Council considers targeting property owners in cleanup

The Forrest City City Council is considering changes to the nuisance abatement law with hopes of cleaning up the city. Councilman Bobby Astin said during this week’s council meeting that he had spoken with Mayor Larry Bryant and code enforcement officer Kendall Pettus regarding possible changes. “We discussed properties not being maintained, especially apartments, and tickets being written. If we keep writing tickets, maybe we’ll get into their pockets and they’ll start doing a little better,” said Astin. “I think it’s time we start holding property owners and landlords responsible for what their property looks like.” Astin said he had also spoken with T.L. Jones, executive director of the St. Francis County Housing Authority. “She is actively having people go by and investigate properties inside and out and making landlord property owners more responsible, and tenants also,” said Astin. Astin said Pettus needs another employee in his office.“ Code enforcement needs some part-time help and there’s plenty out there,” he said. Astin also said he would like the city to require residents to place all garbage in bags before putting it in the garbage containers. “I’d like to see us start bagging our trash before we put it in the trash can, and we need to make sure the lids can be shut without trash running out of the top if it,” he said. “Other cities have to put trash in bags and we can do the same,” said Bryant. The mayor commented that some residents may not be able to purchase garbage bags. “Maybe the council will give us the authority to buy garbage bags for those who can’t, and we’ll give out garbage bags accordingly,” said Bryant. Bryant said city officials are also considering stopping the curbside pickup for large items. “If the council will agree, we will stop picking up rubbish, furniture, couches, construction materials,” said Bryant. “We would change the pickup to twice a year during the cleanups in April and October. Any other time someone has that type of debris they can take it to the city shop and we’ll haul it off, but as far as picking it up, most cities don’t do it.” Only four council members attended Tuesday’s meeting. Astin, Cornescha Wright, Lowry Astin and Jim Bailey were present. Council members Justin Reeves, Louise Fields, Marvin Metcalf and Rick Hirons were absent, as was city attorney Marshall Wright. Bryant gave the council a copy of the newest proposed budgets for the general fund in the amount of $35,647,585. The water department’s proposed budget is $10,367,032. “We need to pass something before the first of the year, that’s the law,” said Bryant, adding that he had been giving the council information regarding the budget since September. “Since it’s on the floor, we can defer to next Tuesday to vote to give y’all another week to study it. That will still get us in before the first of the year,” said Bryant. “Mayor, I don’t think the budget committee is going to be able to meet until after Christmas,” said councilman and committee member Lowry Astin. The budget committee, chaired by Reeves, has met several times to discuss the proposed budget. “We came yesterday (Monday) and some that should be here now are not here and didn’t have what I had given them previously,” said Bryant. “As stated earlier, I’ve done what I can. All this is, is a road map to where we’re trying to go in conjunction with employees getting a raise and all the other things that are involved in the budget.” State law requires the mayor to present the council with a proposed budget before Dec. 1, with the council required to adopt a budget prior to Feb. 1. The council also approved paying general fund bills of $76,706.24, solid waste bills of $39,738.18, street department bills of $2,046.26 and water department bills of $124,568.24. One invoice was pulled from the list of general fund invoices after Lowry Astin questioned a charge of $464.72 from Commercial Lighting from 2024. Astin said notes on the invoice show that NFL jerseys and hats were purchased and it was billed to the parks and recreation department. Bryant said he and city clerk Derene Cochran would review the invoice Lowry Astin also asked that the meeting’s record reflect that a resolution for improvements to the city’s water and sewer services had not been approved by the council because the city had not received the resolution from Wright. “The city attorney is not here tonight. Has he had any contact with you as to why he did not submit a resolution at the end of the year?” Astin asked Bryant. “I’d like to go on record that this council and the mayor does not write resolutions, and for state auditor purposes we should not be held accountable on it when we’re waiting for paperwork that should have been taken care of the first part of September.” During the public comment portion of the meeting, the council heard from Tonya Cromwell, daughter of Howard C. Smith, asking the group to consider changing the name of Whitaker Street to Howard C. Smith Avenue

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