The Pine Bluff City Council met last week to address a range of critical issues, including budget adjustments and police department staffing.
The Ways and Means Committee report, delivered by Council Member Glen Brown Jr., highlighted a significant budget adjustment within the Inspection and Zoning Department.
“There was roughly $14,180 coming from within their department,” Brown stated, referring to funds earmarked for supplies and equipment for a new inspector. This resolution was sent to the full council with a “do pass” recommendation and was later designated as Agenda Item No. 11.
Further, the committee heard an update from Executive Director Chandra Griffin of the Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency, who provided a comprehensive overview of ongoing projects, including the go-kart track and the Sixth and Main Street project. Griffin detailed the financial needs for completion and future investments, prompting several questions from council members.
Griffin expressed a desire to discuss the “great projects” for the city of Pine Bluff and its residents. It was noted by Griffin that Urban Renewal has always had budgets, projections and performance metrics, and has delivered them when requested.
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Funding for the projects has primarily come from the 2017 sales tax. When the city council decided to divert funds from this tax to other projects, Griffin said the agency made adjustments accordingly. In an impromptu meeting with the administration, Griffin was asked to disclose all funds, including private, grant and city funds.
A spreadsheet was presented to summarize the projects and their funding. It was revealed that approximately $1.2 million is available in cash from the Feb. 28 reconciliation reports. An additional $860,000 was allocated from the 2017 sales tax by the city council on Dec. 16, 2024, bringing the total cash available for projects to a little more than $2 million.
The meeting also covered specific project details, such as the go-kart track. The contracted amounts for completion of the project and expenses to date were discussed. As of May 1, approximately $164,000 has been spent on the go-kart track. However, when subtracting the $2 million in cash on hand from the total expenses, a deficit of $628,000 remains.
Funding from GFPB, including grants and private funds, totals $4,540,000. Expenses thus far from these monies are roughly $3.2 million, primarily used to finish out Sixth and Main Street, including construction and furniture, fixtures and equipment, or FFE, according to Griffin. This leaves a balance of a little over $1.2 million.
Projected operating costs for Sixth and Main Street were also presented. Griffin expects the site to be open by this summer. The projected operating for one full year in 2026 is approximately $269,000. For the half-year operation in 2025, the projected operating expense is roughly $134,000. The remaining FFE needed for the site is estimated at $152,000.
Discussion arose over the time needed to complete construction projects. Griffin explained that it takes time, especially when dealing with a municipality, and steps must be taken to go under contract. Situations, such as utility issues and weather, have caused delays at the go-kart track site. However, the concrete slab has been poured and construction is ready to move forward, according to Griffin.
Concerns were raised by council members regarding budget breakdowns and the specific allocation of funds, particularly the $3,298,000 spent. A request was made by council member Bruce Lockett for a detailed breakdown of these expenses, specifically related to the contractor for Sixth and Main Street. Griffin confirmed that the bulk of this amount went to construction at Sixth and Main Street and agreed to provide the breakdown.
“That’s the same thing that I’m being asked by the legislative audit and when my email system is up, I will get that over to them and get that sent over to you also,” said Griffin.
It was also clarified that the $2 million listed primarily relates to the go-kart track construction, expected to be completed by November.
“Sixth and Main Street is nearing completion, with the construction finished, and the focus now is on finishing the punch list, acquiring FFE, and waiting for internet installation,” said Griffin. Training with vendors will commence once the internet is available. Confidence was expressed that once the site opens, the community will appreciate the work that has been done.
Pine Bluff Mayor Vivian Flowers expressed appreciation for the executive director’s presentation and requested further information regarding expense breakdowns for both the Sixth Avenue and Main Street project and the go-kart track, as well as projections for the operational needs of both facilities.
“The bottom line is, I think this is an ongoing conversation and interaction, sharing of information, and I think if we continue to do this, that we will be successful with the projects that you have been heavily invested in that I have committed to seeing it through in whatever way that I can in a way that is responsible and transparent,” said Flowers. “I think if we continue along these lines that we will all be on the same page and working together.”
During the council meeting, an ordinance concerning the compensation of part-time police officers was a focal point. The ordinance proposed increasing the hourly rate to $21.22. Lockett raised concerns about specifying the source of these funds.
“We passed an ordinance saying that in ordinances that require money that we are to denote to where the money is to come from,” he said. An amendment was proposed and passed, specifying that the funds would come from the existing salaries budget within the police department. The ordinance, as amended, ultimately passed on its third and final reading.
Another ordinance, aimed at modifying applicant disqualifications for the Pine Bluff Police Department, sparked significant discussion. The ordinance seeks to allow the police chief discretion to consider applicants who were previously terminated for minor infractions. Council member William Fells III expressed reservations, saying, “I did want to … research this a little bit more, see if this is common within other cities.”
“I had a pretty lengthy couple of conversations with (Interim Chief Shirley) Warrior and what we have found is that where there is an opportunity to engage and recruit people who might have had an instance where they were terminated for something that wasn’t serious,” said Flowers. “The example that was given to me, even on the front end of recruitment of people who were turned away because of a tattoo that was perceived to mean something that it may not have meant.”
Flowers said she has the utmost confidence in leadership and doesn’t believe that they would bring anyone on the force who would be harmful or an embarrassment to the city.
Flowers clarified that serious infractions like insubordination and untruthfulness would still be disqualifying factors.
Council Member LaTisha Brunson also added: “We need to make sure that when we’re thinking about a rehire, that is consistent with everything … we need to be mindful of what that looks like across the departments … It’s about consistency with me, about making sure that we are fair across the board.”
“The people that they’re going to see coming back are folks who fell asleep and that kind of thing,” said Flowers. “They are not going to see people coming back who got terminated for excessive use of force, for lying, doing the kinds of things that would cause decertification.”
The ordinance was placed on the calendar.