CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

June 18th, 2001

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Mayor Beau Z. Satori called the June 18th, 2001, City Council meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. in the courtroom in the Carroll County Courthouse.

 

PRESENT:

Mayor Satori, David Stoppel, Bryan Sumpter, Kathy Harrison, Jack Dozier, Kelly Simon, and James DeVito

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ALSO PRESENT: Robert Kalina, Bill Earngey, Susan Lourne, Bruce Levine, Mary Jean Sell, Bill King, Sherry Wilson, Kim Dickens, Rhonda Tanton, and Clerk Lee.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

Mayor Satori led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:

Ordinance No. 1875 was added under New Business.  The motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda as amended.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

The motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of June 4th, 2001.

All were in favor, 6/0/0.

 

COMMISSION, COMMITTEE: AND AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:

Parks Commission- Position 6- Expires 11/22/04:  Mayor Satori nominated Laurie Farrow.  A resume was handed out to the Council.

The Mayor questioned whether there were other positions open in the Parks Commission.  It was decided that the only position that expired recently was Karen Brawley’s and she was approved for another term recently.

Mike Drennon is in Position 2, and Karen Brawley is in Position 5.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS:

There were none.

 

Robert Kalina came to introduce himself to the City Council and the Community.  He is the new magician in the building where the Bart Rockett Show was held.

The Mysteries of Magic is the name of the new show and it is open seven days a week.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:

Ms. Dickens said that the underground work is finished and the walls are going up on the new police facility.

 

LJ, in particular, worked on a project this winter.  All of the minutes from 1876 to 1990 were put on CD’s.  It was part of the projects in the Mayor’s office under Capital projects.  It has been completed.  A copy was given to the library.  A copy will be given to the Historical Museum, and there will be one downstairs at City Hall.  The second part of the project will be finished, hopefully, in 2002.  That way the historical books will stay in better condition.

Mayor Satori said the final goal will be to have someone translate the words into a searchable database.  The ordinances will eventually be on CD’s.

 

Ms. Dickens asked if the Council will want to set a workshop to go over the Landscape ordinance.  The workshop will be set after the budget amendments.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Discussion regarding Ordinance No. 1873, issuance of bonds for repairing Lake Leatherwood Dam  (Second reading):

The motion was made and seconded to suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1872 on its second reading by title only.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance by title only.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.

 

The motion was made and seconded to further suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1872 on its third and final reading by title only.  All were in favor,

6/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance by title only.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.

 

Discussion regarding Parks accounting responsibilities, (Stoppel/DeVito):

Sherry Wilson, City Attorney, said that if only commissioners can” handle” the funds, then no employees should “handle” the funds and certainly no outside

accountants should have anything to do with “handling “ the funds.  Ms. Murphy has explained that City money is done under fund accounting.  Funds cannot be co-mingled.  The Financial Director does not decide where the money goes. 

 

Alderman Dozier made the motion to have the Parks Funds go through the City Finance Director’s office, and Alderman Sumpter seconded.

 

Alderman DeVito said if there is no accountant handling the books, now, who is?

It was mentioned that Penny Carol worked for Wordan and Wordan, and she has taken over that responsibility.

Alderman Dozier said he was unwilling to turn over his responsibility, as a Councilman. to a person ,who was appointed, to take care of Parks funds. He said he couldn’t figure out why they would want the responsibility when the City has a department that is set up, is capable and would be held responsible.

 

The State Auditor said it could only improve things for the commission if they gave the accounting responsibilities to the City.

 

Bruce Levine said that nobody has a surety bond and all of the commissioners should have them.  He said they really can’t turn the books over according to the State statutes, and that the Parks Commission paid for Attorney Russell Atchey’s opinion, which states that their books are to be under their authority.

 

Alderman DeVito said that the City is a member of Municipal League and why didn’t the Commission call them for an opinion.  This is their area of expertise and they are free.  Also that if anyone is handling Parks money without a surety bond, they are out of compliance with state law.

 

Ms. Dickens said the bottom line is that the Commission and Susan Lourne would decide what should be paid and Diane and Yvonne would cut the check.

 

Alderman Sumpter said he believes that the money should be in a central location, because the commission is constantly changing.

 

Alderman Stoppel made the motion to postpone this issue until the July 2nd meeting.  Alderman DeVito seconded.  The vote was 4/2/0, with Sumpter and Dozier voting no.

 

Alderman DeVito said he understood that there are some changes regarding the skate park.  He said there had been major changes since the $15,000 was appropriated. 

Bruce Levine said the equipment was now going to be built and the funds would be used for materials to build.  He said they thought the project would take at least two thirds. 

Mayor Satori said that money was from Capital Funds.

Ms. Dickens said that Capital money must be used for something that enhances the entire community, and the Commission should be very careful how they use the funds.

 

Discussion regarding policy for Municipal Benefits for elected officials:

Alderman DeVito made the motion that the City would pay 100% of the health insurance benefits for elected officials, and Alderman Dozier seconded.

The vote was 2/4/0, with DeVito, Harrison, Simon and Sumpter voting no.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Set Workshop date for discussion of 2001 budget amendments:

The motion was made and seconded to set a budget workshop for Thursday, July 12th, 2001, at 1 p.m.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.

 

Discussion regarding waiving the nepotism policy for CAPC:

Robyn Satori has been hired by Jeff Russell for Creative Graphics.  She is the Mayor’s sister.  Mayor Satori said he had nothing to do with the decision to hire her.  She was hired by Mr. Russell on her own merits. 

The motion was made and seconded to waive the nepotism policy.  The vote was 3/3/0, with Simon, Sumpter, and Dozier voting no.  The Mayor broke the tie to vote yes.

 

Discussion regarding Ordinance No. 1875, which would allow Parks to trade land to get the planned 32 mile trail built:

The motion was made to place Ordinance No. 1875 on its first reading.  The vote was 2/4/0, with Simon, Sumpter, Stoppel, and Dozier voting no.

 

After a long discussion the bottom line was that the Parks Commission could bring this to the Council on a case by case basis.

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS:

Alderman Stoppel reported that the Buck Mountain Fire Station will hold their open house on Wednesday, June 20th, at 6:30 p.m.  It is out on Buck Mountain Road.

 

MAYOR’S COMMENTS:

There were none.

 

The motion was made and seconded to adjourn.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

 

 

 

This is the signature sheet for the June 18th, 2001 City Council Minutes.

 

                                                                        APPROVED:

 

 

Mayor Beau Z. Satori          

 

ATTEST:

 

 

Mary Ann Lee, City Clerk-Treasurer