The City Council of Forrest City, Arkansas, met in regular session on February 1, 2011. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Alderman Twillie opened the meeting in prayer. The following answered roll call: Mayor Bryant, Clerk Cochran, Attorney Cline, and City Council Members: Peacock, Jeffers, Hollowell, Breeding, Capps, Fields, Oswalt, and Twillie.

Alderman Fields made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 18, 2010 meeting. Second by Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes.

COMMITTEES

Police Committee
Alderman Peacock stated that the police committee met on January 31, 2011 in the mayor’s office at 10 a.m. with Alderman Jeffers, Mayor Bryant, and himself. They addressed a few items such as the police surveillance cameras and the St. Francis County detention facilities. In the last detention facility compliance report no police manual could be found to check the policies of the jail. Alderman Peacock stated he was encouraging the police chief and the council to work together to form a policy manual using the 1988 Arkansas Minimum Jail Standards as a guide. The committee will be asking to see the manual at the next inspection. The committee was also concerned with the hallway area in front of the jail cells not being a secure area.

Time clock
Alderman Peacock passed out material on time clocks. He stated that possibly they could be utilized throughout the city, not just in the police department, for accountability and tracking the productivity of the employees. He also mentioned having a yearly function for the city employees to bring them together. Alderman Twillie asked if the time clocks would be an instrument to track the location of the employees. Alderman Peacock stated the phone assigned to the employee would have a GPS tracking system built into it which could be used a tracking device. Alderman Peacock stated the information was for general knowledge and the committee would be checking into it further.
Alderman Capps asked had the 1988 Arkansas Minimum Jail Standards not been revised. Alderman Peacock stated that is what was referenced to in September 2010. Alderman Peacock stated the committee was also looking at the contract with St. Francis County on housing the prisoners. Mayor Bryant stated at the next meeting the council they would be bringing recommendations in regard to the contract with St. Francis County.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Mayor Bryant stated there is no unfinished business.

NEW BUSINESS

Commission Appointments
Mayor Bryant stated there were three appointments, Rob Gray was reappointed to the Advertising & Promotions Commission, Eva Pickett reappointed to the Forrest City Library Board, and John Casbeer to the Forrest City Housing Board. Alderman Hollowell made the motion to approve the appointments. Second by Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Crime Stoppers Funding
Mayor Bryant stated he checked into funding crime stoppers, he said they were a 501 C-3 organization. To keep it from being FOI, the city would have to do a contract like they do with other organizations. Then a generic list would be generated for the city. Mayor Bryant recommended that the city give crime stoppers $5000. Alderman Peacock made a motion give crime stoppers $5000. Second Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Bid for Tractor
Mayor Bryant asked permission to bid for a tractor for the public works department. He stated that the city had received a grant for $44,000 from Rural Development. Alderman Twillie made a motion to allow Mayor Bryant to request bids for a tractor for the public works department. Second Alderman Jeffers. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Permission to Buyback 1946 Fire Truck
Mayor Bryant asked permission to buyback a 1946 fire truck that was sold in the auction. He stated it would be sold back to the city for the same $3,500.00 that it was purchased for. Alderman Twillie asked if the city needed the old fire truck. Mayor Bryant stated it was an old relic for the City of Forrest City and it should have never been sold. Alderman Peacock made a motion to buyback the 1946 fire truck. Second by Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes.

STREET FUND BILLS

Alderman Oswalt made a motion to pay street fund bills totaling $6,639.63. Second by Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes.

GENERAL FUND BILLS

Alderman Breeding made a motion to pay general fund bills totaling $17,309.94. Second by Alderman Hollowell. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Announcements

Mayor Bryant stated the community forum on last Tuesday went very well even though there was inclement weather.

Mayor Bryant stated he received the 4th quarter franchise payment from East Arkansas Video Cable Company in the amount of $57,667.69 based on $1,647,648.36 revenue. He also stated he received a letter from the cable company to carry out the agreement that was signed on December 7, 2010 along with a check in the amount of $10,000.00 for capital grant to buy equipment for the city’s channel.

Alderman Breeding stated after the next council meeting, if anyone was interested in helping to revitalize the recreational programs to meet with him, Mayor Bryant, Mr. Taylor, and anyone in the community that was interested. Alderman Hollowell asked where was the council on appointing a recreational committee. Mayor Bryant stated he was working on the council committee list and he would put it in the next agenda packet.

Alderman Twillie made a motion to adjourn at 6:25 p.m. Second by Alderman Fields.

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Larry S. Bryant, Mayor

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Derene Cochran, Clerk-Treasurer