CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

NOVEMBER 19TH , 2001

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Mayor Beau Z. Satori called the November 19th, 2001, meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Jury Room of the Carroll County Courthouse.

 

PRESENT:

Mayor Satori, and Aldermen DeVito, Dozier, Harrison, Stoppel, and Sumpter.  Alderman Simon was late.

 

ALSO PRESENT:  Ada Jensen, Thomas Tharp, Bill Ames, Sherry Wilson, and Clerk, Mary Ann Lee.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

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

 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:

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

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

The motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes as amended. (The amendments were noted.)  The vote was 5/0/1 with Alderman Sumpter abstaining.

 

COMMISSION, COMMITTEE: AND AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:

Mayor Satori said that Ken Kettlesen had declined his nomination for the CAPC.

 

Mayor Satori said that Vince DiMayo had agreed to serve in position 2 on the HDC for another term.  The motion was made and seconded to approve Mr. DiMayo.  The vote was 6/0/0.

 

Mayor Satori said that Ray Dilfield had also agreed to serve in position 4 on the HDC for another term.  The motion was made and seconded to approve Mr. Dilfield.  The vote was 6/0/0.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS:

None.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S COMMENTS:

Ms. Dickens reminded the Council of two budget meetings.  December 10, 2001, at 1 p.m.  is for the Capital and operating budget.  The budget meeting for Public Works is on November 26th, 2001 at 1 p.m.

 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Discussion regarding clarification of routes and procedures for carriage rides:

The Council, generally, felt that the lists were very long.  Alderman Stoppel said he expected Ms. Jensen, and Mr. Tharp to bring in the places they wanted to stop that were safe.

The motion was made and seconded that the two Carriage Ride owners get with Earl and compile the list .

There was a motion made and seconded to amend the motion to say that they could continue as they have been for the two weeks between meetings.

The vote on the amendment was 6/0/0.

The vote on the original motion was 6/0/0.

Alderman Sumpter said the Council should re-evaluate that ordinance and decide if any changes should be made.

 

Discussion regarding filling police officer position vacancy:

Police Chief Earl Hyatt said the Police Department is running two officers short.  He said overtime hours are up with 77 hours of overtime in September and November had 83 overtime hours to this date.

He wants to hire a police officer, but first he must be sure that the money will be there to pay that person.  He will not allow someone to be hired and possibly have to relocate, without knowing the funds will be there to pay the person.

Alderman Dozier wanted to know how the Police Department could operate with less officers in 1992 and 1993, with more visitors coming to town.

Chief Hyatt said there are more demands for services now.  Someone made the comment that its hard to know how efficient the police department was at that time.

Ms. Wilson, City Attorney, said that the statistics prove that crime is up all over the nation.  She said Eureka Springs and Holiday Island have grown.  She said that as crime levels increase the demands on officer’s time is increasing.  They are in demand in the courts as well as on the streets.

The motion was made and seconded to approve the hiring of another police officer and commit the funds.  The vote was 6/0/0.

Alderman Simon said it would be helpful to have an officer who is somewhat trained to help with code violations.  Chief Hyatt said it would be helpful, although he could not take the place of the building inspector.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Discussion regarding the Transit Department 2002 Budget:

Ms. Dickens said that this is necessary so that Transit can receive their funding in 2002.

The motion was made and seconded to approve the Transit Budget for the year 2002.

The discussion brought out that $21,000 will be needed from the General Fund to balance the budget.  It may not be necessary to use the funds but they do have to be included to balance the budget for the State.

The CAPC will produce the Trolley Maps this year.  It may not cost the Transit Department and they may be able to use the money set aside for more signage, or other costs.

The Vote on the motion was 6/0/0.

 

Discussion regarding Ordinance No. 1883, authorizing the issuance of a tax bond for the purpose of financing a portion of the cost of capital improvements to Lake Leatherwood Dam, (All readings):

Ms. Dickens said the ordinance will not be read this evening.  She explained what she and Diane Murphy had been doing to realize the actual costs, and went over the costs with the Council.  She said the City is coming up $83, 655.00 short.  If the handrail maintenance is removed, which is $60,000, there will still be a projected revenue deficit of $23, 655.  That money could come from reserves.

The motion was made and seconded to approve taking $23,655 out of reserves for that purpose.

Ms. Dickens said since the City knows how much the handrail maintenance is, why not apply for a grant for it, and would the Council be willing to authorize her to apply for a grant.  One came in downstairs, and has to be in by the 14th of January, 2002.  The motion was amended and seconded to approve the City to apply for a grant to be used for handrail maintenance and to remove the handrail maintenance from the original specifications.

All were in favor, 6/0/0.

The vote on the original motion was 6/0/0.

 

Ms. Dickens said that she and Ms. Murphy are recommending that the City re-issue the 1994 water and sewer bonds concurrent with issuing the new bonds for the dam project.  This will result  in a significant over all savings for the City.  The current annual debt service for the 1994 bonds is $310,000 per year.  The debt service to re-issue and issue the new bonds would be approximately $340,000 per year.  This could save the City over $146,000 because the interest rate is better.  They looked at all of the City’s bonds while they were at it but these were the only ones that we could benefit by re-issuing.  The bonds will be series A and series B bonds.

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

 

Alderman DeVito asked if the bid that the City received for the Lake Leatherwood Dam project was a good bid.  She said that there is a difference in drilling than the way the others had planned to drill.  The engineers are very comfortable with the way they are going to do the job.  She said they understand that this is all of the money available for this project.  It cannot come in over the bid amount.  They all seem comfortable with that also. 

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS:

Alderman DeVito reminded the City that there is a special election for the third district.  Please get out and vote on November 20th, 2001.

 

Alderman Stoppel said that he had firm knowledge that the helmets do make the difference.  There was an accident recently, and the helmet made a big difference.

 

MAYOR’S COMMENTS:

He said that everyone should get out and vote.  If there was a good showing in Eureka Springs, that it would get the attention of the powers that be, and would be really good for the City.

 

 

The motion was made and seconded to adjourn.  All were in favor, 6/0/0.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

 

This is the signature sheet for the minutes of November19th , 2001.

 

APPROVED:

 

                                                                        ____________________________

Mayor Beau Z. Satori          

 

ATTEST:

 

_______________________________

Mary Ann Lee, City Clerk-Treasurer