The Pine Bluff City Council on Monday approved a resolution authorizing a number of projects that will be funded by a bond issue approved by city voters last year when they passed a five-eights-cent sales tax increase.
The list of projects make up the second of three planned bond issues using funds from the sales tax increase, the first of which was issued in October 2011.
City Finance Department Director Steve Miller told the aldermen before Monday’s vote that it was their last chance to make any changes to the list. The next step is for the the bonds to be sold, and the bond underwriters will attend the next council meeting to share the results of the sale with the aldermen, at which point Miller said it will be too late to make any changes to the list.
The item was approved 7-0 without debate. Alderman Wayne Easterly left the meeting early and did not vote.
The list of projects to be funded by the second bond issue include:
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• A new animal shelter at just over $1 million
• More than $2.1 million for drainage projects
• Sewer projects costing $873,000
• Streetscape design and engineering costing $75,000
• Facility improvements for the fire department at $491,000
• Expansion of the Lake Saracen walking trail costing $100,000
• An $84,000 dump truck for the street department
• And an additional $124,000 for the new police department headquarter facilities.
The total bond issue is listed at just above $5 million.
This bond issue does not include the proposed multipurpose community center or the downtown street redesign because the city is still pursing grants and other funding to go toward that project.
In other business Monday, the council approved 6-1 a resolution authorizing the purchase of property at the northeast corner of Beech Street and 32nd Avenue for a new fire station at a price of $56,500 plus closing costs. The site is about 2 acres.
Alderman Steven Mays voted against the item, citing concerns that the price was too high. Easterly did not vote.
The new station would replace the station located at 3000 Ash St., which fire officials have said is too small and has no room for expansion.
Also on Monday, resolutions appointing eight members to the reactivated Crime Advisory Commission were approved. Each member of the council and the mayor were allowed to select one member of the commission.
Persons selected for the commission and the alderman who nominated them are as follows:
• Earl Mays, selected by Alderman George Stepps.
• Thomas Brown, selected by Alderman Bill Brumett.
• Dana Calloway-Smith, selected by Alderman Irene Holcomb.
• Stephanie Michner, selected by Alderman Glen Brown Sr.
• Rev. Jesse Turner, selected by Alderman Steven Mays.
• Lee Meadows, selected by Alderman Charles Boyd.
• Doug Smith, selected by Alderman Wayne Easterly.
• Jean Painton, selected by Alderman Thelma Walker.
• And Archie Sanders, selected by Mayor Carl A. Redus Jr.
In other business, the council:
• Read for the second time and sent to committee five proposed ordinances that would update local building codes, electrical codes and other inspection and zoning-related rules to bring them in line with national and international standards. The proposed items will be discussed in depth at the Developing and Planning Committee meeting, 10 a.m. July 10 in the meeting room adjacent to council chambers at the civic complex.
• Approved 8-0 an ordinance to amend an ordinance concerning Pine Bluff Wastewater Utility that was adopted in February to include some language that was left out.
• Approved 6-1 a resolution placing the cost of correcting nuisances at a list of properties as delinquent taxes. Walker voted against the legislation after questions she asked about some of the items on the list could not be answered by the mayor or staff who were still at the meeting.