Sulphur Springs Council answers citizen concerns in special session

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

— More than 35 people arrived at city hall some 30 minutes before the regularly scheduled city council meeting to listen to council members give responses to residents’ questions on concerns about city issues.

The mayor, along with each council member, responded to the letter sent to them by concerned citizens attending the Feb. 2 “Town Hall Speak Out,” with responses generally perceived as a positive step toward better communication between city government and the town’s citizens.

Proper notification of the press regarding the early special session was not given.

Council Meeting Briefs

During the council meeting, Mayor Bobby Simon and public works director Sherman Buckley announced possible good news for city street repairs. Although nothing concrete, they said the Arkansas Highway Transit Authority has allocated $14 million in grant moneys to help small towns like Sulphur Springs resurface its streets, but it would not cover street drain or ditch-system repairs. After the state approves the grant moneys, the AHTA will assign engineers to evaluate and determine the city’s street needs at no cost.

The audience applauded the possibility of newly paved streets in Sulphur Springs.

Buckley reported two out of three hand-pumped wells in the city park were working. Also, the Lithia Spring below the Highway 59 bridge began running again after city workers cleaned out and repaired the area leaking water through a rock fissure. After the repairs, the spring’s flow increased from a trickle to more than 12 gallons a minute, Buckley said.

Is the Lithia’s water safe to drink? Councilwoman Sue Buckner, manager of Ozark Water Service in town, completed tests on its water and determined the water fit to drink, with no harmful bacteria or substances, she said. She cautioned parents about using any untreated water for small children.

“In 14 days we’ll know whether [the water] has Lithia in it,” said council member Bill Medley.

Buckley said his crew has on its list to repair the spring’s original pillars and use cedar posts left over after clearing of the hillside above Lithia Spring to restore its roof structure.

Users of city trash service will soon notice an increased charge of 77 cents per month on their bills, reflecting Allied Waste Management’s increase in its service charge to the city. The old charge of $16.28 will increase to $17.05 a month.

The council approved $5,000 to repair a wastewater treatment plant’s blower and to purchase a used one to infuse air into wastewater to activate bacteria to ingest waste. Buckley justified the purchase, saying the regulations call for the wastewater system to use two in-line blowers and one “on the shelf as backup.” He reminded the council of the danger of untreated sewage dumping into water tributaries within six hours of any pump malfunction. If this happens, EPA fines could run into thousands of dollars, Buckley explained.

Installation, maintenance and service to the city's street lights costsevery city in Arkansas the same, said Rick Hendricks, Empire Electric representative. He presented the electric company’s contract renewal to the council.

The Arkansas Public Service Commission regulates and sets electric costs, he said.

The commission set a monthly charge for each street light at $22 for the electricity. A second charge is an investment annual charge of $1,259, which pays for all maintenance, such as pole, wire and transformer. Using the example of the May 2011 Joplin, Mo., tornado, Hendricks said his company replaced the electrical system in devastated areas of Joplin free of charge, the same as covered under the renewal contract presented for the council’s approval.

The council tabled the contract vote until its regular March council meeting.

John Thurber presented his case before the council in response to a letter received from the city regarding the status of two homes his family purchased and placed into trust several years ago. The letter called his family’s trust homes rentals, since Thurber, as trust executor, lives outside city limits.

Thurber said he had been making progress in transferring ownership of the properties to his children. He requested the council negate the letter’s intent, which named him as owner of rental property and subjected him to stricter rental property ordinances.

Simon and the council agreed that, if Thurber brings and presents proof of his argument, they would definitely reconsider.

Council member Greg Barber brought up the renewal of the policy and procedure concerning public comments at meetings.

Mayor Simon said he had no problem with public input if it remained “respectful and civilized” in nature. He said any public forum was a “courtesy of city government” to its residents.

After discussion, council members passed a motion to authorize a 15-minute public forum for anyone to speak about city business before each regularly scheduled meeting.

All requests to speak at the forum must be in writing and presented to the city hall no later than noon on the Friday before the monthly meeting on the second Thursday at 7 p.m.

The council approved a $3,000 retainer to Arkansas Municipal League attorneys for services to the city.

An ordinance was passed repealing an earlier ordinance that had fixed fees for rental of city equipment. Newer state statutes make rental or loan of city equipment illegal, Mayor Simon said.

News, Pages 1 on 02/27/2013