mayor McCoy stated all that money was gone; all of the other repairs had been done. Alderman Fields asked Mr. Taylor how many stations he was going to bid. Mr. Taylor said he could not say at that time, he had several diagrams, but he had specifications on what type of material was needed and it also depended on the cost. Alderman Twillie stated, in order to bid, it seems like you would have to give the number of stations. Mr. Taylor stated there are different kinds of stations; you have to be specific on the kind of stations you are biding on. But he did say he had the specifications drawn up for eleven stations.

Roll Call: Alderman Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Twillie, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt All Ayes. Mayor McCoy stated they would be looking at the different types of material in the specifications and he would consult with the park and recreation commission.

STREET FUND BILLS

Alderman Oswalt made a motion to pay the street fund bills totaling $9,243.20. Seconded by Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes.

GENERAL FUND BILLS

Alderman Hollowell made a motion to pay general fund bills totaling $11,240.45. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Announcements
Mayor McCoy thanked Alderman Fields, Jeffers, and Capps for attending the Arkansas Economic Development meeting in Little Rock with him. Mayor McCoy said the by-pass proposal was presented. It was a well-attended meeting and Forrest City was well represented. Mayor McCoy also stated he was going to Washington D.C. on March 13, 2008 to meet with Congressman Berry. He also has a date and a time scheduled to meet with Senator Mark Pryor. He is going to the National League of Cities conference, he and several other mayors and they are going to make the same by-pass presentation while they are there. Mayor McCoy said he has made a commitment to the city (by-pass project) one that he is going to standby and he hoped that the council stay focused and on one accord and continue to be unified in keeping the city going in a positive direction.
Alderman Fields stated they did not know who the speaker would be at the Economic Development meeting, but to their surprise, it was their own mayor. She commended Mayor McCoy on his presentation, he did and outstanding job.

Alderman Twillie made a motion to adjourn at 6:25 p.m. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd.

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Gordon McCoy, Mayor

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Derene Cochran, Clerk-Treasurer