The City Council of Forrest City, Arkansas, met in regular session on April 7, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Alderman Peacock opened the meeting in prayer. The following answered roll call: Mayor McCoy, Clerk Cochran, Attorney Cline, and City Council Members: Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Twillie, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt.

Alderman Twillie made a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Seconded by Shepherd. With the correction from Alderman Capps of adding Alderman Twillie’s name to Mayor Pro Tem. Roll Call: All Ayes.


Committees
None

City Shop Project
Mayor McCoy asked Public Works Director Patton to give the city council an update on the city shop project. Mr. Patton stated the sidewalls were up and being primed. The contractor was putting in the air vents and the ceiling tiles; they are 80% finished. Alderman Shepherd asked if it was possible to put some road mill down. Mr. Patton stated when the construction is finished; he was coming back before the council to get permission to repair the driveway.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Ordinance to Amend 2008 Budget
Alderman Twillie stated if the mayor’s office did not receive any calls with questions concerning the 2008 budget then everyone is in agreement. Attorney Cline Read an Ordinance To Amend The 2008 City Budget Sponsored by Alderman Twillie. Alderman Oswalt made a motion to suspend the rules and read the ordinance for the second reading. Seconded by Alderman Capps. Roll Call: Alderman Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Twillie, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt.

Attorney Cline read the ordinance for the second reading by title only. Alderman Oswalt made a motion to suspend the rules and read the ordinance for the third reading. Seconded by Alderman Capps. Roll Call: Alderman Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Twillie, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt. Attorney Cline read the ordinance for the third reading by title only. Alderman Oswalt made a motion to adopt the ordinance. Seconded by Alderman Jeffers. Roll Call: Alderman Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Twillie, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt.

NEW BUSINESS

Promotion
Mayor McCoy presented to the city council Officer Andrew Morlock of the Forrest City Police Department, who has just completed the police academy second in the class and with a 99.22% overall score.

Resolution
Mayor McCoy explained to the city council that he was presenting a resolution to apply for several grants with the stimulus money coming out. Mayor McCoy also stated the city was looking into purchasing 12 police cars totaling $258,000. The city would apply for a grant through USDA for $90,000 and a grant through JAG for $70,000.00 that would leave a balance of $98,000, which he would apply for a grant through the Planning District and hopefully the city would not be out of any money with the three grants. Mayor McCoy asked the council for the opportunity to pursue the grants.

Attorney Cline read the Resolution Authorizing the Mayor of Forrest City to Apply for a Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant on the Behalf of the City of Forrest City. Alderman Peacock made a motion to adopt the resolution. Seconded by Alderman Capps.

Alderman Oswalt asked the mayor if he was applying for three grants. Mayor McCoy stated the USDA Grant, which they have already started the paper work on it. The JAG grant, once the application is submitted it would be a 15-day turn around and the USDA grant. Mayor McCoy also stated once the money is released out of the system it has to be spent as quickly as possibly; to be competitive the city needs to move now. Alderman Oswalt asked if the $160,000 is received from USDA, JAG and the Planning District says no what happens. Mayor McCoy stated he would have to adjust the amount of police cars, or unless the city council is willing to pay the difference. Alderman Capps asked if the money is not received, could the council adjust the amount of police cars in question. Mayor McCoy said no, with USDA it is based on percentage; the JAG is based on 100% money. Roll Call: Alderman Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Twillie, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt.

Cable Franchise
Mayor McCoy stated the cable franchise was discussed at the Municipal League meeting during the winner conference. He also said the current franchise contract expires December 31, 2011. The city council needs to start exploring the options for a new contract. He also stated he learned at the Municipal League meeting, there are some monies that the city is entitled to that the city had not been receiving during this contract. Mayor McCoy said what he would like to do is form a committee and start looking into a new contract. Alderman Twillie stated, he did not think the council should wait around; they needed to start moving on the project within the next 60-days. Mayor McCoy stated they would call Greg Fender to see if he would come and visit with the city council and Attorney Cline to go over some of the things that were talked about at the Municipal League. The discussion was table until further notice.

Park Mower Bids
Park Director Kenneth Taylor asked permission from the council to seek bids for a mower. He also said he had three quotes for a four and a five series Ex-mark mower. Mr. Taylor stated the differences in the mowers are the five series is a bigger and more powerful mower than the four series. Alderman Capps asked what company had Mr. Taylor received quotes from. Mr. Taylor stated Jonesboro Small Engines and Searcy Small Engines. After further discussion, Alderman Shepherd made a motion to allow Mr. Taylor to start the bid process for a 605 series mower. Seconded by Alderman Peacock. Roll Call: All Ayes

T-Shirt Bids
Mayor McCoy stated the council was supposed to open t-shirts bids tonight, but the bids did not make the newspaper in time. He asked the council to allow Mr. Taylor to run the ad in the newspapers and come back on April 16, 2009 at noon to open the bids. Alderman Hollowell asked Attorney Cline could the mayor and the park director just open the bids without the council being present. Attorney Cline stated they could as long as the time is noted in the bids and in the ads, in case someone wanted to show up for the opening of the bids; it did not have to be an official meeting. Mayor McCoy said he just wanted the city council to be involved. Alderman Twillie stated the bids needed to be opened as soon as possible, because the ball program would be running behind schedule. The council gave Mr. McCoy and Park Director Taylor permission to open bids on April 16, 2009 at noon.

Housing Authority Appointment
Mayor McCoy stated the Forrest City Housing Authority was requesting the city council to re-appoint Mr. Casey Baxter back to the Forrest City Housing Authority Commission for a five-year term, April 1, 2009 until March 31, 2018. Alderman Hollowell made a motion to re-appoint Casey Baxter back to the Forrest City Housing Authority Commission. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Roll Call: All Ayes.
STREET FUND BILLS

Alderman Capps made a motion to pay the street fund bills totaling $3,488.06. Seconded by Alderman Shephered. Roll Call: All Ayes.

GENERAL FUND BILLS

Alderman Oswalt made a motion to pay general fund bills totaling $26,034.51. Seconded by Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Announcements

Alderman Oswalt stated, several months ago the council asked the human society to come become the city council to make a presentation, which has never happened. He asked one councilmember to help him sit down with the president or chairman of the humane society so they could see where they were in getting a proposal together to come before the city council. Alderman Shepherd said he would help.

Chief Duch informed the city council that photographer would be at the police department on Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 7:30 a.m., he invited the council to come and participate.

Mayor McCoy asked the council to consider taking pictures at the next council meeting for the Forrest City web page.

Alderman Shepherd announced that there is a committee that is interested in starting a neighborhood crime watch on the south end of town.

Alderman Twillie made a motion to adjourn at 6:40 p.m. Seconded by Alderman Hollowell.

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Gordon McCoy, Mayor

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Derene Cochran, Clerk-Treasurer