A&P Commission approves funding for Easter Egg hunt, Run for Wall, MightyMite

The Forrest City Advertising and Promotion Commission this week approved several requests for funding including a community wide Easter Egg hunt, the annual Run for the Wall and MightyMite. Commissioners agreed to table a decision on a funding request for a new Juneteenth event from Forrest City Police Chief Ronald Broussard. Commissioners also heard from Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant about updates and the need for funding to repair problems at the city’s multi purpose center. Commissioners Louise Fields and Angela Towner were absent. A&P Chairman Justin Reeves said that because of how spread out Easter events have been previously, a community-wide Easter egg hunt is being planned in an effort to bring all organizations and churches together for one large event. "Last year, on that weekend before Easter, all of the churches and organizations were spread out,” said Reeves. “There weren't enough barbecue grills in town for everybody. They were all borrowed. They are now trying to get everyone to come together and do it all out at the multi-purpose center at the complex. They just want one day of everybody working together." The request was submitted by Emily Flemon, a staff member with ConnectPoint Church. According to the request, the event would take place at the Forrest City Sports Complex on Saturday, April 12. The group requested $5,000 for advertising and products for the event. Bryant said during the meeting that the event's date, Saturday, April 12, would be in conflict with the city’s annual spring cleanup event, scheduled for that morning. "The only problem I see with it is the conflict. I don't know what time this is, but the conflict with the city-wide clean-up," said Bryant. "We put it back a weekend so that we wouldn't conflict with Easter. This is not Easter Saturday, this is the Saturday before Easter. About eight or nine days before Easter. That is the only problem I see with it. It is good, but it conflicts with what we do every year and we try not to conflict with others. If it is in the afternoon, it will not conflict. There is no time listed on the request." "I think it is an all-day event," said Reeves. "I think they are going to do lunch, egg hunts and all sorts of things.” "Somebody was on our Facebook page saying 'Why do y'all have to have a clean-up on our Easter Egg day?" said Bryant. "That depends on what the priority is for the city's sake. We had that date. This is coming in now. If they are going to have it in the afternoon, we will be finished with what we have to do about noon." "Justin, you think this will be an all-day event?” asked commissioner Larry Freeman. "I think it is a bigger part of the day," said Reeves. "I know they have reached out to a lot of organizations to volunteer. Maybe they could be part of the clean-up that morning and then start this. I think we can make both of them work." "Could we contact ConnectPoint and let them know we have another event going on?” asked Freeman. "Yeah," said Reeves. "I'll see if we can make it work. The church group normally helps with the clean-ups, so I don't think it is going to be a problem." Commissioners unanimously voted in favor of providing the full amount requested. The group also received a request for $5,000 from Ridgewood Baptist Church to support the long-running Run for the Wall event, which stops in Forrest City each year on its route to Washington, D.C. According to the request, the funds would be used to purchase and prepare food for the participants in the ride as well as expenses related to entertainment for the riders. Reeves told commissioners the group has always been good at getting the A&P anything they need. "This is one that we have been doing for a long time," said Reeves. "I think everybody is familiar. They are a motorcycle group that starts in California and rides to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. They stop here in Forrest City at Ridgewood Baptist Church, just north of town. They entertain them and feed them. I think they even let them shower and stay the night if needed. "They are requesting $5,000," continued Reeves. "They have always been good with getting us anything we have asked for. They stay in our hotels and shop in our businesses too." The commission voted unanimously to fund the request. Commissioners reviewed a request for an Eternal Light Juneteenth event to be held on Sunday, June 15, at the Forrest City Civic Center. In the request, Broussard asked for $8,500 for seed money. According to Reeves, the Eternal Light Juneteenth event would be a new event. "This is an event that Chief Ronald Broussard is putting on. He and I visited some about it. It is to inform, educate and highlight Juneteenth and to promote diversity and inclusivity." "This is not the same one that Angela (Wilburn) puts on is it?” asked Freeman. "It is not," said Reeves. "I wonder if it is in conflict with what Angela does," said commissioner Judy Sweet. "I know that her event is really developing and growing every year. I would hate for people to have to choose which one they want to go to. I think it would be a good thing, though. It would still be building programs." "Let's just put it to the side for now and get with Angela," said Reeves. "We should make sure they aren't overlapping." The group agreed to table the matter until they could visit with Wilburn. Reeves told commissioners it is time to once again renew the MightyMite contract. Reeves said the request for $10,000 is the same as it has been for several years. "They are doing their contract for the year and the prices will stay the same,” he noted. “Last year, we visited with them a little bit about doing more for the city, like coming in the night before. The Chamber got involved and cooked for them after the run last year. This year, it is going to end here in front of the Chamber. We are going to set up picnic tables and get them to stay a little bit longer. "In the past, they used to do a dinner the night before. They are visiting with their group to maybe do that so that they do come and stay," continued Reeves. Commissioners unanimously voted to fund the event. In other business, Reeves presented commissioners with a contract for advertising and promotion Forrest City Broadcasting, KXJK/KBFC for an annual advertising package for $24,000. "This is something similar to what we have been doing with the newspaper. They are wanting to do a yearly contract. Rob (Johnson, station manager) says he will work with us on how and when we want to use these advertisements, however creative we want to get. If we want to do it on The Morning Show, highlight things throughout the day, run it on their website, however we want to do it." Reeves shared that after speaking with Johnson about the contract, the contract could be paid however the commission would like to pay it and that it would be customizable to however the board decided to promote and advertise the city. "We talked last week about what all we could do with it," said Reeves. "We discussed how the Forrest City Mustang Basketball team made it to the state tournament and we could have been a sponsor on congratulating them on making it to the tournament. He is willing to work with us on how we want to promote and advertise the city. It would cover anything we want or need." "Do we know what we want or need from him?” asked Freeman. Reeves said commissioners can decide how they want to use the advertising and what events to promote. "They have a huge following," said Reeves. "Especially with The Morning Show." "We, as a group, will have to have something solid, factual to give them," said Freeman. "I think we could come up with stuff in advance," said Reeves. "We have a calendar of events and we can make sure everyone is notified You're right, there is going to be some work on our side making sure that they get the materials they need. He is willing to put out anything that benefits the city and benefits the A&P." Once the agenda was complete, Bryant addressed issues with the swimming pools at the multi purpose center at the Sports Complex and the need for funding for repairs. "I know we would like to sit down and discuss you funding the multi-purpose center and the Sports Complex," said Bryant. "We had about $200,000 to $300,000 worth of things. We are $60,000 out of whack on the pools. We spent $60,000 repairing the vent system because lightning hit it. Now, we have to put in a new panel, a board and something else. That is $63,000. Everything is about the pools." "Insurance doesn't cover any of that?” asked Freeman. "Not lightning," said Bryant. According to Bryant, a lot of people in the community and surrounding areas still don't know what is available at the Sports Complex. "If you will get us a printout that we could look over, we will go ahead and share it with everybody and start looking over it," said Reeves.

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