The Pine Bluff City Council Traffic and Aviation Committee voted in favor of do-pass recommendations Thursday on resolutions involving two people who want to serve on the Pine Bluff Aviation Commission.
Pine Bluff Regional Airport Grider Field Manager Doug Hale said the aviation commission has seven people. The commission is looking to replace Gerald Andrews and Kirby Mouser, as their terms have already expired. Hale is asking for Harvey Sizemore and Kuidra Burrell to be appointed.
Hale said he knows Sizemore through his business in real estate. He said he knows Burrell is an environmental lawyer. Hale said that both Sizemore and Burrell are qualified to serve on the aviation commission.
Alderman Steven Mays objected to appointing Burrell as she has lived in Pine Bluff for ten months. Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth told Mays that the length of time a person has lived in Pine Bluff is not a factor in determining their ability to serve. On the contrary, Hollingsworth told Mays that Burrell brings special skills as a lawyer with an emphasis on the environment.
“We want to welcome new residents, engage with people and allow them to serve,” Hollingsworth said.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Hale said the aviation commission benefits from having at least one lawyer. For instance, they help with applying for grants from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“I do not see any regulations that require a person to have lived in Pine Bluff for any length of time,” Hale said. “In nine years as manager, this is the first time that appointments have gone through the Traffic and Aviation Committee.”
Mays motioned to send the matter to the full city council so they can decide whether to appoint Sizemore and Burrell. Traffic and Aviation Committee Chairman Alderman Lloyd Holcomb Jr. seconded the motion. Alderman Charles Boyd, the third member of the traffic and aviation committee, was absent.
At a May 18 city council meeting, Hollingsworth tabled a proposed resolution that would have appointed Sizemore and Burrell to the aviation commission because Holcomb requested it because he had not been made aware of the appointments prior to the meeting and needed time to review their qualifications.