Hermitage City Council Meeting Minutes

HERMITAGE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY JUNE 17, 2014

Time: 6pm      Prayer: Randy York

The Hermitage City Council met for a regular meeting for June 17, 2014 in the Board Room of the City Office Building.
Mayor Alma J. Harrod was present and presided.
Attendees: Aldermen John Kidwell II, Carol Bell, and Randy York. Sylvia Esquivel could not attend due to her job. Employees present were Lanette Vines, Ben Poole, Faron Johnson, and Austin Ross.
Visitor present – Melvin Mills, Justice of Peace and Tonya Kendrix
Reading of
Last Minutes: The minutes for May 19, 2014 were presented and approved with a motion from John Kidwell II and a second from Carol Bell and the motion carried.
Recorder/
Treasurer: A motion was made by Carol Bell and second by John Kidwell II to appoint Tonya Kendrix to the position of Recorder/Treasurer for the City of Hermitage and the motion carried. Tonya Kendrix was sworn in as Recorder/Treasurer for the City of Hermitage by Justice of Peace Melvin Mills.



Water
Department: Done water maintenance/water samples passed.

Sewer
Department: Done sewer maintenance/sewer samples passed.

Street
Department: The stop signs were put back up in the
Apartments. Schedule for class and tests to become a licensed Water Distribution 1 Operator and a Waste Water Distribution 1 Operator was provided.


Fire Report: Fire Chief Barry Booker did not attend – Report given to Mayor Alma Harrod with no report of fires.
Police Report: Police Chief Ben Poole gave Police Report for May 2014.
Had 4 speeding, 1 no proof of insurance, 1 suspended driver’s license, and 1 no driver’s license. There was a total of 7 citations. A schedule was provided for each office on duty for the month of June. A monthly schedule will be provided each month. Faron Johnson will be attending the police academy Sept. 21 – December 12, 2014. Randy York suggested asking the county to provide some coverage while Faron Johnson is in the academy when Poole has some days off.

Finance Report: Administrative Assistant Lanette Vines presented the following.
May 2014 Financial Statement was presented to the council to review. A motion was made by Randy York and second by John Kidwell II and the motion carried. Local Distribution report from the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) from January to May 2014 was reviewed.

Mayor’s Report by Alma Harrod.
Old Business:
• Mr. Austin Ross accepted the position of Water/Sewer/Street Operator for the City of Hermitage. Mr. Ross would be on a 90 day trial. Mr. Ross salary for schooling hours will be $10.00 per hour and then increase to $15.00 per hour for his working hours. This position will be no more than 24 hours a week. Mr. Austin will attend all required classes. The motion was made by Randy York and second by John Kidwell II to appoint Mr. Austin Ross as Water/Sewer/Street Operator for the City of Hermitage and the motion carried.
• Security Cameras – Local Law Enforcement Block Grants (LLEBG) – Letter was written in June to WIRED Company out of warren with no response. The bid with WIRED Company will be cancelled June 20, 2014 if the cameras and DVRs still have not come in yet. Ben Poole reviewed the requirements for the security camera in relation to surveillance ability. A suggestion of seeking additional bids was made by Randy York and John Kidwell II. Lanette Vine confirmed that other bids could be sought from other companies.
• Revised Ordinance #107 – An Ordinance Required by Arkansas Code Ann. 14-42-107 State Ethics Guidelines to Approve Persons to Work as Contract Labor or Employees for City of Hermitage that are Related to Employees or Council Members was read. A motion to pass this ordinance was made Carol Bell and seconded John Kidwell II. A motion to suspend the 2nd and 3rd reading of the ordinance was made by Randy York and seconded by John Kidwell II.
• Sewer Replacement Job on Birch St. was done without problem.

New Business:
• Water Tank- Lanette Vines talked with Arkansas Soil and Waste Conservation who suggests and increase in water rates to $6.09. The additional money collected would go toward repayment of loan. Estimated $86,000 dollars to repair the inside and outside of tank. The inspection highlighting the safety issues was faxed to Pittsburg Tank for an estimate to correct safety issues. Lanette states that all government agencies were contacted for funding and most were loan/grant programs. Randy York and John Kidwell II suggests waiting for additional grants become available for funding. A suggestion by Randy York was made to have John T. Ferguson look at the tank for structural soundness and complete repairs.
• New Water Lines on Birch St. quote was reviewed by Mayor Alma Harrod. The initial cost of repairs $6,800.00 dollars to lay and tie into the main line. A review of the lines and the existing leaks was reviewed on a city map by Mayor Alma Harrod. Lanette Vines states that funds would be transferred from depreciation account. John Kidwell II suggest additional bids sought. Potential start dates were reviewed and Randy York suggests the month of August when the grounds are most dry. R and R Contracting is the potential contractor for repairs. The motion was tabled to get another quote.
• Tonya Kendrix concedes her duties as Treasurer and transfers such duties to Lanette Vines, Administrative Assistant. The motion was made by John Kidwell II and seconded by Randy York.
• Ordinance #98 requiring premises to be kept free from high grass, etc. was discussed. Mayor Alma Harrod will have letters to residences with a 10 day notice followed by a $50.00 dollar fine. No exceptions. Perry’s Lawn and Mowing notified the city office it will be ending its services at the end of July. Lanette Vines presented option of collecting bids or waiting until next years to seek bids for services. Randy York and John Kidwell II suggest seeking bids instead of waiting until next year – determined that August and September would need services. Austin Ross will bush haul ditches and do right of ways.
• Lanette Vines suggested that remaining funds from Spirit of Christmas event to be used for Business Appreciation- token such as a gift basket for the local business. Council members agreed for gift basket to be given to the local businesses. Mayor Alma Harrod – a notice for volunteers with the Spirit of Christmas Festival will be placed in the paper in October. If no volunteers come forth the Spirit of Christmas Festival will be cancelled except for Christmas parade.

Floor was open to council members – nothing further
Meeting adjourned motion made by Carol Bell seconded by Randy York and the motion carried.
The council went into Executive Session.