Malvern City Council

AGENDA MALVERN CITY COUNCIL Monday, February 8, 2021 Streamed from the Malvern Water Office, 6: 30 PM I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER II. INVOCATION III. ROLL CALL IV. APPROVE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING A. Regular Meeting - January 11, 2021 V. DEPARTMENT REPORTS A. Finance Report B. Street Department Report C. Police Report D. Fire/ CEO Report E. Animal Control Report F. LifeNet Report G. Water Works Report VI. OLD BUSINESS VII . NEW BUSINESS A. Resolution Authorizing Fire Truck Lease B. Ordinance Abolishing Planning Commission C. Ordinance Re- establishing Planning Commission VIII. MAYOR REPORTS A. State of the City Address IX. ADJOURNMENT  MINUTES OF THE MALVERN CITY COUNCIL Monday, February 8, 2021 STREAMED FROM THE MALVERN WATER WORKS OFFICE 6: 30 P. M. The Malvern City Council met for its regular monthly meeting on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 6: 30 p.m. via Microsoft Teams and advertised as required by law, due to the Covid- 19 Pandemic of 2020. The meeting was available for viewing live on YouTube. Mayor Weldon announced that the opportunities for attending the meeting had been advertised on the City' s website (with link provided), the City' s Facebook page, and in the Malvern Daily Record. Mayor Brenda Weldon called the meeting to order and led the invocation and pledge of allegiance. Answering the roll call were Council members Mary Fraction, William Wilson, Wayne Reynolds, Lynn Davis, Peggy Lusinger, Matthew Keenan, David Cross and Larry Stiles. Also present were City Clerk/ Treasurer Phyllis Dial and City Attorney Cecilia Ashcraft. A motion was made by Council Member Fraction, seconded by Council Member Peggy Lusinger to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on January 11, 2021. Voting for the motion were Council members Mary Fraction, William Wilson, Wayne Reynolds, Lynn Davis, Peggy Lusinger, Matthew Keenan, David Cross and Larry Stiles. All voting for, motion carried and the minutes of the previous meeting were adopted. A motion was made by Council Member Stiles, seconded by Alderman Stiles to accept the Departmental Reports as posted, excepting reports from Community Service, Street Department and Police Department which were not posted.. Voting for the motion were Council members Mary Fraction, William Wilson, Wayne Reynolds, Lynn Davis, Peggy Lusinger, Matthew Keenan, David Cross and Larry Stiles. All voting for, motion carried. Under new business, Council Member Fraction introduced a resolution approving financing for the purchase of a new firetruck. The City Attorney read the resolution. A motion was made by Alderman Cross, seconded by Council Member Reynolds, to adopt the resolution. Voting for the motion were Council members Mary Fraction, William Wilson, Wayne Reynolds, Lynn Davis, Peggy Lusinger, Matthew Keenan, David Cross and Larry Stiles. All voting for, motion carried and the resolution was declared adopted and assigned No. 02- 2021. RESOLiTTION NO. 02- 2021 A RESOLUTION APPROVING FIRE TRUCK LEASING Council Member Peggy Lusinger introduced an ordinance abolishing the Malvern/ Hot Spring County Planning Commission and the Malvern Board of Zoning Adjustment. The City Attorney read the ordinance for its first reading. 1  MINUTES OF THE MALVERN CITY COUNCIL Monday, February 8, 2021 STREAMED FROM THE MALVERN WATER WORKS OFFICE 6: 30 P. M. The ordinance will be heard for its second reading at the March, 2021 City Council meeting. Alderman Larry Stiles introduced an ordinance reestablishing the Malvern County Planning Commission. The City Attorney read the ordinance for its first reading. The ordinance will be heard for its second reading at the March, 2021 City Council meeting. Alderman Reynolds asked about a mention of the Board of Zoning Adjustment as relates to the Airport Commission. Attorney Ashcraft said that she had researched the matter of the BZA and had not seen any ties to the Airport Commission, but that she would double check it. She said that the ordinance abolishing the Planning Commission only affects the makeup and positions on the Commission, and that ordinance No. 601 which sets the duties and regulations concerning the Commission remain in effect. Mayor Weldon presented her State of the City Address, a copy of which is attached and made a part of these minutes. Alderman Keenan expressed his appreciation to the Mayor for her hard work and dedication. A motion was made by Alderman Keenan, seconded by Council Member Fraction to adjourn. With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was declared adjourned. 2 cs Gr- Phyllis Di , City Clerk/ Treasurer Brenda J. Wel n, Mayor d` 2  STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS MAYOR BRENDA WELDON FEBRUARY 8, 2021 I first want to thank the citizens of Malvern for allowing me to me your mayor and the City Council, City Treasurer, City Attorney and employees for all your support and dedication. You are all a pleasure to work with. It has been a very challenging year due to the Covid 19 pandemic, and I was very concerned about how that would affect our sales tax, which is the main revenue source for the city. Fortunately, we came out better at the end of the year than I had expected. Our City Sales Tax was $ 350, 678. 29 and County Sales tax was 177, 768. 77 more than the previous year, which could be contributed to shopping local and mail delivery. Due to having the additional money, the city was able to add an additional 100, 000. 00 for tearing down dilapidated houses. In 2020 there were over 20 old structures torn down between the City and private citizens, but we feel the additional money will help in the completion of many more for 2021. Even with Covid- 19 precautions, the Code Enforcement made 260 contacts, issued 10 new residential construction permits and 2 new commercial construction permits. Covid 19 has been difficult to say the least, but that didn' t stop our Police and Fire Departments with Police receiving 125, 000 calls and Fire responded to 683 incidents in 2020. The Street Department also had a busy year with cleaning up the parks and cemetery after a weather event that blew down a large number of trees and picked up numerous loads of brush, leaves and debris from the storm, this was along with their other duties of working on streets, fixing and replacing signs, working back gate, picking up household items, mowing, cleaning ditches, using street sweeper along with other duties as needed. The City' s Information Systems was also very busy with upgrading some of our IT equipment due to having funds through the Cares Act Grant. We were able to get much needed upgraded computers, software, servers and firewall. Security cameras were also installed at City Hall, Animal Shelter and in our City Parks. The City was able to obtain the following grants: Malvern Airport: $24, 318. 20 from Cares Act monies City General Fund: $ 454, 438. 00 from Cares Act monies for Covid expenses reimbursement and technology Malvern Police Department: $ 748. 29 for bullet proof vests Malvern Police Department: $ 41, 552. 28 Victims against Women and Children grant Total of grants received in 2020 was $ 521, 056, 77. Even with the challenges of the pandemic, the council approved a bond issue and was able to approve several projects that will begin construction in 2021, including tearing down and rebuilding the Malvern Fire Department on Moline Street, purchased the Fred' s building to repurpose for the Malvern Police Department, approved a street plan whereby specifications are being developed to bid on that process in early 2021. Also, the city did get approval of a grant from Arkansas Highway Department for 80, 000. 00 to install walking paths throughout the Malvern City Park and will be constructed in 2021. Malvern Water Works completed a 20 inch water line from the water treatment plant to Front Street and by doing so was able to eliminate a pump station and tear down the old water tank under the viaduct. To accommodate the line, two new pumps with larger capacity were installed at the water treatment plant. Due to a lack of pressure, a new 8 inch water line was installed from Hwy 67 to the prison to provide a more reliable loop feed water source for the future. An inflow and infiltration study to locate defects in the wastewater collection system was completed and the data is still being studied to determine what work will need to be done. The Water Works is at 75% complete on a$ 5, 500, 000. 00 Wastewater Treatment Plant rehabilitation. Everything should be completed in the nearfuture. i Unfortunately, we did lose some of our businesses in 2020 because of the impact of the Covid virus. It is so heartbreaking when a business owner puts their heart and soul into a business and things do not work out for them. That is why it is so important to shop local and support the businesses that work so hard to keep their doors open. Next year should bring the completion of a new 60 plus apartment complex on Harper Street, new Doctor' s office on Tanner Street and the beginning of construction on the infrastructure extension at the Hot Spring County Industrial Park. Also, the ASU Three Rivers purchased the Ritz Theater and due to a historical grant it will be brought back to it' s original glory. Another addition to downtown will be Coffee Records, it is being moved to the corner of Main and 3rd street. If things go as planned, we may also see a new home decor store downtown. I ask you again, please patronize the businesses we have so they can prosper and remain open. 2020 was a tough year with Covid 19, we all have friends and family that has been impacted by this horrible disease by both sickness and death. I encourage you to continue wearing your masks, social distance, wash your hands and use hand sanitizer. Hopefully, it won' t be long before enough vaccine is available for everyone that wants it and 2021 will be a healing year for all of us. Thank you for allowing me to be your Mayor and may God bless each one of you.