City Council

CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 8, 2019 The Lonoke City Council held a city council meeting in the administration room of City Hall at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 2019. Mayor Trae Reed called the meeting to order with the invocation given by Pastor Steve Murphy, Smyrna Full Gospel. Mayor Reed asked Deputy City Clerk, Regina Ibbotson to call the roll. Deputy City Clerk Regina Ibbotson called the roll and declared a quorum. Mayor Trae Reed City Clerk Jeribeth Edwards (Absent) Treasurer Phillip Howell Deputy Clerk Regina Ibbotson Council Members Efrem Jones, Alice Bridges, Raymond Hatton, Ryan Biles, Matt Cordell Michael Florence, Koy Butler, and Suzette Elmore City Attorney Ginger Stuart Police Chief Randy Mauk Public Works Jim Kelley Street Dept. Jim Ed Ransom C.C. Director Mike Brown (Absent) Fire Dept. Justin Whittenburg Parks Director Roy Don Lewis News Media Rick Kron, The Leader Visitors Rachel Whittenburg, Jim Bailey, LynAnne Ivy, Jim and Gina Wiertelak, Amanda Wicker, Brittany Long, Brooklyn Howell, Kennedy Cook, Neil Schafer, Carol Schafer, Russell Ivy, George Gooden, Ben Kittler MINUTES: Mayor Trae Reed asked for acceptance of the March minutes as recorded. Efrem Jones made a motion To accept the minutes as written. Matt Cordell seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mayor Reed asked for the acceptance of the Special Meeting Minutes that was held on April 2, 2019. Michael Florence made a motion to approve the minutes. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT: LHS East Lab – re: Mosquito repelling flower beds. Amanda Wicker and three students, (Brittany Long, Brooklyn Howell & Kennedy Cook) appeared before the council with their plans for building mosquito repelling flower beds at the ballpark, both city parks, and at the chamber signs. Each container will have a box built around it and the plants will be raised at the Exceptional School greenhouse. Michael Florence made a motion to allow raised flower beds to be installed. Ryan Biles seconded the motion. Motion carried. 2022 Executive Board Report - Anna McClung was present and gave an update on Lonoke 2022 Report. -1-|Page  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 8, 2019 She presented minutes from the previous committee meetings and updated the council on the Wampoo Bike Roadeo that will be passing through Lonoke on July 20th. POLICE DEPARTMENT: Chief Randy Mauk was present and gave report. He mentioned that $7,910.00 has been billed to immigration and probation/parole. Chief Mauk provided a sheet showing the tickets issued by ward for the month of March. Chief Mauk said the newly installed radar signs have helped in slowing down speeders. Chief Mauk said a 3rd police car will be put on hold in order to achieve the following (a) bullet proof vests for new part-time officers. Cruse Uniforms quoted $3,651.00 for 5 vests and the outer carries. Vests expire after 5 years. Efrem Jones made a motion to purchase the vests. Alice Bridges seconded the motion. Motion carried. (b) Chief Mauk explained that a payment had been made toward the K-9 officer on order, (and he is still accepting donations) but he asked the remaining balance of $3500.00 from the city, in order to expedite the training and utilization of this asset. Chief Mauk was asked about the cost of training the handler; he said that is included in the $12,500.00 total price. Alice Bridges made a motion to pay the remaining amount. Suzette Elmore seconded the motion. Motion carried. (c) Chief Mauk explained the Tahoe is the K-9 vehicle. The emergency lights and pop lock for the door need replaced; asking for the money to have the work done. The quote is $3272.51 with a lifetime warranty. Alice Bridges made a motion to outfit the vehicle. Michael Florence seconded. Motion carried. (d) Chief Mauk explained a $2,500.00 grant for new cameras and recording equipment that will enable recording interviews for court, witnesses and protection. It will be installed by S & S Security. Michael Florence made a motion to accept the grant. Alice Bridges seconded the motion. Motion carried. PARKS/MOSQUITO: Mr. Roy Don Lewis was present and gave a report. (a) Mr. Lewis talked about the baseball season starting April 6th with a packed-out park, four (4) games (8 teams) were rained out. (b) Droplet tests will be done next week. Ranger Ready, a mosquito spray will be available at the score booths. (c) Mr. Lewis mentioned that spraying in the city starts at dusk and there is consideration for spraying early morning as well. He also presented the council a copy of his 5 Year Plan for the Parks and Recreation system. COMMUNITY CENTER: Mr. Mike Brown was present and gave a report. Mr. Brown said memberships are up in March by about 60 members. Coming Events: Baptist Health checks April 24, Driver’s Tests, Lifeguard Testing, Women’s self-defense classes, starts June 6, every Thursday for 3 months. Action Item: Membership Rates. Mr. Brown explained about the reasons/need for a rate increase: Additional parking spaces, future air conditioner replacements, etc., stating that an increase could raise $15,000/yr. in extra revenue. Mayor Reed added that he and Mr. Phillip Howell had also looked over the community center’s budget. There is no dedicated budget line for emergency or future expansion. Michael Florence made a motion to raise the rates to those presented. Suzette Elmore seconded. Motion carried. -2-|Page  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 8, 2019 FIRE DEPARTMENT: Justin Whittenburg was present and gave report. PUBLIC WORKS: Mr. Jim Kelley was present and gave report. Mr. Kelley mentioned the water loss was higher due to meter changes. Mr. Kelley gave updates on all the projects in the city. Phase 1 began on E 9th Street. Kraus Construction is working at Woodlawn; Diamond Construction is working at Jefferson Street; Heller Construction is working at E. Ash Street. He is telling the contractors to clean up areas before they move on to another. Mr. Kelley said there are issues with the new water meters that have been installed and his department is working with the contractors to get those resolved. A water rate study that was conducted by ARWA was presented in the council packets. Our water rates are sufficient to cover those costs, but the back-end sewer rate is not adequate for the costs of treating the sewer. Mr. Kelley reported on a proposed rate increase. After discussion, it was tabled until May council meeting. STREET: Mr. Jim Ransom was present and gave report. (a) 2008 Dodge Chipper Truck needs transmission repairs. Koy Butler made a motion to accept the quote from Landers Dodge for $4,906.30. Efrem Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried. (b) Spring Clean-up will be May 4-10. (c) Mr. Ransom, Mayor Reed and Michael Florence, visited with property owners whose trees will be affected by the sidewalk project. Mr. Ransom delivered plans for moving utilities to Entergy, waiting on cost estimate. Looking to have Phase 1 sidewalks in by the beginning of school year, next year. Phase 2 sidewalks, need a cost estimate and sight plan from Bond Engineering for a grant due by June 3rd. High school can apply for the same grant in hopes to double the efforts. OLD BUSINESS: Tabled until July NEW BUSINESS: A. ORDINANCE 750- “AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION; DECLARING AN EMERGENGY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES” – Efrem Jones made a motion to put Ord. #750 on the floor. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ginger Stuart read Ordinance No. 750 in its entirety. Efrem Jones made the motion to accept the 1st reading of Ordinance No. 750. Michael Florence seconded the motion. Motion carried. Michael Florence made the motion to suspend the rules- 2nd reading- title only. Efrem Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ginger Stuart read Ordinance No. 750- title only- 2nd reading. Efrem Jones made the motion to accept the 2nd reading-title only- of Ordinance No. 750. Alice Bridges seconded the motion. Motion carried. Michael Florence made the motion to suspend the rules-3rd reading-title only. Efrem Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ginger Stuart read Ordinance No. 750- title only – 3rd reading. Efrem Jones made the motion to accept the 3rd reading- title only Ordinance No. 750. Alice Bridges seconded the motion. Motion carried. Michael Florence made a motion to adopt the ordinance. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. -3-|Page  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES APRIL 8, 2019 Efrem Jones made a motion to adopt the Emergency Clause. Michael Florence seconded the motion. Motion carried. B. PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS (CURRENT & PROPOSED) Mayor Reed read the names of the current members remaining on the commission: Marcia Chaney, Conya Spencer and Shane Eoff. New members will be Kelly Rather, Nick Polk, Karen Dill and Jim Bailey. Michael Florence will be Advisor. Ryan Biles made a motion to accept the list of commission members. Efrem Jones seconded motion. Motion carried. C. WRITE OFF OF PAST DUE WATER ACCOUNTS Mayor Reed directed attention to the provided past due list. Efrem Jones made a motion to write-off past due accounts. Raymond Hatton seconded. Motion carried. PAY THE BILLS: Koy Butler made a motion to pay bills. Matt Cordell seconded the motion. Motion carried. BILLS ALREADY PAID IN MARCH 2019 City General $45,044.06 Water $35,766.68 Street $14,128.28 Community Center $11,928.60 Retail One Cent $954.52 Water/Sewer Revenue $4.00 Criminal Justice $1,670.48 BILLS TO BE PAID IN APRIL 2019 General Fund $34,623.76 Water $9,555.72 Street $4,413.74 Community Center $8,398.99 Court Automation $773.50 Criminal Justice $803.42 ADJOURN: Suzette Elmore made a motion to adjourn. Michael Florence seconded the motion. Motion carried. _____________________________________ Mayor Henry F Reed III Attest: _________________________________ City Clerk -4-|Page