Council bypasses bid process; votes to upgrade pumps

Members of the Forrest City City Council last week agreed to allow the water department to upgrade a pair of pumps without going through the bid process. After hearing a quarterly report from Edward Gregory, water department manager, the council agreed to allow the city to spend the money and come back at a later date to approve a resolution or adopt an ordinance supporting the move to bypass the bid process. “I make a motion that we deal with these pumps. I kind of like drinking water, myself,” said councilman Rick Hirons. FC Mayor Larry Bryant said the city is working with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission in an effort to obtain funding to make improvements to the water system with the addition of a water softener. The council approved a resolution allowing Bryant and Gregory to execute the necessary documents should funding be approved. In other business, the council adopted an ordinance, after its third reading, regarding water meter ownership, protection and damages to equipment. The vote on the ordinance was 6-0 with council members Justin Reeves and Louise Fields absent. City attorney Marshall Wright also did not attend the meeting. The city is looking at closing Crowley’s Ridge Road, but is awaiting paperwork from Wright to move forward. “It’s an unused road so I don’t think it will be any problem,” said Bryant. Bryant has revised an ordinance the city currently has on file regarding the renaming of streets or the placement of an honorary name on a city roadway Councilman Lowry Astin suggested the matter be tabled until Wright has an opportunity to review the changes. “I think we should table this matter until further notice after getting insight from the city attorney to make sure we’re not violating any laws,” said Astin. The city requested bids for street striping and paving of several streets but only received one bid from M&T Paving of Forrest City. Bryant said he would review the bid and discuss it with company officials. “We don’t have a lot of money but we’re going to go as far as we can. We have between $250,000 and a half a million to take care of some of these streets.” he said. During his monthly update, Bryant told the council the city has had trouble with two garbage trucks on which the side arms were broken. “We’re doing what we can with what we have,” said Bryant. “We have those two baby garbage trucks where the men have to get out and dump the cans manually. It’s just one of the many problems you have with garbage pickup. The trucks do break down and it is expensive to fix them. At least one is under warranty.” In closing, Bryant cautioned the council that when they begin budget talks in September they need to consider raises for city employees. “Our employees do a whole lot for a little. Sooner or later we’re going to have to give some raises,” he said. “There are a lot of things that will need to be hammered out in the budget. I will make some proposals but it will be up to the council on how to find the money to fund our endeavors.” The council voted to pay $77,160.06 in general fund bills, $77,959.56 in water department bills, $15,468.66 in bills for the street department and $41,166.12 in solid waste bills.

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