City Council

CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 9, 2022 The Lonoke City Council held a city council meeting at the multiple building at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 9, 2022. Mayor Trae Reed called the meeting to order with the invocation given by Pastor Reid Terry of Lonoke Baptist Church. City Clerk Jeribeth Edwards called the roll and declared a quorum. Mayor Trae Reed City Clerk Jeribeth Edwards Treasurer Craig Blackard Deputy Clerk Regina Ibbotson Council Members Efrem Jones, Alice Bridges, Raymond Hatton, Ryan Biles, Gib Richardson, Michael Florence, Koy Butler, and Suzette Elmore (absent) City Attorney Ginger Stuart Police Chief Matt Edwards W/S/S Supt. Thomas Stivers C.C. Director Mike Brown Fire Dept. Justin Whittenburg Parks Director Roy Don Lewis Community Dev. Jeremy Gosdin Economic Dev. Gene Eagle News Media absent Visitors Reid Terry, Wayne Rathbun, Chris Flores, Jack Bond and Cindy Reaves MINUTES: Mayor Trae Reed asked for acceptance of the April 11th, 2022 regular meeting minutes and public hearing. Raymond Hatton made a motion to accept the minutes as read. Koy Butler seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mayor Reed asked for acceptance of the April 21st special minutes and condemnation minutes. Koy Butler made a motion to accept. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT- Christ Flores was present and explained to the council he is applying for Entergy’s Environmental Initiative Fund grant. He is proposing to apply for 100% of the cost of purchasing- Tesla Mosel Y, Wrapping the vehicle, Modifications to the vehicle, and EV charger equipment plus installation to be utilized by the Lonoke Police Department. Mr. Flores mentioned that he will have this grant finished by the due date of June 30, 2022 providing the council approves a Resolution. 2022 Executive Board Report – Alyssa Frisby was present and gave report. Mrs. Frisby explained the events in 2022. Page 1 of 5  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 9, 2022 LONOKE COUNTY LIBRARY- Calendar of Activities Included. Economic Development Report: Mr. Gene Eagle was present and gave report. Mr. Eagle mentioned that he is working on some grants for the City of Lonoke. PARKS/MOSQUITO: Mr. Roy Don Lewis was present and gave report. Mr. Lewis mentioned the importance of top dressing all the fields at the ball park. A. Quotes to purchase a Top Dresser- 1. Earth and Turf, Kirkwood PA for $3,918.97 2. Allstarttennissupply.com for $4,798.53, same brand as Earth and Turf. 3. Millcreek Manufacturing from Honey Brook, PA for $8,767.89, Mr. Lewis would like for the council to approve this because this quote is more effective. Koy Butler made a motion to purchase the equipment. Efrem Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried. 4. Ladd’s, Memphis Tn. For $14,292.00 COMMUNITY CENTER- Mr. Mike Brown was present and gave report. Mr. Brown mentioned all the events taking place. The 20-year celebration will be June 6th, also Shark Rocker swim signups, and paintball event signup is going on. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT- Mr. Jeremy Gosdin was present and gave report. A. Ordinance # 796- “ An ordinance to amend ordinance #625 to include roofing permits to the fee schedule for planning and zoning permits”- Efrem Jones made a motion to put Ord. #796 on the floor. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ginger Stuart read Ordinance No. 796 in its entirety. Efrem Jones made the motion to accept the 1st reading of Ordinance No.792. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried with (7) aye hand votes. Efrem Jones made the motion to suspend the rules- 2nd reading- title only. Koy Butler seconded the motion. Motion carried with (7) aye voice votes. Ginger Stuart read Ordinance No. 796- title only- 2nd reading. Efrem Jones made the motion to accept the 2nd reading-title only- of Ordinance No. 796. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried with (7) hand votes. Efrem Jones made the motion to suspend the rules-3rd reading-title only. Koy Butler seconded the motion. Motion carried with (7) aye voice votes. Ginger Stuart read Ordinance No. 796- title only – 3rd reading. Efrem Jones made the motion to accept the 3rd reading-title only Ordinance No. 796. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried with (7) aye hand votes. Michael Florence made a motion to adopt the ordinance. Koy Butler seconded the motion. Motion carried with (7) aye hand votes. Efrem Jones made a motion to adopt the emergency clause. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion carried. Motion carried. B. Jeremy Gosdin explained to the council that there has been a concern raised regarding the City of Lonoke’s law regarding Pit Bulls. Ginger Stuart explained to the council other options that the city can bring into play to enforce the ordinance. Mrs. Stuart would like for the council to explore other options Page 2 of 5  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 9, 2022 that can be put into law and can be enforced. Mr. Gosdin asked the council to consider changing the present ordinance in the future. FIRE DEPARTMENT: Justin Whittenburg was present and gave report. A. Quotes for two (2) Gas Detectors- 1. NAFECO, Decatur AL for #3,063.43 per detector. 2. Northside Sales, NLR AR for $3,440.00 per detector. Koy Butler made a motion to purchase the detectors from Northside Sales for $6,880.00. Efrem Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried. PUBLIC WORKS (Water & Street/Animal Control)- Mr. Thomas Stivers was present and gave a report and updates. Mr. Stivers mentioned there was an emergency purchase, the quote from Tencarva was included, for a GWT Pump for $18,186.24. This was an emergency replacement; the funds would come from 2003 W/S Depreciation Fund. A. Update on 2018 W/S Bond Improvements - Jack Bond was present and reported on the status of the water and sewer projects. POLICE DEPARTMENT: Chief Matt Edwards was present and gave report. Chief Edwards mentioned that the total billed to Probation/Parole was a total of $3,488.00. A. Dispatch Operations Change - Chief Edwards explained to the council that he has had to make an emergent decision with dispatch operations. Chief Edwards has put out applications, however there hasn’t been an applicant willing to work for the pay that is being offered. Chief Edwards explained that the city of Lonoke dispatch will need to transfer dispatch to the Lonoke County Sheriff’s office on the weekend. This will also change the jail from a long-term facility to a 24-hour holding facility Monday through Friday. (As of right now, Chief Edwards explained that this has been put on hold due to phone line issues.) B. A request to use ARPA funds for Police Integrated Body/In-Car Camera System Project and Start the procurement process through CAPDD- Chief Edwards mentioned that CAPDD has given the City of Lonoke information on rules for solicitation in compliance with federal grant laws. Koy Butler made a motion to put the camera’s out to bid. Efrem Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried. Treasurer’s Report- A. 1st Qtr. Budget Report- Treasurer Blackard explained where the city is on the budget. NEW BUSINESS: A. Resolution 5-1-2022- “A Resolution Expressing the Willingness of the City of Lonoke to Utilize Federal- Aid Transportation Alternative Program Funds- Efrem Jones made a motion to put the Res. 5-1- 2022 on the floor. Ryan Biles seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ginger Stuart read the resolution in Page 3 of 5  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 9, 2022 its entirety. Koy Butler made a motion to accept the first reading. Ryan Biles seconded the motion. Motion carried. B. Resolution 5-2-2022- “A Resolution to Amend the 2022 Operating Budget”- Efrem Jones made a motion to put the Res. 5-2-2022 On the floor. Koy Butler seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ginger Stuart read the resolution in its entirety. Efrem Jones made a motion to accept the first reading. Koy Butler seconded the motion. Motion carried. C. Fennell Purifoy Entry Sign Project Proposal- A proposal to the city to offer the hourly fee for consideration for the “welcome to the City” signs in five (5) locations. The proposal of $11,800.00 for architectural sign detailed drawings, landscape drawings, specifications for bidding purposes and construction admin. Mayor Reed asked the council for permission to move forward with this project. Koy Butler made a motion to accept the fee proposal. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. D. Write off bad debt for water dept- The total is $2,080.66. Koy Butler made a motion to write the bad debt off. Gib Richardson seconded the motion. Motion carried. E. Winrock International- Mayor Reed explained to the council that the City of Lonoke has been awarded a $7,500.00 grant. The city must use the money for a mural and a proposed statue depicting the aquaculture community. Alice Bridges, Ryan Biles, and Suzette Elmore are involved with this project. The west wall by First State Bank is where the mural will be painted. Gib Richardson made a motion to move forward with the grant. Koy Butler seconded the motion. Motion carried. PAY THE BILLS: Koy Butler made a motion to pay bills. Gib Richardson seconded the motion. Motion carried. BILLS ALREADY PAID IN APRIL 2022 City General $118,624.09 Water $119,464.66 Street $66,241.65 Community Center $33,287.84 Retail One Cent $12,095.43 Criminal Justice $469.68 2003 Revenue Bond $5,531.25 BILLS TO BE PAID MAY 2022 General Fund $32,113.21 Water $25,436.64 Street $4,697.10 Court Automation $388.50 Community Center $2,408.32 Criminal Justice $106.50 Retail One Cent $495.14 Page 4 of 5  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 9, 2022 ADJOURN: Koy Butler made a motion to adjourn. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. _____________________________________ Mayor Henry F Reed III Attest: _________________________________ City Clerk Page 5 of 5