The Pine Bluff City Council unanimously passed two important resolutions that were topics of discussions during council committee meetings.
The council approved the resolution to authorize the mayor to execute an agreement to lease property to Saracen Casino at the rate of $2,000.00 per month.
The property is the old Bank of America building, located at 120 W 5th Avenue in Pine Bluff, and the casino will use the facility to accept job applications, conduct interviews for potential employment and train new hires.
According to the lease, the term will end September 30, 2020 but the casino may renew the lease on a month to month basis, not to extend beyond December 31, 2021.
The council also approved the resolution authorizing the mayor to execute agreements with the Arkansas Department of Transportation for Transfer of Real Estate along Ohio St. from 11th Avenue south to Harding Avenue. The city will donate the real estate to the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Mrs. Ora Mays spoke during public comment at the city council meeting requesting all city council members vote for this project.
“I just wanted to ask the full council members would they please vote for this because this is a part of 190 and with that it will widen out 11th and Ohio to Hardin and take care of that Hardin drain–that bridge,” said Mays. “I just wanted them to address it because the Hardin drain is a $2.3 million project.
Mays also said it was a $5 million project, which are at no cost to the citizens and to the city of Pine Bluff.
“We know how much you and Mr. Mays have worked to get this project through,” said Mayor Shirley Washington. “We appreciate you for it and the council members did vote to support that. I know that’s going to bring in that new bridge on Ohio Street and widen it.”
Also during public comment, a former Arkansas educator of 26 years addressed the council to request more city projects be geared towards the youth.
Stating she had surveyed community youth, Carla Rice said the students wanted community centers and activities at the youth center that would include rooms where students could do homework, tutoring and access to computers with internet access.
“There should be indoor basketball courts, skating, gymnastics and although we have the aquatic center, I have expressed the concern about the fees and the mayor has expressed to me that currently they are charging $2,” said Rice.
Rice said she will be homeschooling a group of community students and would like them to be able to come and have swim lessons.
“We would also like to incorporate things like martial arts–structure that will help build character as well as discipline,” she said.
Washington informed her that some of those requests were already in the works while the others could be discussed.
Councilman Bruce Lockett invited her to the Public Works committee meeting, an entity of the Parks and Recreation, where she could funnel her ideas to the advisory board.