City Council

CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 11, 2020 The Lonoke City Council held a city council meeting through internet livestream video via zoom application at 6:00 p.m. on Monday May 11, 2020. Mayor Trae Reed called the meeting to order with the invocation given by, Pastor Gary Harris, St. John Baptist Church. City Clerk Jeri Beth Edwards called the roll and declared a quorum. Mayor Trae Reed City Clerk Jeri Beth Edwards 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 Matt Edwards W/S/S Supt. Jim Kelley C.C. Director Mike Brown Fire Dept. Justin Wittenberg Parks Director Roy Don Lewis Community Dev. Daniel Sallinger News Media Rick Kron, The Leader Visitors Emilie Zalfini, Cindy Reaves, Deborah Moore, Michael Jones, Gary Harris, Will Staley MINUTES: Mayor Trae Reed asked for acceptance of the April 13, 2020 minutes. Koy Butler made a Motion to accept the minutes as read. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mayor Reed asked for the acceptance of the Special meeting minutes from May 1, 2020. Matt Cordell made a motion to accept the minutes as read. Alice Bridges seconded the motion. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT: Emilie Zalfini, Service Line Partner, was present and gave a presentation. This is a program that benefits cities and residents. Mrs. Zalfini made note that her business has a great reputation. She believes that her business would like to partner with the city and the residents. This will work for upgrades for drinking water and wastewater. This is no cost for the city of Lonoke to participate. There is a small fee for the homeowners to work with the contractors. There is a service line warranty program that homeowners can take a part in. The main purpose is that the homeowner would feel comfortable regarding their water and sewer lines. Mrs. Zalfini mentioned other partnerships close to the City of Lonoke that have taken a 1  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 11, 2020 part of this program. She asks for several things from the city, one beginning with a marketing agreement to use the city’s logo. She mentioned that the city would choose when the marketing campaign would take part. She thanked the city for to listening to her. Mayor Reed mentioned that the city and the residents would benefit from this partnership. Ginger Stuart mentioned that this particular company has been endorsed by the Municipal League. Michael Florence mentioned he would love to see something like this come to the city of Lonoke. Alice Bridges made a comment that she knows of three people in her ward that have had problems and mentioned this would be very beneficial to our city. Ryan Biles had some questions regarding the marketing agreement, Mrs. Zalfini answered his concerns. Jim Kelly asked how to determine what homeowner can benefit from the company. Mrs. Zalfini mentioned that it depends on the problem and the cause. Mayor Reed mentioned he would like for the council to bring something to the next meeting to decide on entering in the contract with this company. 2022 Executive Board Report – Anna McClung was present and gave an update on Lonoke 2022 Report. She presented minutes from the previous committee meetings. Economic Development Report: Mr. Gene Eagle was present and gave report. He wanted to give an update on the auction of the properties around the 175 exit. Several properties have been sold and the new owners were announced. Mr. Eagle mentioned that he has enjoyed working with all the new owners and thanked Karen Dill for the help. COMMUNITY CENTER: Mr. Mike Brown was present and gave report. Mr. Brown mentioned that the community center was closed the whole month of April due to Covid-19. Mr. Brown mentioned he had opened back up May 4th, 2020. Since then, there have been around 20 members a day. He does believe once the governor opens the community center full force, the center will be as busy as ever. PUBLIC WORKS (Water & Street)- Mr. Kelley was present and gave report. He mentioned that the spring cleanup was successful. He had 30 full dumpsters that have been filled. The sidewalk job is close to being completed. Now that there has been good weather, the contractors will be checking on anything that needs to be repaired. Mayor Reed mentioned he will be working alongside the contractors as well. Koy Buter mentioned that there was a part of town, near the Presbyterian church that was not included in the grant. (Academy and South Center) He asked to see if there could be a bid for that part of the area. Mr. Kelley mentioned he would look into this issue. A. Kraus Construction- Change order #5- Sewer Improvements, Phase 1, Sch. “A”: Mr. Kelley mentioned that this change order is to reconcile bid items in the contract. The amount of the change order is for a total of $309,591.00. Koy Butler made a motion to accept the change order. Ryan Biles seconded the motion. Motion carried. POLICE DEPARTMENT: Chief Matt Edwards was present and gave report. Chief Edwards mentioned that the total billed to immigration and Probation/Parole was a total of $6,750.00. No action needed. 2  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 11, 2020 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: Daniel Sallinger was present and gave report. Mr. Sallinger introduced himself to the council and looks forward to working in the City of Lonoke in the future. FIRE DEPARTMENT: Justin Whittenburg was present and gave report. A. Purchase of new Ice Machine head and trade in on old parts. Mr. Whittenburg had a quote from Superior Ice out of Little Rock, Ar. The total cost is $3,150.00, he would like to add a filtrated system for $400.00. Suzette Elmore made a motion to purchase the ice machine. Alice Bridges seconded the motion. Motion carried. The old Scotsman ice machine needs to be removed from the fixed assets. Koy Butler made a motion to remove the asset. Michael Florence seconded the motion. Motion carried. PARKS/MOSQUITO: Mr. Roy Don Lewis was present and gave report. Mr. Lewis mentioned he hopes to resume practice for ball around May 31st. He does see that the ballpark will start playing ball June, July and into August. Matt Cordell mentioned he hopes that the guidelines will allow ball season to start. BUDGET AND FINANCE- Mr. Phillip Howell was present and gave report. A. 1st Quarter Budget Numbers: Mr. Howell mentioned that the numbers look good, however this does not include the months of the pandemic. The numbers were in the months before the pandemic. Mr. Howell does believe that the city of Lonoke will get through the pandemic. If not, the city will work on revising the budget. He does hope to see only essential purchases until we are sure of where we stand. Mayor Reed mentioned that he has been in contact with other mayors, he hopes that the city will be able to apply for any grants. B. Review of 2019 Actuarial Valuation for our Local Fireman’s Pension: Mr. Phillip Howell mentioned he has not reviewed the actuary. Regina Ibbotson mentioned that it all looks really good and the fund is overfunded. Mr. Howell was pleased to hear that. OLD BUSINESS: A. Approval of Bid to sell Extra Tables and Chairs: The city has received three sealed bids. Brown Street Church of Christ bid, $400.00. Wade Knox Advocacy Center bid, $275.00, and Little Rock Diamond Foundation bid, $519.11. Raymond Hatton made a motion to accept the highest bid. Michael Florence seconded the motion. Motion carried. Suzette Elmore mentioned that she would like to see items like these stay local to help the citizens in the community. Alice Bridges agreed. Ginger Stuart mentioned that we can run into problems when there has been a sealed bid. She mentioned that there is a chance to open up problems for a fair market bid. B. Cable Franchise Collection Update- Mayor Reed mentioned the email from Tim McGraw regarding the cable franchise audit. He noted that Tim has already found some issues with how Media3 has been paying in the past and an option to increase our franchise fee from the current 4.25% to the state standard of 5%. 3  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 11, 2020 NEW BUSINESS: A. THRIVE Branding Package (Will Staley) - Mayor Reed mentioned he would like to see a new Website, Administration Package, City Orientation Guide, Recruitment Campaign, Billboard Design, Recruitment Campaign, and Digital Marketing Design. Mayor Reed introduced Mr. Staley to go into more detail about these services. The scope of work and items and costs totals up to $10,500.00. Mayor Reed mentioned that Treasurer, Phillip Howell mentioned that the city needs to pay attention to our purchases until the city knows where it stands, because of COVID-19. Mayor Reed mentioned to defer some of the items that has been presented at this time. Mayor Reed would like to purchase the website and administration package for a total of $6,000.00. The other items are tabled at the moment. Matt Cordell made a motion to go ahead and purchase this package. Efrem Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ryan Biles abstained. B. Depot Scope of Service from Revival Architecture- Revival Architecture from NLR, Ar. The cost is $4,500.00. This is the first phase is for a site survey and assessment at the depot. Koy Butler made a motion to go forth with the proposal. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Suzette Elmore mentioned that she is concerned with the mold and mildew that has been seen by many citizens. Ryan Biles mentioned that this concern will be brought up during the assessment not go unnoticed. Mr. Biles mentioned this initial phase 1 will diagnose all these things she is concerned with. After the conversation, Motion carried. C. Mallard Point Drainage after Kirk St. and S. Center culvert upgrades- Matt Cordell gave the council some good insight on the Mallard Point drainage issue. Mr. Cordell reviewed some pictures that shows that there needs to be easements to allow the water to drain. The pictures showed the water sits and goes dormant and the rain water does not leave. In looking at the 24 homes in the subdivision, all have had issues with drainage. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas are confirming their interest in making available a 15-foot additional Drainage Easement around the Homes and Lots located on Mallard Point Cove in Mallard Point Estates. The City of Lonoke, gave an estimated cost to dig the drainage ditch at approximately $10,000. Matt Cordell made a motion to have the city cleanout the existing ditches, regrade the drainage and to accept the gift of a declaration of storm water easement. Michael Florence seconded the motion. Suzette Elmore mentioned that nothing has ever been done regarding the situation, and 17 years later, all of these homeowners are in misery out there. Suzette Elmore feels, the city must come to the aide of the homeowners, but she does not feel the city should take on what the developer should have done a long time ago. Ginger Stuart mentioned that she does not think the city should have to clean up Mr. and Mrs. Lucas’ problems. Ginger Stuart feels, after talking to the municipal league, the city may create a problem in going forth with this issue. After much discussion, the motion carried. PAY THE BILLS: Matt Cordell made a motion to pay bills. Koy Butler seconded the motion. Motion carried. 4  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 11, 2020 BILLS ALREADY PAID IN APRIL 2020 City General $36,991.30 Water $23,194.82 Street $57,078.85 Community Center $11,295.02 Retail One Cent $638.74 Criminal Justice $3,488.71 I.D.C. One Cent $2,563.00 Advertising Promotion $25.00 2003 Revenue Bond $7,972.50 BILLS TO BE PAID IN MAY 2020 General Fund $32,679.17 Water $8,748.02 Street $12,396.56 Court Automation $663.00 Community Center $2,909.85 W/S Revenue Fund $20,072.89 ADJOURN: Suzette Elmore made a motion to adjourn. Koy Butler seconded the motion. Motion carried. _____________________________________ Mayor Henry F Reed III Attest: _________________________________ City Clerk 5