City Council

Lonoke City Council Lonoke City Council Meeting July 8, 2024 The Lonoke City Council held a regular city council meeting at the municipal building at 6:00 p.m. Monday, July 8, 2024. Mayor Wayne McGee called the meeting to order with the Invocation was given by Pastor Steve Murphy. Deputy City Clerk, Regina Ibbotson called the roll and declared a quorum. Mayor Wayne McGee City Clerk Jeribeth Edwards (absent) Treasurer (Vacant) Deputy Clerk Regina Ibbotson Council Members Sean Simpson, Steven Holt, Raymond Hatton (absent), Stan Moran, Wendell Walker, Wendell Moore, Shane Hamilton, and Jim Ed Ransom City Attorney Ginger Stuart Police Chief Keith Graham W/S Supt. Robert Sullivan C.C. Director Mike Brown Fire Dept. Justin Whittenburg (absent) Danny Whitehurst Parks Director Evan Jacobs Community Dev. (Vacant) News Media none Visitors: Rachel Whittenburg, Randy and Bubba Phillips, Mike Jones, Delories Allison, Barbara Smith, Neil Schafer, Louella Cooney, Theo Washington, and Cindy Reaves Minutes: Mayor Wayne McGee asked for acceptance of June 10th minutes. Jim Ed Ransom made a motion to accept the minutes as presented. Sean Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried. Mayor McGee asked for acceptance of the June 20th special meeting minutes. Jim Ed made a motion to accept the special minutes as presented. Wendell Walker seconded the motion. Motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT: Neil Schafer addressed the city council on behalf of the Lonoke United Methodist Church. They would like the parking areas on both sides of W Pine Street that adjoin their property paved and re-striped in the upcoming year. The center area of the street has been paved but the area on each side has not. There are also drainage issues in this area. Attorney Stuart said she will help them determine where the ROW is in that area and let them know if this is something the city can/cannot do. LONOKE COUNTY LIBRARY: A calendar showing the July activities was provided. FIRE DEPARTMENT: Chief Whittenburg was absent, and Danny Whitehurst gave the report. The fire department presented two estimates from Siddons-Martin. The first was for a ladder rack and foam system for $19,911.42. The second quote was to make needed repairs to E-25 for $16,612.93. Danny informed the council that the funds for these items could be transferred from the kitchen remodel line if needed. Wendell Walker made the motion to move forward with the purchase and the repairs. Jim Ed Ransom seconded the motion. Motion carried. Page 1 of 4  Lonoke City Council Lonoke City Council Meeting July 8, 2024 PUBLIC WORKS (WATER AND SEWER: Director Robert Sullivan was present. Mayor McGee informed the council of a few specific events that occurred in the water/sewer department over the past month. There were no questions regarding the report. POLICE DEPARTMENT: Our Police Chief, Keith Graham, was introduced and he gave the monthly report. The 2024-2025 SRO Contract was presented to the council for approval. No significant changes were noted from the previous year other than the school district helping to work the crosswalk if our personnel are unavailable. Jim Ed Ransom made the motion to approve the SRO contract. Sean Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried. PARKS AND MOSQUITO: (Parks) Mr. Evan Jacobs was present and gave the report. He noted that our spring-summer baseball season finished over the weekend. The “Pops on the Prairie” community event went off with no issues and was enjoyed by everyone. (Mosquito) Mr. Jacobs reported that the plane will be in town aerial spraying again this week. He also addressed several questions regarding the routes the trucks run and why they run them this way. He informed the council that it is all done based on the wind direction and wind speed. The EPA regulates when and if we can spray, and the wind is the main factor to use the drift for the best spread of the chemical being used. A review of the routes on both sides of town will be made to ensure that we are servicing all customers to the fullest. COMMUNITY CENTER: Mr. Mike Brown was present and gave report. The events on going are youth Pickle Ball, swim Lessons, Back to School event planning, and Baptist Health Checks. OLD BUSINESS: A. Solar Array Site Production Report- McKinstry provided a June Site Production Report. No action needed. B. Bid Received to Provide Bulk Yard Waste Removal- A Request for Proposal was published in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette on June 16th and June 23rd. The RFP noted a once weekly pickup and disposal of “loose” leaf and limb debris as well as grass, and/or yard clippings, plus proof of an ADEQ approved disposal site for all materials picked up. Randy and Bubba Phillips submitted the only proposal that we received at a price of $10.50 per household and would not include extra pickups for storm debris. The city is currently charging $4.57 per household for this service. Randy and Bubba attended the council meeting to answer questions. Alderman Walker asked several questions regarding their proposal and how they derived their price. Randy stated that they used the price that Carlisle is currently charging as the basis for their proposal. They intend to purchase an industrial chipper and chip as much of the wood as possible to resell, though he did not state the location where the chipping would take place, but that they would use a permitted compost facility in Scott for anything other than that. He also told the council that if they approved the proposal, he could be ready to start within 60 days. Aldermen Walker and Ransom requested to see what the city is currently paying for this service to have numbers for a comparison. This item was tabled until the next meeting. Page 2 of 4  Lonoke City Council Lonoke City Council Meeting July 8, 2024 NEW BUSINESS: A. Quote to Repair JD Backhoe from Stribling for Street Dept – A quote for $3,206.57 was submitted for approval for repairs to the JD Backhoe. The maintenance vehicle/equipment line in the budget only had $873.88 left it. Jim Ransom made the motion to move an additional $60,000 from the contingent line to the maintenance vehicle/equipment line. Wendell Walker seconded the motion. Motion carried. Jim Ransom made a motion to move forward with the backhoe repairs. Stan Moran seconded the motion. Motion carried. B. Discussion Regarding a Contract for Building Inspections – This item was not discussed as all the materials needed were not available at this time. C. 2023 Water/Sewer Audit Report – 2023 Water/Sewer Audit report prepared by Landmark CPAs was presented to Council. There were no deficiencies noted other than “segregation of duties,” which occurs each year due to the small number of employees that we have on staff. Jim Ransom made the motion to accept the audit report as presented. Sean Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried. D. RESOLUTION 7-1-2024 “CAO FOR ARK DEPT OF ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT (DEQ)”- The City of Lonoke Water/Sewer Dept has had several small issues with the sewer pond that have not gone unnoticed by DEQ. The failure to file our renewal permit on time for the wastewater treatment facility brought all of them to light. The City must pass this Resolution noting that we have reviewed all the deficiencies in the Consent Administrative Order and pay a civil penalty as required. Sean Simpson made the motion to put Resolution 7-1-2024 on the floor. Wendell Walker seconded the motion. Motion carried. Attorney Stuart read the Resolution in its entirety. Jim Ransom made the motion to accept Resolution 7-1-2024. Sean Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried. E. Street Patches are in Rough Shape – City Council members were noting street cuts/patches in several parts of town that were in bad shape. They asked that these be addressed as soon as possible. F. Burnt House located at 414 Eagle – Stan Moran noted that he has had several complaints about the burnt house at 414 Eagle Street. The property remains in an unsafe and unsanitary condition and he would like to see something done about it. APRROVAL TO PAY BILLS: Jim Ed Ransom made a motion to pay bills. Sean Simpson seconded the motion. Motion carried. BILLS ALREADY PAID In JUNE 2024 City General $90,354.86 Water $29,586.05 Street $19,870.50 Community Center $13,819.81 Retail One Cent $490.16 Court Automation $488.40 2003 Depreciation $52,922.01 Page 3 of 4  Lonoke City Council Lonoke City Council Meeting July 8, 2024 BILLS TO BE PAID JULY 2024 City General $26,917.43 Community Center $4,339362 Water $15,056.09 Street $11,576.98 Court Automation $976.80 ADJOURNMENT- Sean Simpson made a motion to adjourn. Steven Holt seconded the motion. Motion carried. ____________________________ Mayor Wayne McGee Attest: ____________________________ Clerk Page 4 of 4