Council approves buying new fire trucks for city

Forrest City is expected to receive two new fire trucks this spring after the city council voted this week to approve the purchases. Fire Chief Jeremy Sharp told the council the city has three fire trucks that need to be replaced due to mechanical problems. The new trucks are estimated to cost $1,419,500. The city will be responsible for making annual payments of $142,763.37 for 15 years to pay for the trucks. “Do y’all have a funding source in place to pay for these trucks?” asked councilman Justin Reeves. Sharp said the agency’s revenue includes fees collected for out-of-town services, citations they issue and inspection fees. “We’ve also had cuts to our budget so we’re not using that money anymore,” he said. “Fire trucks aren’t chasing ambulances anymore, are they?” asked councilman Bobby Astin. “We go on wrecks, heart attacks, people not breathing, strokes, those sorts of things, but we’re not going out anymore because you have a headache or your stomach hurts,” said Sharp. Astin asked if the department had made any cuts to its services in order to help pay for the new trucks. “I went to the fire department last week and asked him to explain to me how once they sell the old trucks that money will be allocated toward the new trucks,” said councilman Marvin Metcalf. “Once we sell the three trucks, that money will go to the city and turn around and be used as part of the payment on the new trucks,” said Sharp. “How close do you think the fire department can get to paying the yearly payment?” asked Reeves. Sharp said he believes the agency will be about $40,000 short, but noted the council would be considering an ordinance later in the meeting to apply service fees to calls on Interstate 40 that occur within the city limits. “They spent a lot of time with me recently, laying this out, showing the options on the trucks and explaining why we need these two pumper trucks as opposed to a pumper truck and a ladder truck,” said Reeves. “I support it and make a motion that we approve for them to buy two fire trucks.” Council member Cornescha Wright asked Sharp to explain some of the issues the department has had with its current trucks. Sharp said labor costs, not including the parts needed for the work, are expensive and that parts to repair the older vehicles are hard to find. “It’s hard to get parts for these trucks because they’re so old. We can’t just go to a parts store and buy them. We have to buy them from a place in Memphis or Conway and their prices are through the roof,” he said. “Are these trucks coming in fully outfitted? Can y’all take some stuff off the old trucks and put it on these new trucks?” asked Astin. “We won’t have to buy any more equipment because the three trucks we’re replacing have more than enough equipment,” Sharp answered. The council voted 5-to-0 to purchase the trucks. Council members Louise Fields, Lowry Astin and Rick Hirons were absent. “If we run tight, we just won’t fill a slot to make up for that $40,000,” said Mayor Larry Bryant. The council then heard first reading of the ordinance to amend sections of the city’s fire code. The changes will allow the department to begin charging fees for working incidents that do not involve residents of the city. Previously, the agency was not allowed to charge a fee to companies when working incidents along Interstate 40 if they occurred within the city limits. “We’re trying to earmark that money for trucks and equipment,” said Sharp. “The majority of the money will come from the interstate, but we also collect fees for house fires we work out in the county.” The ordinance was read for the first time at Tuesday’s meeting but requires two other readings before adoption. The other readings could not be held due to the three council members being absent. Bryant encouraged anyone wanting to comment on the proposed changes to the ordinance to contact city hall or the fire department. In other business, Bryant asked the council to approve the appointment of Kenneth Young to the Delta Regional Airport Authority to replace Kendall Owens who recently passed away. “He’s a retired welder, married and a homeowner in Forrest City. He’s a father and a common sense people person. I know others who would like this appointment, but I’m choosing someone who I think will work hard and help make our airport stronger and more viable for our constituents,” said Bryant. Young addressed the council, saying he had lived in this community for about 30 years. “I know just about all of you and have seen you on several different occasions,” Young began. “I also had a bunch of talk come to me about our community and our peoples in the political arena here in Forrest City and St. Francis County. You have a selected group of people that you choose to bring on board, but in this community we are all taxpayers. So, if we all taxpayers, if my tax dollars are needed, then no one have the right or the audacity to go behind my back pulling any kind of records because I want you to know if I were to do an investigation on each and every one of you it wouldn’t be a beautiful investigation. Do y’all understand me? If y’all would allow me to serve and to help this community, I will do that.” “What experience do you have dealing with the airport commission?” asked Wright. Young explained that he works for an oil refinery in Memphis and holds a master’s degree in weapons of mass destruction from Texas A&M. “I know all about jet fuel. I am well aware and well refreshed of anything to do with gas and oil. I am equipped probably more so than any people in this town,” he said. Astin asked Young if he was a Forrest City resident. “I’m a resident of the city limits and the county,” Young responded. “Do you have a primary residence?” asked Astin. “The primary for right now would be the city and that would be moved to the county,” said Young. “If you want to talk about taxes, I pay more taxes than you probably.” “That’s irrelevant,” said Astin. Metcalf asked Bryant if the appointment is for Forrest City. “My appointment is for Forrest City, citizens of Forrest City. They have the county representative already,” said Bryant. “With him living in the city limits now, if he were to move to the county, he would no longer be able to hold that seat, correct?” asked Reeves. “Correct,” Bryant responded. The council denied Young’s appointment to the DRAA, voting 3-to-2, with Astin and Reeves voting against it. Four council votes were needed to confirm Young’s appointment, but three council members were absent. After the voice vote, Bryant asked for a roll-call vote on the appointment. At that point, Metcalf asked to make a comment on the matter, which Bryant denied because the votes had already been cast. The council also approved adding five properties to the city’s condemnation list. Those properties are located at 620 S. Division, 710 S. Division, 118 S. McClendon, 403/405 McDaniel and 1138/1140 N. Division. The council agreed to allow Bryant to research costs for uniform services and granted the mayor permission to purchase or lease a new garbage truck, which is included in this year’s budget. Bryant asked the council to review the city’s nuisance abatement ordinance to see what changes need to be made. “Look at it and dissect it. If there are any changes you’d like to see or any the community would like to see, give those to me so we can change it as needed,” said Bryant. The council voted to allow the mayor to settle a lawsuit filed against the city by Willie Summage, Terrence Triggs and Jonathan Williams, at the suggestion of Sara Monaghan, an attorney with the Arkansas Municipal League. The settlement requires the city to pay $9,000 to Williams, $5,000 to Triggs and $14,000 to Summage, along with $1,932.50 to the attorney for the plaintiffs for fees and $608.04 to the plaintiff’s attorney for costs. In the email Bryant shared with the council, Monaghan advised the council that it should vote to approve the payments in order to settle the lawsuit, “not because the city has engaged in wrongdoing, but because it will be financially beneficial to the city. As part of this settlement, the city will admit no liability in the case.” The city is responsible for the entire payment because the plaintiff’s claims were brought pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act and the League does not provide monetary coverage for these types of claims, according to the email. Council members voted to approve payment of bills from the general fund in the amount of $31,780.84, street fund, $2,597.27, and solid waste fund, $7,678.52. The water bills were delayed and not presented to the council.

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