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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-06-24 MINUTES OF COUNCIL JUNE 24, 2003 The Batesville City Council met in regular session on June 24, at 5:30 PM at the Municipal Building. Mayor Joe Biard presided over the meeting. Councilmember Gaither gave the invocation. Upon roll call the following Councilmembers answered present: Jim Cargill, R.L. Carpenter, Robert Ford, Gerald Gaither, Jim Mitchum, Jerry Pectol, Paula Terrell and Jim Watkins. Also present were the City Clerk Denise Johnston and the City Attorney Scott Stalker. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the minutes from the last meeting. Councilmember Cargill seconded and all voted for. Councilmember Ford moved to approve the prepared agenda. Councilmember Watkins seconded and all voted for. QUESTION OF UNPAID SANITATION BILLS Mayor Biard informed the council about two citizens who had large unpaid sanitation bills. One is a local business that has a bill totaling $1,297.21. The Mayor said he talked to the business owner and he said he would pay the bill if the City would drop the late charges totaling $102.64 and cut the remaining bill in half which would be $513.20. The second bill is for a citizen in Quail Valley. The Mayor said he also talked to the gentleman who said he could make small payments probably about $10 per month to apply to his outstanding bill. His bill totals $1,255.84. Both customers said they have not paid the bills because they did not use the sanitation service. The Mayor read the sanitation ordinance which states that the fee is a tax and is assessed whether you use the service or not. Councilmember Cargill moved for the City Attorney to pursue the collection of the total outstanding bills through the small claims court. Councilmember Carpenter seconded and all voted for. ORDINANCE FOR LITTER CONTROL PROGRAMS AND REPEALING CERTAIN ORDINANCES Mayor Biard read an ordinance authorizing the City to become a certified affiliate of Keep Arkansas Beautiful for the purpose of participating in litter control programs conducted by this organization and to qualify for provisions of Act 145 of 2001 of the Arkansas General Assembly and repealing City Ordinances 721 and 2003-4-1. Councilmember Watkins moved to suspend the rules for the second and third readings and Councilmember Cargill seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Cargill moved to adopt the ordinance and Councilmember Gaither seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given 42003-6-1. Councilmember Terrell moved to adopt the emergency clause. Councilmember Watkins seconded and all voted for. ORDINANCE REGULATING PARKING AND DRIVING WITHIN RIVERSIDE PARK Mayor Biard read an ordinance that would regulate parking and driving within Riverside Park in Batesville. During the reading, the council discovered that the section for assessing a fine for the ordinance had inadvertently be left out. The Mayor read the section that should have been in the ordinance and said that it would be inserted at Section 5. Councilmember Watkins moved to suspend the rules for the second and third readings. Councilmember Cargill seconded and the roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. Councilmember Cargill moved to adopt and Councilmember Gaither seconded. The roll call count was 8 for and 0 against. The ordinance was given 42003-6-2. Councilmember Cargill moved to adopt the emergency clause and Councilmember Gaither seconded. All voted for. ORDINANCE REGULATING LOUD NOISES FROM VEHICLES Mayor Baird read an ordinance that would regulate excessive loud noises by use of sound amplification systems from motor vehicles within the City of Batesville. The council discussed the ordinance briefly and said to put in on the next agenda for the second reading. CEMETERY RESOLUTION The council considered two cemetery resolutions; Nehmiah Harper, 42003-175-1 for $200.00 and Blanche Gravely, 42003-175-2 for $400.00. Councilmember Cargill moved to accept the resolutions and Councilmember Watkins seconded. All voted for. UPDATE ON CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE The Mayor said that he has instructed the City Attorney to contact the attorney for Cox Commutations and offer a compromise for the Cable Franchise. The Mayor said he felt that extending the franchise length 5 years in exchange for the 3% fee might be a good solution. Mr. Dwaine Millikin was present and said that Cox was anxious to resolve the conflict. MONTHLY FINANCIALS The council was given a copy of the financial statement for 05-31-03. COUNCIL COMMENTS The council was given a report showing a tenant in the Municipal Building that was three months behind on their rent. The council asked the Mayor to talk to the tenant before an evection notice is sent. There being no further business, Councilmember Cargill moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilmember Pectol seconded and all voted for. JOE M. BIARD, MAYOR DENISE M. JOHNSTON, CITY CLERK