RESCHEDULED REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF THE CITY OF TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS
JULY 6, 2004
__________________________________
MEMBERS PRESENT:
The Board of Directors of the City of Texarkana, Arkansas, convened in rescheduled regular session at 7:00 PM on July 6, 2004 with the following members present: Mayor Horace G. Shipp, Assistant Mayor Thomas Potter, and Directors Kathy Dunphy, Laney Harris, Sue Johnson, Frank Poff, and Londell Williams. Also present were City Manager Charles Nickerson, City Attorney Wren Autrey, and City Clerk Patti Scott Grey. City Attorney Ned Stewart was absent.
INVOCATION:
The invocation was given by Director Poff.
MAYOR’S SPOTLIGHT AWARD PRESENTATION:
Mayor Shipp spoke briefly about the Mayor’s, “Home of the Month” and “Business of the Month” Spotlight Awards. He asked Nancy Coker to come forward as he read the proclamation for “Business of the Month”. The proclamation declared the business of George and Nancy Coker, located at 2300 North State Line Avenue, as “Business of the Month for July 2004” in recognition of their work and dedication to making their business location and our community a more attractive and better place to live. Mrs. Coker accepted the award and thanked the Mayor and Board of Directors.
The Mayor then commented that Ms. Ramona Flowers could not attend tonight’s meeting and he would present her “Home of the Month” award to her later in the week. He read the proclamation which declared the home of Ms. Flowers, located at 1217 East 24th Street, as “Home of the Month for July 2004” in recognition of her work and dedication to making her home and our community a more attractive and better place to live.
CITY EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARD:
Mayor Shipp commented that he would be presenting awards to five City Employees tonight, three who work at Texarkana, Arkansas City Hall and two who work at the Texarkana Water Utilities. He asked Joyce Jacobs, Michael Bounds, Joshua Davis, James Paschal and Raymond Bland to come forward. He presented each one with a City of Texarkana, Arkansas, Employee Service Award and a Texarkana, Arkansas City pin. The awards recognized Joyce Jacobs for 10 years of service with the Public Works’ Code Enforcement; Michael Bounds for 5 years of service with the Police Department; Joshua Davis for 5 years of service with the Fire Department; James Paschal for 15 years of service with Texarkana Water Utilities’ Millwood Plant; and Raymond Bland for 5 years of service with the Texarkana Water Utilities’ Pollution Control. Each one accepted the honor and thanked Mayor Shipp, the Board of Directors, and City Manager Charles Nickerson.
TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY-TEXARKANA’S MASS COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM PRESENTATION BY DR. SERAJUL I BHUIYAN:
Dr. Serajul Bhuiyan, Texas A & M University – Texarkana Department of Mass Communications/Journalism Associate Professor and Program Director, spoke in regard to the university’s program. He said the program offered an integrated cross-disciplinary course of study that would provide students with the knowledge and skills to understand and serve in the fast-growing communications field. Students in the Mass Communications major receive a solid foundation in communication skills and liberal studies. The program is designed to be flexible, so that students are able to pursue a course of study best suited to their individual interests and their career objectives. It allows the students to be involved with print media, radio and television, public relations and advertising, corporate communications, marketing, speech communications, and organizational communications, while giving them opportunities for job placement, media and publishing professional internships, wide choice of courses, small classes with individualized instruction, and participation in local publications and radio stations.
Dr. Bhuiyan commented that the program would prepare graduates for careers in television, radio, print media, advertising, public relations, political communications, education, service and entertainment. It would prepare students for further studies in graduate school, as well as provide them with a broad and interdisciplinary education. He concluded by asking if anyone had questions in regard to the subject matter.
City Manager Charles Nickerson reported that the City had two individuals currently, Matt Fry and Bobby Martin, who are working as interns through a partnership with Dr. Bhuiyan’s Texas A & M program. He commented that Matt Fry was working in Administration, helping with the website updates, while Bobby Martin was working with Dan Dupree for Seniors in Poverty.
No one else came forward; and the Mayor commented that Dr. Bhuiyan had covered the topic thoroughly. Dr. Bhuiyan thanked Mayor Shipp, the Board of Directors, and City Manager Charles Nickerson for inviting him to speak.
U.S. HIGHWAY 67 NORTH WATER AND SANITARY SEWER PROJECT PRESENTATION BY TWU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BILL KING:
Texarkana Water Utilities Executive Director Bill King spoke in regard to U.S. Highway 67 North Water and Sanitary Sewer Project (Southern Refrigerated Transport). The Texarkana Water Utilities (TWU) in association with the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce has developed a project to extend water and sanitary sewer service to the proposed site for the Southern Refrigerated Transport, Inc. (SRT) trucking company relocation. SRT is relocating their facility from Ashdown, Arkansas to a location in Miller County, Arkansas northeast of the Texarkana, Arkansas City Limits. The proposed site is located on U.S. Highway 67 North approximately two and one-half (2-½) miles north of the intersection of US Highway 67 and Arkansas State Highway 108. SRT currently has approximately 450 employees and plans to add 125 additional employees per year until they reach a total of 1,000 employees. The proposed location will include truck washing facilities. The Utility staff proposes to loop two (2) new large water mains with an existing water main to improve system reliability and available flow in the area. The Utility also proposes to extend sanitary sewer service to the site from facilities that are currently under construction at the Arkansas Tourist Information Center
Mr. King reviewed a PowerPoint presentation, containing a map of the area. He explained some of the specifics of the project, stating the total cost for all of the extensions has been estimated to be $1,876,225. The State of Arkansas has granted to SRT (through Miller County) a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $750,000 to help pay for the water and sanitary sewer extensions. SRT has agreed to offer a minimum of fifty-one percent (51%) of their new jobs to Miller County residents by accepting this grant.
SRT has agreed to contribute $87,500 towards the project and SRT will probably provide an additional $87,500 initially through some arrangement with Miller County. The Utility has included the extension of the sixteen inch and twelve inch water main along Highway 67 in the current water distribution system upgrade project that is being funded by Arkansas Soil and Water. The Utility will be furnishing engineering design and construction inspection services for the project in an amount of $106,525. TWU would also furnish a surplus lift station at the SRT site valued at $55,000. Mr. King asked if he could respond to any questions. Mayor Shipp asked Mr. King to review the timeframe for the project.
Linda Crawford spoke briefly about the Chamber of Commerce’s involvement in the project and a $750,000 Community Development Block State Grant they had helped obtain. The Mayor conveyed his support for the project. Director Harris asked if this would change the Union and Mandeville Water Corporations water rates. Mr. King explained that it would not change their rates.
Director Poff commented that the Chamber of Commerce had made a homerun on this project and he thanked them for their efforts.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Director Poff moved to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Director Dunphy and carried unanimously. The items approved by consent were:
MINUTES:
The minutes approved were of the regular meeting of June 21, 2004.
RESOLUTION NO. 5079:
Resolution No. 5079 grants permission to the Texarkana Bicycle Club for the annual Tour de Possum bicycle ride from 6:30 AM until 5:00 PM on Saturday, September 11, 2004.
RESOLUTION NO. 5080:
Resolution No. 5080 grants permission to Rhonda Terry for a neighborhood block party/fish fry/birthday celebration from 4:00 PM until 11:00 PM on Saturday, July 31, 2004.
RESOLUTION NO. 5081:
Resolution No. 5081 grants permission to the Girl Scouts of Conifer Council for their “On Track” program kick-off rally at Bobby Ferguson Park from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM, Tuesday, July 27, 2004.
RESOLUTION NO. 5082:
Resolution No. 5082 accepts the low bid of $19,950 submitted by Hart Construction for the demolition of seven condemned structures located at 1305 Lincoln Street, 2006 Grove Street, 1106 ½ Ash Street, 2116 Washington Street, 1024 Arkansas Street (storage), 1210 Ash Street, and 1624 Walter Street.
RESOLUTION NO. 5083:
Resolution No. 5083 authorizes change order No. 1 to the contract with Hart Construction for demolition of condemned structures in the Weed and Seed Area.
|
Item No. |
Description of Structure |
Decrease in Contract Price |
Increase in Contract Price |
|
1 |
711 ½ Belmont |
---- |
$2,850.00 |
The change order increases the total amount of the contract by $2,850.
REGULAR AGENDA:
CITIZEN COMMUNICATION TIME:
§ Alfred A. Tennison, Jr., 2007 County Avenue, spoke in favor of the creosote plant, “High-tech Ameri-Tracks Cross-tie plant” (Mr. Tennision quote).
OTHER BUSINESS:
§ Director Johnson recommended that the board members review each board meeting agenda on-line, allowing city staff to reduce the man hours used to burn the CDs and reduce the number of CDs purchased. She also recommended that the board members try using the Tracking System for complaints and remove “Questions from Directors and other business” from the agenda, as the City Manager suggested.
City Manager Charles Nickerson spoke briefly about the positive aspects of using the Tracking System, commenting that it would be a more effective way to communicate problems from board members to staff, cut response time, and allow board members to have a better rapport with their constituents.
§ Director Williams ask if the City Manager had been able to locate any new legislation regarding the sale of beer on Sunday.
Mr. Nickerson said he had been unable to find information on any new legislation in regard to that issue. He commented that it might be something slated for the next legislative session.
§ Director Harris spoke about his concerns/advantages and disadvantages to the Tracking System and the “Questions from Directors and other business” for him personally. He also asked the City Manager to review his plans for the Board Retreat.
Mr. Nickerson said the date of the Board retreat has been set for August 20 and 21st at the Boy Scout camp. The Friday night session would include a cookout and informal discussions, which has been planned as an overnight stay. Saturday the City’s Department Heads will discuss their five year strategic plans with the Board. This session has been designed to give the Board better insight into the critical issues facing our departments over the next several years. He commented that he has asked each Department Head to benchmark their operations against national standards and to provide accountability measures against which you, the Board, and I may judge success. After lunch, the Finance Director would provide an update regarding the City’s current financial condition, and he said he planned to discuss alternate revenue sources and enhancements to current revenues. Finally, we would ask the Board to provide direction in setting priorities for the coming 2005 budget.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business to come before the Board, on motion duly made, seconded, and unanimously carried, the meeting adjourned.
_______________________________
Horace G. Shipp, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Patti Scott Grey, City Clerk
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