CITY
COUNCIL MEETING 373
TUESDAY, March 24th, 1998
Mayor Barbara O’Harris called the meeting to order at 9
a.m., on Tuesday, March 24,1998, in the Council Room of the Western District
Courthouse.
PRESENT:
Mayor O’Harris, Alderpersons Zeller, Seratt, Christman,
Watson, Freeland, and Jeffrey.
ALSO PRESENT:
Nikki Salazar, Kirby Murray, Kurt Jordan, Alan Long, David
Dempsey, Libby
Freeland, Don Matt, Don Young, Jay Miner and Clerk Lee.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mr. Young led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor O’Harris mentioned that Kim Dickens was out of town
due to the illness of her mother.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
The motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda as it
was printed. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:
The clerk said that the minutes of the City Council Meeting
for March 10, 1998 were not finished.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Ordinance #1778, amending Chapter 4.16.05 pertaining to
occupation license procedure, Ms. Dickens, (second reading).
The motion was made and seconded to place Ordinance #1778 on
its second reading by title only. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
Mr. Young read the ordinance by title only.
The motion was made and seconded to approve. The seconded
reading was approved unanimously, 6/0/0.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Ordinance #1779, Providing a pay back plan for others to
utilize a
water or sewer line that was initially paid by a private
person, Ms. Dickens, (first reading):
Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to postpone the first
reading until the April 14th Council meeting because the ordinance has not been
written, and Alderman Jeffrey seconded the motion. Mr. Miner has been checking
into how other cities handle this situation, and all of the information is not
in yet. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
2. Ordinance #1782, amending the sign ordinance to allow the
display of banners, (first reading):
Mr. Miner has been researching that ordinance also. He said
the problem he could foresee is giving the Parks and Recreation commission
permission to do something that nobody else can do, within the city limits.
The motion was made and seconded to postpone the first
reading because it hadn’t been written. The vote was unanimous, 6/0/0.
3. Ordinance #1783, increase water/waste water rates,
(second reading):
There was considerable discussion about this ordinance.
Alderwoman Seratt said that the bottom line was that the time is here to do
something about this problem and it can’t be postponed any longer.
Alderwoman Zeller said also, that people in business have
more room to manipulate expenses to recover rate increases than private
individuals. The vote to approve the first reading was 5/1/0, with Alderman
Freeland voting no. Ordinance #1783,
was passed on its first reading.
The bids were in for the renovation of the old police
building., and some of the city offices.
Two bidders were Stout construction and Frost & Frost. Both bids were well over the amount of money
set aside for the project and Council unanimously voted to reject the bids,
6/0/0.
374 CITY OF
EUREKA SPRINGS
CITY
COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY,
March 24th, 1998
MAYOR’S COMMENTS:
Mayor O’Harris announced the retirement of Kurt Jordan, Fire Chief. She
commended him on his years of dedicated service to the City of Eureka Springs.
The City will advertise for a new Fire Chief, who will serve as a
paramedic, plus a fireman.
The Mayor has appointed Libby Freeland to the position of Operations
Manager! Interim Director for the Auditorium Department. Her salary will be
$18,000 annually. The mayor complimented Ms. Freeland on the good job she has
done since the director left.
She asked Nikki Salazar to remind everyone of the March for Parks on
April
18th. Nikki said that the march begins at Harmon Park and ends at Basin
Park, with a rest stop on the way, and refreshments and fun things to do
at Basin Park.
Mayor O’Harris announced that Earl Hyatt is a new grandfather to a
bouncing baby boy.
Chief Hyatt presented information on the bids for a generator for the
911 program. One bid was from Indiana, and it didn’t quite come up to the
specifications that were needed. It was for a little over $14,000. The other
bid was from E. A. Martin, which is a company Fire Chief Jordan has done
business with. He is pleased with the performance of their equipment.
Chief Hyatt said that the bid was $17,478. He said the generator has all
of the qualifications that his office needs.
Alderwoman Seratt made the motion and Alderman Jeffrey seconded to
accept the recommended bid. The vote in favor was 6/0/0.
Chief Hyatt strongly suggested that the City use propane to run this
generator. He said there would be no emissions from the generator. If the
department uses propane, it would be in two above ground tanks--one tank is not
enough to hold the 96 hour supply that Federal Law requires. Chief Hyatt said
he would like to see us buy our own tanks, rather than leasing them. He said it
would benefit the City in the long run. The cost for two brand new tanks would
be $2780 plus tax.
Alderwoman Seratt made the motion to authorize Chief Hyatt to use propane.
Alderwoman Zeller seconded. The unanimous vote was 6/0/0. Alderwoman Seratt
made the motion to approve the buying of the two propane tanks and Alderwoman
Zeller seconded. The unanimous vote was
6/0/0.
The motion was made and seconded to adjourn. All were in favor, 6/0/0.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:12 a.m.
APPROVED:
Mayor Barbara A. O’Harris