COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 2023
CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 20, 2023
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at the Gassville Community Center. Mayor Braim led those in attendance in saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and in 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 Tim McFarland, Council Member Anita Seaman, Council Member Naomi Lassen, Council Member Ernest Adkins, Council Member Ralph Bird, Mayor Jeff Braim, and Recorder-Treasurer Jeff Lewis. Fire Chief Michael Glotzl was also present.
Mayor Braim announced that Police Chief Tim Mayfield was not in attendance because of a death in his family and expressed condolences on behalf of the City.
The minutes from the last regular meeting held May 16, 2023 were then up for consideration. Council Member Adkins moved to approve those minutes as presented, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. No corrections or additions were called for, whereupon the Mayor called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.
The financial report for the month of April, 2023 was presented to the City Council for approval. The approval of this report had been deferred from the last meeting in May. Council Member Adkins moved to approve the April financial report as presented, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The Mayor called for any corrections or additions, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, 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 May, 2023, has not yet been finalized due to delays caused by the recent transfer of all city accounts from Farmer's and Merchants Bank to First Security Bank and the resulting delays in dual bank statement reconciliations. The May financial report should be available for City Council by the end of this week and will be considered for approval at the next meeting.
Mayor Braim noted that with the exception of the Denton Cemetery Trust CD, all other city bank accounts have now been transferred to First Security Bank. The Denton Cemetery Trust CD remaining at Farmer's and Merchants Bank will mature later this month. The city is unable to locate the original trust paperwork that was used to purchase that certificate of deposit in the City of Gassville's name, nor can it be found on file at either the Circuit Clerk's Office or at Farmer's and Merchants Bank. Mayor Braim suggested that rather than attempt to purchase a new CD for the Denton Cemetery Trust at First Security Bank, which may not be possible without presenting the bank with the original trust documentation, that the CD simply be cashed in when it matures and the funds deposited directly into the Cemetery Fund checking account. Council Member Bird moved to proceed as suggested by the Mayor and to cash in the Denton Cemetery Trust CD on its date of maturity at Farmer's and Merchants Bank and deposit the money into the Cemetery Fund checking account now at First Security Bank. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.
In the absence of Police Chief Mayfield, the Mayor gave the police department report for the month of May. It was accepted into the record without objection. Council Member Adkins indicated that he had questions for Chief Mayfield, but would withhold the questions until the next meeting when Chief Mayfield could be present in attendance.
Fire Chief Glotzl gave the fire department report for the month of May. It was also accepted into the record without objection. Council Member Adkins asked several questions regarding the small plane crash that occurred off Red Bud Road several days ago. Council Member Adkins indicated he wishes to be provided with a copy of the investigative report once it has been released by the National Transportation Safety Board. Chief Glotzl also noted that there had been no injuries from the crash, however there had been a fuel spill that the fire department dealt with. There was additional discussion concerning the grass air strip on Mike Roller's property, zoning questions, and other matters related to the air strip.
A list of items that Fire Chief Glotzl requested be removed from fire department inventory was presented to the City Council. This included a thermal imaging camera and three motorola hand-held radios. These items are not operational and of no further value. A list of these specific items are attached hereto. Council Member Adkins moved to authorize the removal of those items from inventory and to allow for their disposal. This motion was seconded by Council Member Bird.
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Mayor Braim called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, 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 June 8th, to-wit:
a. Operations at the Wastewater Treatment Facility are normal.
b. The new gear box previously talked about should arrive by the end of July.
c. Servicing of the generator took place on June 7th and was performed by a new company.
d. The new truck for the line crew is expected to be received by the dealer by the end of June. At the moment it is in Alabama having the bed installed. The final cost will be $62,633.00. $10,000.00 toward this will come from the capital improvement fund while the remainder will have to be financed. The Mayor has been looking into various financing options and interest rates.
e. Bids for the "Phase II" project on renovations to the sewer collection system will be advertised for, and bids then to be opened on July 13th at 9:00 AM at Cotter City Hall. The current estimated cost for the project is $3.2 million dollars. The City of Cotter may be eligible for 75% grant funding for the project, with the remaining costs being shared proportionately by Cotter and Gassville. Options for mechanisms to pay for Gassville's portion were briefly discussed.
f. The depreciation account mandated by ANRC has now exceeded the $50,000.00 required amount. The account balance is now $50,142.84.
Council Member Lassen gave a brief report from the Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission. At its last meeting no action was taken, but discussion took place regarding various safety issues, set-back requirements, zoning issues, and the possibility of holding a community meeting to discuss those matters. She also announced the Mark Kapshandy has resigned as a member of the commission. A replacement will be sought.
The Mayor then gave the building inspection report for the period of May 17th through June 15th. It was accepted into the record without objection. Mayor Braim also announced that a public hearing on a re-zoning request has been set for July 10th at 6:00 PM, as well as a variance request.
There was no unfinished business on the agenda, although the Mayor did report that work is proceeding at Lancaster Park and at the new well pump house on Houser Ave.
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Under new business, the issue of the sale of the 1997 International Pierce Pumper Fire Engine was discussed. The City Council previously authorized the sale of this piece of equipment with a minimum bid amount to be considered of $60,000.00. The Mayor indicated that no bids have been received. The question then was whether to re-advertise for bids with a lower minimum amount or take some other action. This elicited a lengthy period of discussion as to how to proceed further, with some questioning the reason or necessity behind trying to sell the fire truck at all. After the matter had been debated extensively, Council Member Bird moved to re-advertise for bids for the truck, lowering the minimum bid amount that would be considered down to $50,000.00. This motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. Council Member Smith voted against the motion. The Mayor declared the motion carried by majority vote.
The next order of business was to review the issue of the consolidation of the several water and sewer department depreciation accounts that had been opened over the years for one project or another into one consolidated depreciation account for water and one consolidated depreciation account for sewer. Mayor Braim stated he had spoken with a bond attorney who advised that consolidation of those various depreciation accounts is permissible and would not create any issues so long as they continued to be for the use of the water and sewer department.
The issue of adding the Mayor of Cotter and the bookkeeper for the City of Cotter as authorized signers on the Joint Sewer System accounts was presented. Mayor Braim asked that the City Council approve the addition of Cotter Mayor McGeorge Carradine and Cotter Bookkeeper Stefani Wright as authorized signers on the Joint Sewer Accounts held by the City of Gassville at First Security Bank. He noted that one signature from a Gassville official and one signature from a Cotter officials is required on checks drawn on those accounts. Council Member Lassen moved to authorize Mayor Carradine and Bookkeeper Wright to be authorized signers on those accounts, which motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.
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Another banking issue, the matter of converting various city savings accounts into checking accounts, was discussed. Mayor Braim recommended the conversion of those savings accounts because a better interest rate of 3.67% can currently be realized by having the money in checking accounts rather than savings accounts. These particular accounts have little activity on them. Council Member Lassen moved to authorize the conversion of city savings accounts over to checking accounts at First Security Bank as per recommendation of the Mayor. This motion was seconded by Council Member Adkins. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, Adkins, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.
Mayor Braim then updated the City Council on various items, to-wit:
1. The Mayor, after consultation with the City Attorney, sent a certified letter to the owners of "M Properties", being Jeffrey Magness and Melanie Magness, with respect to the construction of the new homes on Melanie Drive and E. Factory. Construction work ceased on those projects some time back, and the original building permits have expired. M Properties was notified that new permits and inspections will be required before any additional work can now be done. M Properties has not responded to this letter.
2. Mayor Braim provided the City Council with a list of remaining old blank checks on former accounts at Farmers and Merchants Bank that need to be destroyed. The City Council did not take any action on that issue and will consider it next month.
3. Mayor Braim, Council Member Lassen, and Council Member Seaman attended the recent Arkansas Municipal League Convention either in person or virtually.
4. A proposal for bookkeeping services for the water and sewer department was given to City Council. Additional proposals are being sought.
Council Member Smith noted that many gravestones in the Gassville Cemetery are fading and becoming illegible. This prompted discussion about means by which to clean stones and perhaps engage volunteers for that purpose.
Mayor Braim will be taking vacation from July 3rd to July 14th.
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There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting then adjourned at 7:28 PM upon motion of Council Member Adkins, seconded by Council Member Bird, with all members voting in favor.
Submitted by: /s/ Jeffrey Lewis,
Recorder-Treasurer
Approved by: /s/ Jeff Braim,
Mayor
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