By Charity Rolen
On Tuesday, August 10, the Marshall city council held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting in the City Hall located in Marshall.
The meeting started off with Mayor Kevin Elliott calling the meeting to order and Recorder/Treasurer Misty England called roll. Council members present were Geraldine Littleton, Scott Barnett, Nellie Castleman, Francie Busbee and Sonny Woods. Jason Bradford was absent.
The council then moved on to approve the July 2021 minutes and financial statements. The minutes were approved unanimously, and the financial statements were approved 4 yes and 1 no.
Since there was no old business and there were no questions about old business the council moved on to new business which was swearing in Misty England as the new recorder/treasurer.
Elliott then moved on to discuss the grant resolution 2021-04 for the new police truck. The resolution is for a grant in the amount of $14,000 from USDA to purchase a new police truck sometime in the fall or winter of this year when the truck becomes available. The council still needed to approve the resolution so that they could file the paperwork for the grant. If the grant is awarded the funds will be presented in their account until the vehicle is accessible. Then the council will be assembled to close out that grant. The resolution was read through once in its entirety.
The motion was made to accept Resolution 2021-04 for the grant for the city police department for a patrol vehicle and it was approved unanimously. Elliott then explained to the council that he had approached the local banks in town about borrowing the $30,000 for the patrol vehicle for a two-three-year loan. He had received their individual interest rates from three local banks. Simmons Bank interest rate was for 2.86% for two-three years. First National Bank’s interest rate for two-three years was for 3.99% and Bank OZK was for five years at affixed rate at 3.5%. The council agreed to go with Simmons bank for the cheapest rate.
Elliott then moved to explain that each council member had received a packet with the water rate ordinance number 4121139, and they were needing to amend that ordinance. In that ordinance it stated that the deposit was $150. The current bills for water and sewer are $61.61. In that ordinance it states that the water will not be shut off until the bill reached the amount of the deposit ($150). The new ordinance would be 2021-01 and states that the deposit will be raised to $200 and the reconnection fee of $75.
Elliott stated that on the water bills it states that a resident’s water is subject to disconnection for nonpayment after the 15th of each month. Also, if a resident does not pay their bills, the money could be taken out of their deposit and their water will be shut-off if they are past 30 past due.
Before the residents can be reconnected again, they will be required to pay their deposit if the money was taken out of the deposit, the reconnection fee, and their bill. The council agreed to move forward with amending the resolution that night. The resolution was then read through in its entirety, and it was passed unanimously. For the second and third reading the rules were suspended and the resolution was read through by title only. It was also passed unanimously. The resolution was passed and amended to be published in the Marshall Mountain Wave and in 30 days it will take effect.
Elliott stated that the American Restoration Act has 1.5 billion dollars that is being given to the state of Arkansas. He had met with the engineer from ESI to discuss rehabbing city sewer lines. He is wanting to replace the concrete and clay lines as well as lines that are having issues. Some of the lines are under asphalt so when they are replaced, they are going to need to be paved and Elliott is working on that as well.
He is also wanting to add more sewer lines to the North side of highway 65 in compliance with the Buffalo River Act. This program is doing away with septic systems within the city because they are within the water shed of the Buffalo River. This program also has grant money available.
Elliott stated that he is wanting to finish replacing the lines on the South side of town because they are the oldest and then start working on the North side of town. He is hoping that they can apply and receive the grant money for street paving that way they can fix the lines and then fix the streets.
Elliott then moved on to explain that Family Dollar and Dollar Tree are going to be moving into the old Fred’s building. They have filled out the permits and sent him the plans. The destruction and construction should be finished by early fall if not sooner.