CITY OF EUREKA SPRINGS

COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES

March 19, 2001

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Mayor Beau Z. Satori called the March 19th, 2001, meeting to order at 7:25 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Carroll County Courthouse.

 

PRESENT:

Mayor Satori, David Stoppel, Bryan Sumpter, and Jack Dozier. Kelly Simon was late and made up the last member of the quorum.  Kathy Harrison, and James DeVito were absent.

 

ALSO PRESENT: Kirby Murray, Judie Lockhart, Robert White, Jim Fain, Carrie Seymour, Kevin Seymour, Robert Ragusa, Kenneth Kettlesen, Henry Martin, Carol Martin, Lisa Liggett, Paul Aulyer, Jack Bratt, Bruce Levine, Richard Dunbar, Karie Drayer, Glen Drayer, Joseph Oswald, Sue Ely, Sheila Vercruysse, David White, Dan Bennett, Lee Pohl, Susan Pohl, Linda Blackston, Mary Jean Sell, Sherry Wilson, Kim Dickens, Don Matt, Rhonda Tanton, and Clerk Lee.  Others were present who did not sign in.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:

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

 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:

It was suggested that the North Main Street Merchants discussion be held just before New Business, and that Ordinance No. 1870, Hospital Accounting System be added to New Business as No. 3.

The motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda as amended.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES:

The motion was made and seconded to approve the February 20th, 2001, Council Meeting minutes.  The vote was 4/0/0, to approve.

 

The motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the March 5th, 2001, Council Meeting.  The  amendment was noted.  The vote was 4/0/0.

 

COMMISSION, COMMITTEE: AND AUTHORITY REPORTS AND VACANCIES:

Mayor Satori had nominated Karie Drayer for the Gift Shop seat on the CAPC.   She and her husband have Peddler’s Antiques, and her husband’s parents have Abundant Memories on Highway 23 going north.  Mrs. Drayer introduced herself to the Council, who said they had spoken with her.  The motion was made and seconded to approve.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.

 

Mayor Satori nominated Chuck Schmidt to Position No. One on the HDC, which would expire November 30th, 2003.  Mr. Schmidt is a new arrival to Eureka Springs, and has a background in Horticulture, Landscaping, and Restoration Construction.

 

DEPARTMENT HEAD COMMENTS:

Lisa Liggett presented the Trolley Map for 2001 to the Council for their approval.

 

CITY ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:

Ms. Dickens said she has supplement two for our Municipal Code Books, and that if the Council would leave theirs, she would update the books for them.

 

She reported that she and Finance Director, Diane Murphy, went to Little Rock and spoke with Municipal League about the City’s insurance.  Now they are waiting for the League’s decision.

 

 

North Main Street Merchants, Discussion:

Before the meeting started, while they were waiting to see if the Council would have a quorum, a discussion was started about the problems stemming from the construction that is going on.  The North Main St. Merchants are having a very bad time, because of many reasons, but the worst is the signage.  It is really confusing and people don’t really know what to do.  Several people spoke to the loss of revenue, not just for themselves, but for the City.

 

When the discussion resumed, Robert White from McClelland Engineering, said that between the delay caused by a referendum petition being carried, that was extremely costly to the City, and the delay in funding, and the bad weather we have had, it has put the project considerably behind.

 

Mr. Murray reiterated the need for the sewer repairs along with the road repair.  He said they are working as fast as it can be done and still insure a good job.

Alderman Simon asked why the constructi9on began in the direction it did.  Mr. White said it is a smoother operation to start at the lower end and work to the higher end.  He said the water reducing pressure vault is being built at Mill Hollow Road, and the meters must be replaced from Jackson to Mill Hollow.  Then they have to replace some meters from Jackson to Grand Central. Only then can they begin on the sewers on the south end.

 

Several Business owners spoke, and said they had done everything that the City had asked them to do, and the signage is so poor that they are losing a terrible amount of business.  They feel as though the City has lied to them and they’ve been let down.  They are very worried about the construction not stopping on April 1, 200.

 

Mayor Satori said that the City could speak with the State Highway Department and the ADEQ and talk to the contractor and find out if or how much more money it would cost to stop and begin again in the late fall.

The motion was made to have the Mayor, Kim and Kirby speak to the State Highway Department about delaying or revising their plan for working on the highway and talk with the ADEQ, and talk with the contractor and find out how much more money it will cost, because that information is needed in order to make an educated decision.  It was seconded with the stipulation that the City start a the Train Depot and come south.  If they can’t do that then maybe the other ideas won’t work either.

The vote was 4/0/0 in favor of the motion.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Discussion of Ordinance No.1867, an ordinance re-zoning Elks Club from A to C-2 (second reading):

The motion was made and seconded to suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1867  on its second reading by title only.  The roll call vote was 4/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance by title only.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.

 

Discussion regarding the prioritizing of Parks capital budget:

Bruce Levine was present representing the Parks Commission.

He stated the priorities on the Parks capital budget as follows:

                        The bath house at Lake Leatherwood -------------   $45,000

                        Staging area boat docks -----------------------                            8,000

                        Basin Park-----------------------------------------                12,500

                        Skate Park Equipment (which is moveable)-------   15,000

The total for that schedule is $80,000.

The motion was made and seconded to approve the priorities as stated. All were in favor, 4/0/0.

 

 

The motion was made and seconded to recess for ten minutes.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.

The meeting was recessed at 9 p.m. and was reconvened at 9:10 p.m.

 

Discussion regarding the re-activation of the Parking Authority/Tourism Advisory Committee:

There was a discussion about the remaining members of the Parking Authority working with the Planning Commission and focusing on parking.  Alderman Sumpter made it into a motion.  There was not second.  No action was taken.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Discussion regarding the availability of Peerless Street:

One of the largest problems about tracing Peerless Street is because part of it is not on the City maps.  Public Works Director, Kirby Murray, said he would check into who owns the property and see if it had ever been vacated.  Clerk Lee said to try the Assessor’s Office in Berryville.  The have cards on every piece of property in the county.  Mr. Murray will report back on the subject.

 

Discussion regarding Ordinance No. 1868, amending Section 2-144, Hospital Commission, (First Reading):

The motion was made and seconded to place Ordinance No. 1868 on its first reading in its entirety.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the entire ordinance.

The motion was made and seconded to approve this ordinance.  The ordinance would allow the City Attorney to act as attorney to more commissions.  The motion was made and seconded to include the Parks Commission both in the title and body.  The vote on the amendment was 4/0/0.  The vote to approve as amended was 4/0/0.

 

Ordinance No. 1870, discussion regarding waiving bids on the Hospital Accounting System:

The motion was made and seconded to place Ordinance No. 1870 on its first reading in its entirety.  The vote was 4/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the entire ordinance.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.  It was stated that the accounting system is just exactly what the Hospital will need when Washington Regional pulls out of our hospital.  It would not be productive to go out for bids.  The Hospital looked at three systems before they chose, and this was the least expensive.

 

The motion was made and seconded to suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1870 on its second reading by title only.  By roll call, the vote was 4/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance by title only.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.

 

The motion was made and seconded to further suspend the rules and place Ordinance No. 1870 on its third and final reading by title only.  By roll call, the vote was 4/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance by title only.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.

 

The motion was made and seconded to read the emergency clause.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the emergency clause.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.

 

Discussion regarding Ordinance No. 1869, amending Chapter 2, Section 2-145, City Attorney, (First reading):

The motion was made and seconded to place Ordinance No. 1869 on its first reading in its entirety.  The vote was 4/0/0.

Ms. Dickens read the ordinance in its entirety.

The motion was made and seconded to approve.  An amendment was noted.  The vote on the amendment was 4/0/0.  The vote on the ordinance as amended was 4/0/0.

 

Discussion regarding taxi issues:

There was a long discussion about licensing limousines, and what the differences are between limos and taxis.  The motion was made and seconded to research this and find out what needs to be done and then do it.

The vote was 4/0/0.

 

COUNCIL COMMENTS:

The pathway of love was brought up and it will be put on the agenda for the April 2nd, 2001 meeting.

 

MAYOR’S COMMENTS:

The Mayor had no comments.

 

The motion was made and seconded to adjourn.  All were in favor, 4/0/0.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m.

 

This is the signature sheet for the minutes of March19th, 2001.

 

 

 

APPROVED:

 

                                                                        ____________________________

Mayor Beau Z. Satori          

 

ATTEST:

 

_______________________________

Mary Ann Lee, City Clerk-Treasurer