City Council

CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 17, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:07 P.M. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING - CITY HALL - #1 MUNICIPAL DRIVE The City Council of the City of Jacksonville, Arkansas met in regular session on May 17, 2018 at the regular meeting place of the City Council. Councilman Bolden delivered the invocation and Mayor Fletcher led a standing audience in the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag. ROLL CALL: Councilman: Elliott, Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Traylor, and Twitty answered ROLL CALL. Mayor Fletcher also answered ROLL CALL declaring a quorum. Councilmen Mashburn, Smith, and Collins were absent. PRESENT SEVEN (7) ABSENT (3). Others present for the meeting were: City Attorney Robert Bamburg, IT Director Scott Rothlisberger, Parks and Recreation Director Kevin House, CDBG Director Theresa Watson, Fire Chief Alan Laughy, 911 Director Tabby Hughes, Planning Commissioner Patrick Thomas, Addie Gibson, interested citizens, and members of the press. PRESENTATION OF MINUTES: Mayor Fletcher presented the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of April 19, 2018 for approval and/or correction at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting. APPROVAL AND/OR CORRECTION OF MINUTES: Councilman Bolden moved, seconded by Councilman Ray that the minutes of the regular City Council meeting of 5 April 2018 be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. CONSENT AGENDA: REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/CODE ENFORCEMENT Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to approve the Regular Monthly Report for April 2018. Code Enforcement for April 2018 Assigned Calls 95 Self-Initiated Calls 250 Follow ups 452 Structures Inspected 4 Meetings/Court Hearings 0 Rentals Inspected 1 Warnings Issued 46 Properties Red Tagged 0 Tickets Issued 0 Search Warrants Served 0 Notice/Letters written 110 Structures Rehabbed 0 Vehicles Tagged 0 Structures Condemned 0 Vehicles Towed 0 Houses Demolished by City 0 Lots posted 75 Houses Demolished by Owner 0 Signs removed 89 Parking Violations 89 Trash cans tagged 19 Grass Letters 85 Basketball Goals 2 Grass Mowed 19 REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/POLICE DEPARTMENT Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to approve the Regular Monthly Report for April 2018 regarding annual crime statistical comparisons. 1  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 17, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:07 P.M. REGULAR MONTHLY REPORT/FIRE DEPARTMENT Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to approve the regular monthly report for April 2018 from the Jacksonville Fire Department, reflecting a fire loss of $5,800.00 and a savings total of $174,200.00. REGULAR MONTH REPORT/ANIMAL CONTROL Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman McCleary to approve the regular monthly report for April 2018. ADOPTION FEES/FINES $2,375.00 CONTRIBUTIONS 0.00 TOTALS $2,375.00 ROLL CALL: Councilmen: Elliott, Bolden, McCleary, Sansing, Ray, Traylor, and Twitty voted AYE. MOTION CARRIED. WATER DEPARTMENT: WASTEWATER DEPARTMENTS: FIRE DEPARTMENT: PRESENTATION of Executive Fire Officer Certification from the National Fire Academy Fire Chief Alan Laughy stated that certification as an Executive Fire Officer through the National Fire Academy is a special certification, explaining that there are probably hundreds of courses offered through the National Fire Academy, adding that the Executive Fire Officer program is very difficult to get into. He stated that it takes application with a resume, along with letters of recommendation, a minimum of a bachelors degree, the applicant has to write an essay, pointing out that not everyone is accepted. He stated that normally it is Chief Officers that are accepted, but Battalion Chief Dewey Coy was accepted as a Captain, which in itself is impressive. He explained that it is a four-year grueling commitment at the Masters Degree level, adding that every year you have to go to Emmetsburg, Maryland to go through 80 hours of really difficult courses of instruction and then return back to your home station for a six-month applied research project. He stated that because of the level of difficulty and commitment there is a high drop- out rate. He read a letter from Governor Hutchinson “As Governor, I am grateful for your service and sacrifice and I am proud of your commitment to helping the people in your community. I look forward to what you and the Jacksonville Fire Department will accomplish with your new honor. The State of Arkansas is fortunate to have your leadership as a Battalion Chief and great work”. He then read that the certificate reads, “In recognition of successful completion of the requisite courses of study and applied research projects, The National Fire Academy under the authority granted by the 115th Congress of the United States of America and on the recommendation of the facility confers the title of Executive Fire Officer upon Battalion Chief Dewey Glenn Coy”. He reiterated that this is the highest level of certification any fire professional can receive, adding that in his 29 years 2  CITY OF JACKSONVILLE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MAY 17, 2018 7:00 P.M. – 7:07 P.M. of service he has only known two other people that have received this honor. He noted that Battalion Chief Coy is the first firefighter in the history of the Jacksonville Fire Department to receive this honor. Mayor Fletcher and Chief Laughy presented Battalion Chief Dewey Coy with his certification. Mayor Fletcher stated that this is an honor for the City to have that caliber of commitment. POLICE DEPARTMENT: STREET DEPARTMENT: SANITATION DEPARTMENT: PARKS & RECREATION: PLANNING COMMISSION: GENERAL: APPOINTMENTS: JACKSONVILLE WATER COMMISSION Councilman Ray moved, seconded by Councilman Sansing to approve the reappointment of Philip Keaton to the Jacksonville Water Commission for a term to expire 4/20/2026. MOTION CARRIED. ANNOUNCMENTS: City Offices will be closed Monday May 28th in observance of Memorial Day and Sanitation routes will run one day later. National Police Week is the 13th through the 19th, Mayor Fletcher added his appreciation to Jacksonville’s law officers. He then reminded the City Council that tomorrow would be the deadline to register for the Municipal League Conference June 13th through the 15th. In response to a question from Councilman Twitty, Mayor Fletcher confirmed that the City received the final payment from the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation but was not sure how much the final payment was. He was then asked by Councilman Twitty if the final payment was applied to the current loan. Mayor Fletcher responded that because of the structure it would be the end of the year before it is applied. He reminded Councilman Twitty that the bond issue incorporated the loan on the Shooting Range. He confirmed that the payment would go toward the bond issue. ADJOURNMENT: Without objection, Mayor Fletcher adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:07 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Respectfully, ________________________ _________________________ Susan L. Davitt MAYOR GARY FLETCHER City Clerk-Treasurer 3