Malvern City Council

I;. MINUTES OF THE MALVERN CITY COUNCIL Monday, February 14, 2022 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY LIFE CENTER 6: 30 P. M. The Malvern City Council met for its regular monthly meeting on Monday, February I4, 20Z2, at 6: 30 p.m. in the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. 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, Peggy Lusinger, Matthew Keenan, David Cross Larry Stiles and Lynn Davis with Also present was Ciry absent. Clerk/ Treasurer Phyllis Dial. A motion was made by Council Member David Cross, seconded by Council Member Matthew Keenan to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on January IO> 2022. Voting for the motion were Council Members Fraction, Wilson, Reynolds, Lusinger, Keenan, Cross and Stiles with Davis absent. All present voting for, motion carried, and the minutes of the previous meeting were adopted. A motion was made by Council Member David Cross, seconded by Council Member Reynolds, to accept the Departmental Reports as posted. Voting for the motion were Council Members Fraction, Wilson, Reynolds, Lusinger, Keenan, Cross and Stiles with Davis absent. All present voting for, and the reports were accepted. Council Member Lusinger introduced for its first reading an ordinance rezoning property in the I800 block of Pine Bluff St. The City C1erk Treasurer read the ordinance for iu first reading. A motion was made by Aldem an Stiles, seconded by Alderman Cross to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on iu second reading by tide only. Voting for the motion were Council Members Fraction, Wilson, Reynolds, Lusinger, Keenan, Cross and Stiles with Davis absent. All present voting for, motion carried and was read for the reading by title only. A motion was made by Alderman Keenan, seconded by Council Member second Fraction to suspend the niles and place the ordinance on its third and fmal reading by title only. Voting for the motion were Council Members Fraction, Wilson, Reynolds, Lusinger, Keenan, Cross and Stiles with Davis absent. All present voting for, motion carried, and the City Clerk/ Treasurer read the ordinance for its third andfinal reading by title only. A motion was made by Council Member Lusinger, seconded by Alderman Stiles to adopt the ordinance. Voting for the motion were Council Members Fraction, Wilson, Reynolds, Lusinger, Keenan, Cross and Stiles with Davis absent. All present voting for>motion carried> and the ordinance was adopted and assigned No. ZOZ2-0I. Mayor Weldon introduced Gloria Price and asked i her to tell the Council her intentions for development of the property. Ms. Price told the Council that she is of those who had been She said that the idea going to develop an interment area for the remains cremated. was developed out of need, and that she still has the ashes of her deceased daughter who passed five years ago because there is nowhere in the area to dispose of them. She said that she feels God has opened the door for this project and has envisioned a beautiful>peaceful place with a walking trail, fountains, flowers, and ponds and benches. She thanked the Council for their support. A motion was made by Aldern an Keenan, seconded by Council Member Fraction, to adopt the emergency clause of the ordinance. Voting for the motion were Council Members Fraction, Wilson, Reynolds, Lusinger, Keenan, Cross and Stiles with Davis absent. All present voting for, motion carried, and the emergency clause was adopted. 1 I i, MINUTES OF THE MALVERN CITY COUNCIL Monday, February 14, 2022 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FAMILY LIFE CENTER 6: 30 P. M. ORDINANCE NO. 202 02 AN ORDINANCE AMIIVDING ORDINANCE NO. I I83 FSTABI. iSHING A NEW ZONING CLASS' ZCATION FOR CERTAIN LANDS WTI'HIl i TT CTI' Y OF MALVERN, r ARKANSAS AND DECIARING AN EMF.RGENCY Mayor Weldon presented her 2022 State of the City address ( see attached copy, thanking City employees and citizens for their assistance and support through the year 202I. She cited some of the issues encountered in dealing with Covid and listed the city' s accomplishments for the year. She also thanked the citizens for allowing her to serve as Mayor of the City. Under Mayor reports, Mayor Weldon noted that the playground equipment that has been placed in dCherry Park is from the Boys and Girls Club who obtained a substantial grant to replace some of their playground equipment, and the old equipment has been donated to the city and refurbished for use in Cherry Park. She also stated that construction on both the police and fire department facilities is continuing. A motion was made by Alderman Cross, seconded by Alderman Keenan to accept the city's 2020 Audit report as submitted by Arkansas Legislative Audit Committee. Voting for the motion were Council Members Fraction, Wilson, Reynolds, Lusinger, Keenan, Cross, and Stiles with Davis absent. All present voting for, motion camed. Council Member Lusinger introduced a resolution amending Resolution 04- 202I and the 202I budget for the City of Malvem. City Clerk-Treasurer read the resolution. A motion was made by Alderman Cross, seconded by Lusinger, to adopt the resolution. Voting for the motion were Council Members Fraction, WiLson, Reynolds> Lusinger, Keenan, Cross and Stiles with Davis absent. All present voting for, Pmotion carried, and the resolution was declared adopted and assigned No. 02- 2022. RFSOLUI'ION NO. 0 2022 A RESOLLJTION AMII iDING RESOLUTION 04202I AND T'HE 202I BUDGET FOR I'HE CTI' Y OF MAI.VERN A motion was made by Alderman Keenan, seconded by Alderman Cross, to adjourn. With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was declared adjoumed. Phyllis ' I, City Clerk/ Treasurer Brenda J. W don, Mayor 0 2 1\. t. y,,: S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS MAYOR BRENDA WELDON FEBRUARY 14, 2022 I am very honored to be the Mayor of the City of Malvern and thank you the citizens for allowing me to be in my position. We never know what we will face each day in life, but I have wonderful supportive people in my life which I treasure. I thank the City Council, City Treasurer Phyllis Dial, City Attorney Cecilia Ashcraft and the dedicated staff of the City of Malvern for always being that support. I thank you for your dedication and friendship. It continues to be challenging when it comes to Covid 19 and the problems it has created, shortages of equipment and supplies and cost increases have been a constant during these times, which makes it r difficult on the City, Street and Water Works budgets, but we ended with carry over monies in each one and I thank the department heads for staying on top of cost increases and staying within their budgets. Overall, 2021 was a good year for the City of Malvern, we were able to tear down and start building the new Fire Station on Moline Street, started remodeling the old Fred' s building to become the new Police Station and Council meeting room, spent over $ 1 million on street repair, torn down 31 dilapidated buildings and cleaned up numerous lots and lawns. The Malvern Water Works have continued the upgrades on water and sewer lines and are working on solutions from the studies received in 2021. Information Services have also made many upgrades to our computer and phone system, including Voice over IP and a wifi net for the city offices which both have reduced costs greatly. The walking path in the City Park has almost been completed and new playground equipment was installed with the help of a local Q donor. Additional parking has been developed at the Riverpark for the summer activity and some playground equipment has been added to Cherry Park. The animal shelter is at full capacity most of the time, but we have a great partnership with the Stop Animal Cruelty and with their help all the animals receive the best of care and new homes. The Malvern Airport has received grants to be able to complete a taxi way and this year will start the process of extending the runway in 2022. 2021 brought about the start of several projects and they should be completed in 2022 The City was able to obtain the following grants: City General Fund: American Rescue Act $ 1, 132, 353. 55 City General Fund: West Central Recycling Grant $9, 624. 38 Malvern Police Department: VAWA $ 68, 960. 83 Malvern Airport: Cares Act $ 68, 960. 83 y Parks: Department of Transportation $ 80, 000. 00 Total Grants monies were $ 1, 332, 491. 04 Hopefully this year the new 60 plus apartment complex on Harper Street will be completed in 2022. The Hot Spring County Industrial Park is closer to being shovel ready with the completion of the water and sewer project. ASU Three Rivers Ritz project did receive additional grant monies to start remodeling the inside of the theater. Smart Ford started a complete remodel of their building beside the interstate and will be opening in 2022. Unfortunately, we lost Cost Plus Furniture, but a Climate Controlled Storage Company purchased the building, remodeled it for their needs, and is doing well. We will always have success stories and failures in our City, but I still encourage you to shop local and keep our businesses open. Thank you for allowing me to be your Mayor and God Bless Each One of you.