City Council

CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2022 The Lonoke City Council held a city council meeting at the municipal building at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 8, 2022. Alderman Ryan Biles called the meeting to order with the invocation given by Efrem Jones. Deputy City Clerk Regina Ibbotson called the roll and declared a quorum. Mayor Trae Reed (absent) City Clerk Jeribeth Edwards (absent) Treasurer Craig Blackard Deputy Clerk Regina Ibbotson Council Members Efrem Jones, Alice Bridges, Raymond Hatton, Ryan Biles, Gib Richardson, Michael Florence, Koy Butler(absent), and Suzette Elmore (absent) City Attorney Ginger Stuart Police Chief Matt Edwards(absent) Dean White W/S/S Supt. Thomas Stivers C.C. Director Mike Brown Fire Dept. Justin Whittenburg Parks Director Roy Don Lewis (absent) Evan Jacobs Community Dev. Jeremy Gosdin Economic Dev. Gene Eagle News Media Rick Kron Visitors: Terry Taykowski, James Shepherd, Jim Bailey, Leslie Moseley, Jay Whisker, Austin Petty and Cindy Reaves HOUSEKEEPING: Alderman Biles explained to the Council that Mayor Reed was unable to get back to Arkansas for the meeting tonight and was asked to be president pro tempore and preside over the meeting. Gib Richardson made the motion to designate Alderman Biles as president pro tempore. Alice Bridges seconded the motion. Motion carried. MINUTES: Alderman Biles asked for acceptance of the July 11st, 2022 regular meeting minutes and the July 21st condemnation meeting minutes. Michael Florence noted a correction on page 2 of the July 11th minutes stating that he was the one that seconded the motion to adopt Resolution 7-1-2022. Gib Richardson noted in this same section that he requested that the Planning Commission start working toward zoning this area appropriately. Gib also noted that he was present at the July 21st condemnation meeting. Efrem Jones made a motion to accept both sets of minutes with noted corrections. Michael Florence seconded the motion. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT- Terry Taykowski, Fuel Concerns – Mr. Taykowski addressed the city council with his comments/concerns over the current fueling situation at our city shop yard. He stated his reason for Page 1 of 5  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2022 concerns with the agreement with MFA for our fueling needs and the maintenance of their tanks on our property. He recommended that all city vehicles be fueled at the MFA station with the exception of the items using red diesel. 2022 Executive Board Report – Alyssa Frisby was present and gave report. Mrs. Frisby noted the beautification winners for August and gave an updated on the Idessa Music Arts Festival to be held on October 15th in Lonoke. LONOKE COUNTY LIBRARY - Calendar of Activities was Included. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT: Mr. Gene Eagle was present and gave report. He noted that he answered 3 requests for MLRA and is researching tax increment financing districts to bring more information at a future date. TREASURER’S REPORT – Mr. Craig Blackard reviewed the 6 months Budget Comparison sheet and noted that no items that really stood out as unusual for this time of year. Michael Florence made the motion to approve the 6 months budget numbers. Efrem Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried. PARKS/MOSQUITO: Mr. Evan Jacobs was present and gave report. Two action items were addressed. A. Parks Playground Mulch – 3 quotes from Ash Recreation (from 3 different vendors) were presented for mulch for both park playgrounds. 1)230 cy $8935.50, 2)160 cy $7459.20 and 3)200 cy $7348.20. Motion was made by Gib Richardson to go with option 3 which was seconded by Efrem Jones. Motion carried. B. ORDINANCE 798 – “AN ORDINANCE TO WAIVE THE REQUIREMENT OF COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF CHEMICALS FOR SPRAYING MOSQUITOES BY THE CITY OF LONOKE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Efrem Jones made the motion to put Ordinance 798 on the floor. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. City Attorney Ginger Stuart read Ordinance 798 in its entirety. Efrem Jones made the motion to accept the 1st reading. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. Efrem Jones made the motion to suspend the rules – 2nd and 3rd reading title only. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. Attorney Stuart read Ord. 798 2nd & 3rd reading - Title only. Efrem Jones made the motion to approve the 2nd and 3rd reading of Ord. 798 – title only. Alice Bridges seconded the motion. Motion carried. Efrem Jones made the motion to adopt Ordinance 798. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. Efrem Jones made the motion to adopt the Emergency Clause for Ord. 798. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. COMMUNITY CENTER- Mr. Mike Brown was present and gave report. He noted the events for the month of August are Baptist Health Checks on August 31st, and Game Night (Chess) on Mondays from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. He also said they will be adding back pickle ball and ping pong soon. Page 2 of 5  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2022 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT- Mr. Jeremy Gosdin was present and gave report. A. Ordinance 799 – “New Animal Control Regulations” - Moved until next meeting B. Bids for the Demolition of Condemned Properties – Two bids were received on 8/08/22: T. D. Sims Elijah Hampton Ent. PO Box 8021 2315 Valmar Property Address Jacksonville, AR 72076 Little Rock, AR 72204 415 W 5th Street 18,300.00 11,000.00 601/603 Hicks St 17,100.00 16,000.00 302 Brown St 18,750.00 11,000.00 Alt (All) 52,850.00 36,000.00 Three options exist for the bids received with the $22,073 remaining demo/condemnation budget; (1) Accept the two lowest individual bids that total $22,000, (2) Reject all the bids, and rebid or (3) just condemn 601/603 Hicks property at $16,000. Raymond Hatton made the motion to reject all the bids and rebid. Efrem Jones seconded the motion. Motion carried. C. Resolution 8-1-2022 – Condemn Property at 601/603 Hicks - Tabled D. Resolution 8-2-2022 – Condemn Property at 415 W. 5th Street - Tabled E. Resolution 8-3-2022 – Condemn Property at 302 Brown Street - Tabled FIRE DEPARTMENT: Justin Whittenburg was present and reviewed report. PUBLIC WORKS (Water & Street/Animal Control) - Mr. Thomas Stivers were present and gave report and updates on water/sewer project and street sign installation. A. Quotes to Purchase new Aerator for Sewer Pond - We are in need of a new aerator for the oxidation pond. Three quotes for a new 3hp aerator were submitted: 1) Aqua Hill Aeration $5,569.50, 2) USA Blue Book (Tornado) $8,991.89, and 3) USA Blue Book (Aqua Jet) $6,643.89. Michael Florence made the motion to go with the lowest bid. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. B. Change Order #1 – Lincoln Street Sidewalk Project – A Reconciliatory change order was presented by Bond Consulting Engineers for Harris Construction Management to adjust estimated quantities to final quantities. The total amount of the change order is $1,462.00. Raymond Hatton made the motion to approve the change order. Michael Florence seconded the motion. Motion carried. POLICE DEPARTMENT: Capt. Dean White was present and gave report. Page 3 of 5  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2022 OLD BUSINESS: A. Drainage Study Final Report- Mr. Jay Whisker and Austin Petty were in attendance to present an overview of the final drainage study report, which includes estimated costs for all of the improvements noted in the report. The report was broken down into watersheds and depicts where each watershed drains. The improvements are broken into primary and secondary drainage lines that were organized according to priority. The estimated cost for all primary and secondary trunkline improvements in the study is $26,190,134.50. The estimated cost for the primary trunkline improvements on S. Center Street, where the current city drainage infrastructure causes the most problems, is $1,228,619.75. It was recommended that the city start with the high priority primary trunklines and work from downstream to upstream. NEW BUSINESS: None PAY THE BILLS: Efrem Jones made a motion to pay bills. Gib Richardson seconded the motion. Motion carried. BILLS ALREADY PAID IN JULY 2022 City General $56,008.39 Water $39,245.41 Street $12,975.89 Community Center $13,323.85 Retail One Cent $3,051.67 Tax Clearing $433,730.56 Water/Sewer Revenue $8.00 BILLS TO BE PAID AUGUST 2022 General Fund $19,997.95 Water $17,606.43 Street $10,001.68 Court Automation $388.50 Community Center $3,986.05 ANNOUNCEMENTS - None ADJOURN: Efrem Jones made a motion to adjourn. Raymond Hatton seconded the motion. Motion carried. Page 4 of 5  CITY OF LONOKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES August 8, 2022 _____________________________________ Mayor Henry F Reed III Attest: _________________________________ City Clerk Page 5 of 5