The City Council of Forrest City, Arkansas, met in regular session on April 21, 2009. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Alderman Twillie 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 Fields made a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Seconded by Jeffers. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Committees
None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Cable Franchise
Mayor McCoy stated the committee met last night to discuss the cable franchise renewal. He asked the council if they wanted to comment on last night’s meeting. Alderman Twillie stated the Arkansas Municipal League has given the council the okay to move forward and he thought the council owes it to the citizens to really look at the total contract to make sure the city is getting its money’s worth. He also stated he noted the method that the contractor was using and his recommendation would be to use actual city’s population providing that the council would get an okay from Attorney Cline.
Attorney Cline stated the contract that was presented was straightforward and he would negotiate the contract on the city’s behalf. Alderman Peacock asked if the prison would be considered in the city’s population.

Mayor McCoy stated the contractor, Greg Fender rounded the price to $10,000.00, in the beginning, Mr. Fender said he would do the figures based on $1.00 per capital and the population is $14,770. Mayor McCoy also said he thought the money spent would be well worth re-doing the contract. Alderman Capps made a motion that the city council grants Local Government Services LLC the authority to review the existing cable TV franchise contract and report the options to the city council for the fee of $10,000.00, 50% on signing of the contract, 25% after the first 120 days, and 25% after the new contract is signed. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Attorney Cline asked Alderman Capps to add to the motion that the city council determines this to be a professional services contract, so the council would not get into a biding situation. Alderman Capps amended the motion to say a professional services contract. Roll Call: Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Shepherd, Twillie, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt.

NEW BUSINESS

Entergy/Woodruff
Mayor McCoy asked the council if they had any questions for Attorney Cline concerning the Entergy/Woodruff memo that was mailed in the package. Attorney Cline stated he received a call from the public service commission’s attorney about the city’s involvement in the allocation of the elect service provider at the federal prison, both Entergy and Woodruff are interested in providing services, he asked if the city would have any input at the PSC level. Attorney Cline also stated he sent a copy and called Chisenhall to see if there is something that the city needed to be doing, he left a message, but Chisnall had not returned his call.

Alderman Twillie stated the council tries to make solid decisions, but in a case like that, he did not know how to vote. Attorney Cline stated the public services commission would make the decision as it relates to who would provide the services to the federal prison.
Attorney Cline asked Alderman Twillie if he had specific questions he wants answered to write them down and he would find the answers.

Recreation Mower Bids
Mayor McCoy stated he had two bids to come in for the park mower, Hobbs Farm Equipment Colt, AR for $9,973.50 and Reeves Sales, Western Auto Forrest City for $10,355.00. Mayor McCoy stated he would get with Mr. Taylor to make sure the bids met the specifications.

STREET FUND BILLS

Alderman Oswalt made a motion to pay the street fund bills totaling $908.75. Seconded by Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes.

GENERAL FUND BILLS

Alderman Capps made a motion to pay general fund bills totaling $24,798.23. Seconded by Alderman Shepherd. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Announcements

Arkansas Municipal League conference June 17-19, 2009

Photos tomorrow morning at the Forrest City Police Department at 7:30 a.m.

Tonight Mrs. Uptigrove would be taking pictures for the city’s web page.

Alderman Oswalt asked for an update on the skate park stations. Mayor McCoy stated they ran into a problem and it needed to be re-bid. They were getting the architect to help get a better set of specifications. Alderman Oswalt asked Mayor McCoy to call Harrisburg, Siloam Springs, even West Memphis and asked them who helped them to prepare their bids done.

Alderman Twillie made a motion to adjourn at 6:20 p.m. Seconded by Alderman Jeffers.

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Gordon McCoy, Mayor

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Derene Cochran, Clerk-Treasurer