The City Council of Forrest City, Arkansas, met in regular session on September 6, 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 Twillie, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt.

Alderman Fields made a motion to approve the August 16, 20ll minutes. Second by Alderman Jeffers. Roll Call: All Ayes.

COMMITTEES

Mayor Bryant stated there was none.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Substantial Damage Ordinance No 1519
Attorney Cline read for the third reading An Ordinance Amending Ordinance No. 1519; Defining “Substantial Damage”’ And For Other Purposes; and Declaring an Emergency. Sponsored by Alderman Oswalt. Alderman Capps made a motion to adopt the ordinance. Second by Alderman Peacock. Roll Call: All Ayes.

NEW BUSINESS

Court Automation Equipment System
Judge Steve Routon was present and he presented the council with a proposal to purchase a court automation equipment system. Mayor Bryant said he had discussed the equipment purchase with Mrs. Rhodes and indirectly with Judge Routon. Mayor Bryant also said he did not have a problem with purchasing the system, but only one bid was presented. He also said he wanted the records to show that the system was approved by the city council for the sake of the state auditors. Judge Routon stated he was asking for approval from the council to purchase a digital courtroom recording system that cost $5,566.31. He also said the reason the court needed the system was, because the Supreme Court of Arkansas created 25 fulltime state district courts across the state. He also said they were included in the 25 and the Supreme Court wants all 25 district courts to install a digital courtroom recording system. He contacted the administrative office of the courts in Little Rock and asked what were the new guidelines and who in Arkansas would they recommend to set up the system. The administrative office of the courts recommended R. B. Causey Co., Inc. of Little Rock, AR because they had already put in over twenty judicial court systems in the circuit courts and it was suggested by the Supreme Court that they use the same type of system. Judge Routon said he and Mrs. Rhodes went to Little Rock and met with the R.B. Causey Company; their sales person set the system up and showed the both of them how it worked. Judge Routon also said it would not cost the city any money. The district court has money in their court automation fund account and he was asking for the authority to spend the money from that account. After further discussion, Alderman Oswalt made a motion to allow Mayor Bryant and District Court Judge Steve Routon to purchase the equipment from R. B. Causey Company, Inc. Second by Alderman Fields. Roll Call: Alderman Peacock, Hollowell, Breeding, Jeffers, Twillie, Fields, Capps, and Oswalt All Ayes.

Police Uniforms Reimbursement
Alderman Peacock stated it was brought to his attention that the police patrolmen were going to be required to change their uniforms. He also said if it was that important, the city should pay for the uniforms; a financial burden should not be put on the patrolmen. Alderman Peacock said he was aware of the uniform allowance and once the uniforms were purchased the uniforms would have to be maintained. Alderman Twillie asked why the uniforms were being replaced. Mayor Bryant said ragtag uniforms. Some of the officers have been taking the $50.00 per month and not maintaining their uniforms. Alderman Capps asked if it was the supervisor’s responsibility to make sure that the officers were dressed to code. Mayor Bryant said it was the supervisor who has asked the officers to purchase at least one uniform by October l, 2011. The cost to purchase the uniform is about $88.00 per uniform, and if the city was going to reimburse the officers, the city would be looking at an average of 30 officers, which would cost around $2,700 for one uniform per officer. Mayor Bryant also said each officer receives $600.00 per year for uniform allowance. Alderman Capps asked would the new uniform be the same kind of uniform the officer are wearing now. Mayor Bryant said it would be a slight change in the uniforms. Alderman Fields asked how many uniforms the officers are required to have. Mayor Bryant said he expects at least three. Alderman Oswalt asked if the police committee could meet with Chief Reynolds and then the chief and the police committee could come back to the city council and make some recommendations. Mayor Bryant said the police chief can come before the council and tell the council what he wants to do in his own words. After further discussion Mayor Bryant said he would setup a meeting for the police committee and the police chief.

Condemnation Resolution
Mayor Bryant stated that Code Enforcement Muqtasid has submitted a list of condemned houses. He also said he has stated before that the county would reimburse the city dollar for dollar up to $100,000 for condemnations. Mayor Bryant said he wanted to get started on the condemn properties so by December it would be taken care of. He also said the Brickey’s prison crew was going to start tearing down some houses on Thursday, September 15th; the only expense the city would occur is feeding the prisoners. Alderman Hollowell asked how many days would the property owners have to tear down the house after the resolution is passed. Alderman Oswalt said 120 days after the resolution passed and a building permit purchased. Attorney Cline read a Resolution Providing For The Condemnation And Removal Of Structure; Finding A Nuisance; Providing Lien On The Property; And For Other Purposes. Alderman Oswalt made a motion to adopt the resolution. Second by Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Redistricting of Senate District 16
Alderman Peacock stated in looking at the map of the city he did not think the redistricting of district 16 looked or seemed right. He said Forrest City, St. Francis County, and the surrounding areas were going to be left out. Alderman Peacock said he spoke with the governor and the attorney general and they were ok with the redistricting. He was hoping the council could look into the issue and the bottom line is he thinks the issue needs to be challenged in court. Alderman Twillie said if anyway possible, he thinks the city needs to participate in resolving the issue; it is a dire situation. It is a situation where the city’s resources could be split as well as the voting power. Alderman Twillie also said if something can not be done as a city, then the individuals should fight for this situation; it is an injustice. Mayor Bryant said it is a travesty the way Forrest City was butchered, it was changed a little to bring in a small segment. He also said that Forrest City and the courts were in two different senate districts, the city hall was brought in, but the police, the fire department, and all of the schools were left out. He also said he would support the effort to go to court. But Attorney Cline would have more knowledge on the situation. He also said the council could research and look at it, he did not think it was much the council could other than possibly passing a resolution at the next council meeting, stating the city’s disdain with the redistricting. Alderman Peacock said the situation needs to be looked into to see if the City of Forrest City could legally challenge it. Alderman Oswalt said the city is already split between two representatives and it’s going to stay that way but now they are going to split the city between two senators; he feel they are drawing the lines to favor certain people. Alderman Peacock asked Attorney Cline if he would look into the situation and get back with the council. Attorney Cline said he doubts that this would be an area that he would be capable of giving an opinion on, he thinks the council would have to get someone with more expertise in election laws and even constitution laws as it relates to redistricting issues. Alderman Oswalt asked if city funds could be used for this issue. Attorney Cline said going back to the old law books, most cases that involve voting and election issues - you have to have standing; it has to be brought by an effective voter or an effective candidate not by an entity or some organization. He also said the city would not have a standing to participate in a lawsuit and he doubts that the city would have the ability to fund a lawsuit. Mayor Bryant said his first suggestion would be for Attorney Cline to send a letter to the Arkansas Municipal League to see if the league could give the city some guidance and from that point the council could dictate where to go. Alderman Peacock asked Attorney Cline if he would have the information by the next meeting. Attorney Cline said he would contact someone at the league and see what kind response he could get.

Forrest City Water Commissioner
Alderman Breeding informed the council that Water Commissioner Rujay Burks had pass away; he said he would like to thank Mr. Burks‘s family for his services to the community in the pass years. This loss has created an open position on the water commission in Alderman Breeding’s and Alderman Oswalt’s ward. Alderman Breeding also said the position has been discussed and the two of them had talked with two or three people that they thought would be good to serve in that capacity; Alderman Breeding recommended to the council that Glenn Shepherd be appointed to the Forrest City Water Commission. Second by Alderman Oswalt. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Condemnation Bids
Bidders were as follows from individuals: Forrest City Ready Mix Inc., Billy Steverson, Triple G Excavating Inc., Perdew Construction, and Herbert Stratton. (See Attached Bids) Mayor Bryant said he would give the bids to the code enforcement officer to go through to make sure that the company met the bid spec, have insurance and all the qualification needed for the bid proposals. Alderman Twillie said will the city make sure all debris is cleaned up before final payment. Mayor Bryant said the company will not get paid until the property is entirely cleaned up.

GENERAL FUND BILLS

Alderman Hollowell made a motion to pay general fund bills totaling $17,234.81. Second by Alderman Capps. Roll Call: All Ayes.

STREET FUND BILLS

Alderman Oswalt made a motion to pay street fund bills totaling $4,418.40. Second by Alderman Twillie. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Announcements
Mayor Bryant set a meeting for the boundary line on the wards for Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.

Mayor Bryant announced that he and Alderman Twillie would be going to the Arkansas Municipal League for a budget meeting on Wednesday, September 14, 2011; after the league’s meeting he would schedule a budget meeting with the council.

Mayor Bryant announced that there are a lot of dogs in Forrest City but only 23 people have purchased dog tags. He also said if someone has a dog and it is not licensed, appropriate action would be taken; there is no point in the city having laws and people are not obeying the law.

Alderman Twillie made a motion to adjourn at 7:10 p.m. Second by Alderman Fields.

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Larry S. Bryant, Mayor

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Derene Cochran, Clerk-Treasurer