COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 2024
CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 20, 2024
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at the Gassville Community Center. Mayor Braim led those in attendance in saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and offering a word of prayer. The meeting was then called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Jeff Braim, Presiding Officer.
Upon the calling of the roll, those in attendance were Council Member Kenneth Smith, Council Member Anita Seaman, Council Member Naomi Lassen, Council Member Ernest Adkins, Council Member Ralph Bird, Mayor Jeff Braim, and Recorder-Treasurer Jeff Lewis. Council Member Tim McFarland was absent. Department Heads in attendance were Water and Street Superintendent Michael Dewey, Police Chief Tim Mayfield, and Fire Chief Michael Glotzl.
The minutes from the January 16, 2024 meeting were presented to the City Council for consideration and approval. Council Member Bird moved to approve the minutes as submitted. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. Mayor Braim called for corrections or additions. None were forthcoming, whereupon he called for the vote. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.
The financial report for the month of January, 2024 was submitted to the City Council for review and approval. A correction had been made to page 33 of the report after it had been printed. Council Member Adkins moved to approve the financial report as presented to include the correction on page 33. This motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.
Police Chief Mayfield gave the police department report for the month of January, 2024. It was accepted into the record without objection.
Fire Chief Glotzl gave the fire department report for the month of January, 2024. It, too, was accepted into the record without objection. It was also announced that the newly purchased fire truck has arrived and is being worked up for service.
Chief Glotzl informed the City Council that the city's ISO rating will be reevaluated in either 2024 or 2025. There is a question as to whether the lack of a fire station with a pumper truck at the East end of the city might change the ISO rating. A pre-evaluation study can be obtained at a cost of between $1,500 and $1,800. Chief Glotzl has sufficient funds in his current budget to pay for this expense, however he asked the City Council if that is something they would like to see done. After discussion, Council Member Adkins moved to have the study done at the approximated cost. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.
Council Member Seaman gave a report from the Cotter-Gassville Joint Sewer Commission, which had met on February 8th. Operations at the wastewater treatment facility are normal. Two underground water lines had burst, but they have been repaired. The bucket to the Kubota tractor broke. The replacement cost will be $900 to $1,000. An employee of the facility and an employee of the line crew are taking their Class II Wastewater licensing test. Grease trap inspections are underway in the city. A report was given on the status of the "Phase II" renovation project to the collection system. The river walking trail at Cotter will re-open on March 1st.
Mayor Braim gave the building inspection report for the period of January 9th through February 16th. It also was accepted into the record without objection.
Mayor Braim announced that he will be calling a personnel committee meeting for continued discussion of employee sick time benefits and other issues.
Moving on to unfinished business, the City Council took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance 2024-01 on its second reading. Council Member Adkins moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its second reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance, entitled:
"ORDINANCE NO. 2024-01. AN ORDINANCE REGULATING SHIPPING CONTAINERS AND SEMI-TRUCK TRAILERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY TYPE OF STORAGE ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS, DEFINING SUCH CONTAINERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
The City Council next took up consideration of Proposed Ordinance No. 2024-02 on its second reading. Council Member Lassen moved to suspend the rules and place the proposed ordinance on its second reading by title only. This motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. Mayor Braim called for the vote.
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Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud the title of the proposed ordinance, entitled:
"ORDINANCE NO. 2024-02. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2021-06 SPECIFICALLY 'ATTACHMENT A' ESTABLISHING MINIMUM SALARIES PER POSITION IN THE CITY OF GASSVILLE AND ALLOWING FOR A SCALE FOR THE MAYOR TO HIRE WIHTOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Under new business, the City Council addressed vacancies on the Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission. Mayor Braim introduced two people who expressed interest in serving on the commission. They are Kathy Brandon, residing at 312 S. School St., and Andy Slater, residing at 301 Stephanie Dr. Both briefly addressed the City Council and answered questions. Mayor Braim then asked for a show of hands to approve the appointment of Kathy Brandon to the position. All Council Members voted in favor. The Mayor then asked for a show of hands to approve the appointment of Andy Slater to the position. All Council Members voted in favor.
The City Council then reviewed reports prepared by the building inspector, including several photographs, of three structures in the city that should be subject to condemnation proceedings because of their abandoned and delipidated condition. These are the properties at:
237 East Factory Place. The owner of record is James C. Marler.
104 Hopper Street. The owner of record is Russell L. Bernardy
516 U. S. Hwy 62. The owner of record is James McGowne
Katie Marler addressed the City Council with respect to the property at 237 East Factory Place. She stated that she has plans to clean up the property and demolish and removed the old house building, which will incur significant expense. She initially asked to be given one year to accomplish this objective. The City Council was unwilling to agree to the one year time frame. After negotiation, the City Council and Ms. Marler agreed to postpone the matter for a period of 90 days to see how much progress Ms. Marler can make on cleaning up the property within that time period. The City Council made it clear that significant progress must be made within that time period before it would agree to any further delay in condemnation action. Ms. Marler agreed to make regular progress reports to the city hall.
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The next property at 104 Hopper Street was discussed. Neither the property owner nor a representative of his was present. Two other people were present. They expressed interest in purchasing the property with the intent of renovating the house to make it occupiable again. They will be attempting to contact the owner, who lives out of state. The City Council decided to proceed with initiating condemnation proceedings on this property. Council Member Adkins moved that the city proceed with condemnation proceedings on this property under the provisions of City Ordinance No. 2022-06. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.
The last property at 516 U. S. Hwy 62 was then discussed. Again, neither the property owner nor a representative were present. Council Member Adkins again moved that the city proceed with condemnation proceedings on this property under the provisions of City Ordinance No. 2022-06, which motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.
Mayor Braim will schedule public hearings on condemnation proceedings for both of these properties, and will send notice to the property owners as required by Ordinance No. 2022-06. The City Council may then consider the passage of formal resolutions to condemn those properties.
Continuing under new business, Mayor Braim requested a budget reappropriation in the water and sewer department. Funds are needed for testing and to pull the pump at the new city well and also for camera work. He requested that $10,000 be reappropriated within the existing budget by moving the funds from expense line item #3349 (Water Install Expenses) to expense line item #3260 (Operation and Maintenance) for this purpose. Council Member Adkins moved to amend the budget as specified in this request, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.
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Recorder-Treasurer Lewis and one of the city bookkeepers requested that the City Council allow bank statements to be obtained from First Security Bank by email, rather than paper copies by regular mail. This will allow bank reconciliations to be made in a more timely fashion. The emailed statements are exactly the same as the paper statements. Council Member Lassen moved to authorize this request, which motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.
Mayor Braim announced that Danny Ellington of Ellington Engineering, which the city has used numerous time for engineering services, has moved out of the area. He asked for authorization to advertise for new requests for qualifications (RFQ) for engineering services. A template for this is available from the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District (NWAEDD). Council Member Bird moved that the city advertise for new RFQs as recommended by the Mayor. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. Council Member Adkins moved to amend the motion to allow the Mayor to proceed with this process whenever and as needed without City Council approval, but he subsequently withdrew his amendment. Mayor Braim then called for the vote on the original motion. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.
Mayor Braim then update the City Council on various topics, to-wit:
1. Paving on the Lancaster Park walking trail will soon get underway.
2. A new sign for the Gassville City Park has been erected on the new pavilion.
3. January use statics for the city's website were presented to the City Council. There is a proposal from the website host, Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, to update the website by either adding one or more new modules to the existing website or completely revamping and upgrading the website to new standards (Tier 3 option). After discussion, Council Member Lassen moved to authorize the city's website to be upgraded to Tier 3 standards by Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing. This motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. Mayor Braim called for the vote. Council Members Smith, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. The motion was deemed to be carried.
4. The new telephone system for the city hall will soon be installed.
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5. The first meeting of the Gassville In The Park Committee will be on February 22nd.
6. Early primary voting started today. Early voting is taking place at the Methodist Church on Sixth Street in Mountain Home.
Council Member Adkins asked about the availability of community service workers for trash pick-up and etc. Police Chief Mayfield stated that a number of people have been ordered by the court to perform community service work, but they do not show up as ordered.
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting then adjourned at 7:26 PM upon motion of Council Member Bird, seconded by Council Member Smith, with all members voting in favor.
Submitted by: /s/ Jeffrey Lewis,
Recorder-Treasurer
Approved by: /s/ Jeff Braim,
Mayor
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