HIGHFILL -- Keith Smith, Highfill's interim part-time police chief, announced his intent to resign his Highfill post, effective in August.
Smith told council members he would be turning in his resignation letter this week, with Aug. 18 being his last day to work for the department.
Smith, who is full-time chief for Gentry, was hired by the city of Highfill in mid October of 2013 to help get the Highfill Police Department in order and to hire and train an officer who could eventually assume the role of chief. Smith hired Blake Webb as full-time sergeant along with a second full-time officer and has worked to make the department compliant with state regulations and to establish an operational policy.
"I've been here since Oct. 22," Smith said. "That will be 10 months in August and it's time for me to step aside and let Highfill have its own chief."
Smith said he thought Webb was ready to assume the duties of full-time chief for Highfill.
Stacy Digby, Highfill's mayor, said he has been receiving positive feedback from citizens on the department.
Webb addressed the council, explaining why the department was over budget in line items for Internet technology and vehicle maintenance. He said the department had to spend more to get its computers and Internet working with required state reporting software installed but that everything was now working well. He also said the department had been hard hit on vehicle maintenance and repair because a number of the vehicles are older and have a lot of miles. He said the department was spending another $900 on the Durango because of worn out parts in the suspension but that the repairs were necessary to keep from wearing out tires.
In spite of the overages, Webb said his department was on track with the rest of its budget and would manage.
Digby asked Webb if he intended to hire a third officer after Smith leaves in August and Webb said he hoped to do so since it was already in his department's budget.
Both Smith and Webb suggested the department begin advertising for the open position and accept applications up to and through the hiring to ensure it had a good pool of candidates from which to choose another officer.
In other business, the council agreed to move forward and set a special meeting for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 5 to consider and take action on refinancing five of the city's six bonds (the sixth is not yet eligible). The city is working with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to refinance the city's bonds at a lower interest rate and save money for the city. The meeting date in early August is necessary to schedule a special election on the matter in conjunction with the November general election.
The bond restructuring, if approved by the council and voters, would not increase taxes but would save the city money and put the city in a better financial situation should the need arise in the future to issue bonds for another project. The restructuring plan would commit 1 cent of the city's 2 cent sales and use tax toward the new bond, with the other 1 cent still committed to the existing bond not yet eligible to be refinanced.
According to Steve Miller, city attorney for Highfill, if another project came up, the city could not get more bonds issued without restructuring the current debt.
The Aug. 5 meeting will be at the same time as the scheduled water board meeting, and representatives from Crews and Associates and from the ANRC will be on hand to explain the issue.
Last month, Bob Wright of Crews and Associates explained to the water board and then to the council the possibility of refinancing a portion of the city's bonds for an approximate savings of $185,000. He said he would like to discuss two of the city's loans with the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and would then report back to the city on a possible course of action to restructure and simplify the city's bonded debt, save the city money and put it in a better position for future grants and projects.
Highfill's fire chief, Gene Holland, reported that the department recently received a new pump truck from the county which has now passed all its required tests, making it ready for service in the department fleet. He said the county was also refurbishing a used truck with a new chassis to serve as the department's swift-water rescue truck.
Roger Hill addressed the council in the open hearing segment, stating his trash hadn't been picked up in five weeks and voicing concern over new homes being built on a private road and how taps to the city water line would be handled since he had to pay $30,000 for a 6-inch water line when he connected to city water. He asked requirements for the private road to be turned over to city ownership.
Councilman Chris Holland suggested the matters be referred to the city's planning commission for a recommendation but also suggested the new owners be required to pay for another 400 feet of 6-inch water line. He said he thought a road should be made 20 feet wide and have a chip and seal surface before the city accepts it as a street.
The council passed an ordinance on three readings amending the city's 2014 budget, adding $2,500 to the police department budget and another $3,000 to the city's office expense line item -- also due to IT work and repairs.
A rezoning request of Eric and Amy Holland for property on Holland Avenue was passed to change the property from R-2 to rural residential.
Another ordinance amended city code designating places for posting of city ordinances rather than publishing them in a local newspaper to post them at the police station instead of at the recently closed Branding Iron service station, convenience store and restaurant.
General News on 07/16/2014