DECATUR — Community member Carl Florer, at the Aug. 13 city council meeting, voiced his concerns about Decatur residents firing guns and target practicing inside the city limits.

Florer gave the council several examples of recent incidents that he felt were dangerous, both near his home and at the Decatur Housing Authority apartments where he serves as board chairman.

There is currently no law against firing weapons in the city limits, but Florer said he is concerned a stray bullet could hurt or kill someone, especially at the housing authority’s two apartment complexes where there are a number of children playing outside.

“Bullets kill in little cities just like they do in big cities,” he said.

Mayor Charles Linam said he has worked with police chief Terry Luker to create adraft of a firearms ordinance, but added that it is not ready to present to the council.

The draft bans firing guns, including BB and pellet guns, inside the city limits with a few exceptions. Property owners with more than five acres would be able to hunt on their property during hunting season. In addition, all property owners would be allowed to shoot at “varmints” such as skunks, opossums, armadillos and snakes, Linam explained.

In other business, Florer told the council that the railroad overpass on West Main Street needs a better walkway, and the sidewalk on West Main needs improvement. Many of the Decatur Housing Authority residents don’t have cars and use the sidewalk and the overpass to reach Main Street businesses, Florer said.

Florer said the state highway department did put some stakes along the bridge so that pedestrians would have a way to keep clear of traffic but said the stakes could easily be runover by a tractor-trailer truck.

In addition, there is not any access for pedestrians on either side of the overpass, and the sidewalk from the overpass to the housing authority apartments is in poor condition and would not pass Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, Florer said.

Florer said he realizes the overpass is the responsibility of the state highway department and asked the city council to help him encourage the state to address the problem.

The council also voted to appoint Paula McGee to fill an open position on the Decatur Housing Authority Board at Florer’s request.

Holiday Pay

City employees will continue to have to put in more than 40 hours of actual work, even on holiday weeks, to earn overtime pay.

Mayor Charles Linam presented an ordinance that would have counted holiday hours towards hours worked for overtime pay at the Aug. 13 meeting. The city has always paid employees overtime for any hours over 40 per week, as required by state law, but the ordinance would allow holiday hours to count towards the first40 hours, he explained. Employees get 8 hours of paid time for holidays.

The ordinance would mostly affect water department employees who are often called in to work on weekends and holidays to repair leaking water lines.

“A year ago Jan. 1, these men were here at 10 p.m., repairing a huge water leak. They did not get a dime’s overtime pay,” Linam said, explaining that they were only paid their regular hourly wage.

Over the past six months, the additional overtime proposed in the ordinance would have cost the city less than $200, Linam reported. He also said that Centerton and Gravette have similar overtime policies.

Councilman David Sutton made a motion to pass the ordinance, but it died on the table without a second.

Noise ordinance

City council members voted 4-5 in favor of passing, on its second reading, a noise ordinance.

The ordinance would regulate “unnecessary and disturbing noises” within the city limits, including the use of jake brakes in large trucks.

Councilman James Jessen, who was not presentat last month’s meeting for the first reading of the ordinance, expressed concerns that semi-truck drivers would use the brakes anyway if they had a heavy load.

Linam replied that there are no grades in the city that are steep enough to require more than a truck’s regular braking system.

Council members Kim Goble, David Sutton, Sandy Duncan and Nan Mc-Clain voted in favor of the ordinance. Jessen voted against it.

A third and final reading of the ordinance will be held at the September city council meeting.

Pickin Time on 59

City council members voted to waive yard sale fees during the “Pickin’ Time on 59” event planned for the weekend of Oct.

12-14.

In addition to waiving the $6 fee, the sale will not be counted towards Decatur residents’ limit of two yard sales per year.

“Pickin TIme on 59” is a joint effort of the Sulphur Springs, Gravette, Decatur, Gentry, Siloam Springs and Centerton Chambers of Commerce. Residents will be invited to hold yard sales and sell collectibles and antiques during the weekend of the event.

News, Pages 1 on 08/22/2012