CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1996

 

Mayor O’Harris was not present. She was on vacation. Alderwoman Watson filled in. She called the meeting to order at 9 a.m., on Tuesday, November 12, 1996.

 

PRESENT:

Alderwomen Watson, Seratt and Dickens, and Aldermen Rubley and Jeffrey.

Alderman Riker was absent.

 

ALSO PRESENT:

Attorney Alan Epley, Kirby Murray, Charles Fargo, David McNeal, Earl Hyatt, Archie Rousey, Don Matt, Don Young, Jay Miner, and Clerk Lee.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Mr. Young led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to amend the agenda by making Item

2 under Old Business, Item #1, and Item number 2 under New Business,

Item #2, because Mr. Epley had to be in court. Alderwoman Dickens

seconded. ‘The vote was 5/0/0.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve the October 22, 1996 minutes. Alderwoman Dickens seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

 

Alderman Jeffrey made the motion to approve the October 8, 1996 minutes. Alderwoman Dickens seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

1.     Ordinance #1733, Vacating Part of First Street (Second Reading):

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to place Ordinance #1733 on its second reading by title only. Alderman Rubley seconded. They did not vote to read.

Mr. Young read.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve. Alderwoman Dickens seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

 

2.     Ordinance #1736 ,.Mr. A. Epley:

Ordinance #1736 is to amend Ordinance #1732, in that some of the land Included in #1732 should not have been, It belonged to another party and had not been included in the Planning Commission’s recommendation. Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to place Ordinance #1736 on its first reading in its entirety. Alderwoman Dickens seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

Mr. Young read the ordinance in its entirety.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve. Alderman Jeffrey seconded. The vote was 5/0/0. The ordinance passed on its first reading.

 

Alderman Jeffrey made the motion to suspend the rules and place Ordinance #1736 on its second reading by title only. Alderwoman Seratt seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0, by roll call vote.

Mr. Young read the ordinance by title only.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve. Alderman Jeffrey seconded. The Council agreed that they wouldn’t read it a third time. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

 

3.     Ordinance #1714, 911 Ordinance, Mr. Miner:

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to place Ordinance #1714 on its second reading by title only. Alderwoman Dickens seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

Mr. Young read the ordinance by title only.

Alderman Seratt made the motion to approve.  Alderman Dickens seconded.

 

 

CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1996

 

Mr. Rubley said that the Preservation Society is sincerely concerned about historic addresses being altered. He asked if allot the town has to be renumbered, or if there are parts that can be left alone, and could a map be made to be used by the EMS and the Police Department that would have addresses on it accordingly. Two of the businesses that came up in the conversation were 5 Ojo, and Gallery 83, which have had the same addresses for years, and the Name fits the address.

Mr. Miner asked how many addresses would run into this problem? Alderman Jeffrey said he could think of one more, #1 Spring St. but he said, also, that he didn’t see why all of the addresses had to be changed. He said that he has a problem with a fixed 25’ lot size. Mr. Jordan said that was mainly for .the downtown buildings.

Alderwoman Seratt said that until someone starts doing this it is really hard to second guess.

Mr. Miner said that it wouldn’t hurt to talk about this at the agenda­setting meeting. Alderwoman Watson mentioned that the measurements should fit the size of the lot at the front, and should change accordingly and Alderwoman Dickens agreed.

The vote, by roll, was 5/0/0. Ordinance #1714 was passed on the second reading.

Alderman Rubley asked that it be put on the Agenda-Setting Meeting Agenda for November 12th, 1996.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

1.      Transit Department, Charles Fargo:

Mr. Fargo said he had four things he would like to have decided:

To discontinue the Brown Route altogether.

To put the Green Route back the way it was in 1993.

To Leave the fares the same as they are now.

To Keep hours the same as this year, except to change winter hours on

Fridays from noon to 5 p.m.

 

Alderwoman Dickens made the motion to discontinue the Brown Route. Alderman. Jeffrey seconded.

There was a short discussion. Mr. Fargo was asked why the trolley didn’t go to Thorncrown Chapel. He said that it is a private venture and we can’t use City vehicles for private enterprise.

The roll call vote was .5/0/0.

 

Alderman Jeffrey made the motion to change the Green Route .to go up Magnetic like it did in 1993.

Alderwoman Watson seconded.

Mr. Fargo said that it would save the cost of running one trolley for the year, which is approximately $18,000. He said if the Council had read the figures on the routes, not that many people are using the Green Route as it stands.

After a lot of discussion, the vote was 3/1/1, with Alderman Rubley voting no, and Alderwoman Seratt abstaining.

Alderwoman Watson asked that this be discussed at the Agenda-Setting meeting.

 

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve the fares as they stand:

$3.00 for an all day’pass, $1.50 for the one way pass, and $5 per month for the local people, who use the Transit System regularly. Alderman Jeffrey seconded. By roll call, the vote was 5/0/0.

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve the trolley hours suggested by Mr. Fargo, which were the same as last year except that Mr. Fargo wanted to shorten the hours on Friday, during the holiday season to noon to 5, instead of 9 to 5.

There was a lot of debate in which the consensus was that the hours involved would not really save the City much money, and some thought it might interfere with the Holiday Committee and their promotion campaign. It was also suggested that the Trolley shut down on November 1, each year and then just be used for special occasions.  It was discussed doing noon to nine p.m.  Alderman Rubley said he would like to see the schedule

 

CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1996

 

shortened.

The roll call vote was 3/2/0 with Alderman Rubley and Alderwoman Dickens voting no.

 

2. Emergency Management, Ms. Seratt:

This subject is a First Alert Siren Warning System. At some point our siren was donated to the dam to alert people when the gate would be opened. Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to postpone the subject to the November 19th Agenda-Setting meeting. Alderwoman Watson seconded. No vote was taken.

 

3. Directional Signage, Mr. Murray:

Mr. Murray said that the HDC had seen the signs, and have basically approved. The next thing is where should the signage be? The main concern at this point is that if there are a lot of signs already on the poles, the signs will not be read. He suggested that the Council discuss this at an Agenda-Setting meeting. Several people had suggestions for where the signs should be.

Alderman Rubley made the motion that this be discussed at the Agenda-Setting meeting. Alderwoman Dickens seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

 

Alderwoman reminded us that December 1, 1996 is International Aids Day. At 7 p.m. that evening it is suggested that everyone who can turn all of their lights off for one minute.

 

4. Resolution #438, Grant Funds from Arkansas Recreational Trails Program, Parks Commission:

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to read Resolution # 438. Alderman Jeffrey seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0.

Mr. Young read the Resolution in its entirety.

Alderwoman Watson made the motion to approve. Alderman Jeffrey seconded. The consensus was that there was not enough information available to vote on the resolution, so Alderwoman Dickens made the motion to postpone the resolution vote until after it has been discussed at the November 19th Agenda-Setting meeting. Alderman Rubley seconded. All were in favor, by voice vote, 5/0/0.

 

5. Police Department, Hiring of Archie Rousey, Chief Hyatt:

Acting Chief Earl Hyatt asked that the Council consider Archie Rousey for the position recently vacated by Grant Hardin. A resume’ was placed in each of the Council Persons’ boxes ahead of time. Mr. Rousey has been certified, and has extensive investigative experience. He has seventeen years of law enforcement experience to his credit. None of the other applicants were certified, which take three months at the Law Enforcement Academy. That means you hire the person, pay him and train him and he can’t work for you until the three months is up, and he is certified

Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to approve the hiring. Alderwoman Dickens seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0, by voice vote..

 

6. Property Insurance:

Don Young and Clerk Lee reported that there was only one bid to open for property insurance. it was from the Bare & Swett Agency, Inc., here in Eureka Springs. They were the only ones who requested an insurance bid package. There were several things added to the properties list, this year, including the new Public Works Building. The new premium is $14,229. The premium is $404 more than 1995~1996.

Alderman Rubley said he hates it when just one person bids, but he went ahead and made the motion to accept the bid from Bare & Swett at $14,229. Alderwoman  Watson seconded. By roll call, all were in favor,5/0/0.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:

Mr. Young gave a report on the Sales & Use Check.  For the year, we are down only 1.1 % over last year.  For the month, we are down 11.65%.

 

CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1996

 

The State is going to do a traffic survey at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, since there have been several traffic accidents at that location.

They will see what can be done.

 

The Arkansas Fire and Pension Board review was passed with flying colors. This was the 1995 Pension Fund Actuarial Evaluation.

 

The City of Eureka has requested bids for Vehicular Insurance. Hopefully, the City will receive more than one bid to chose from.

None of the Liaisons had any departmental reports.

Alderwoman Dickens made the motion to adjourn. Alderwoman Seratt seconded. All were in favor, 5/0/0. The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 a.m.

 

APPROVED: