REDFIELD – A compromise ordinance involving volunteer firemen was quickly approved by the Redfield City Council May 1, but aldermen will apparently wait until June to approved a third version of the 2012 municipal budget.
The compromise ironed out between Alderman Darrell Hedden and volunteer firemen was adopted by a 5-0 vote after the council voted to suspend the rules of procedure and place the measure on three readings.
Fire Chief Dennis McFatridge, two Redfield area volunteer firemen and Hedden met last month to reach the compromise after the aldermen offered a proposed ordinance on April 3 he maintained was necessary to comply with state law.
Members of the Redfield Volunteer Fire Department and Redfield Volunteer Fire Association objected to Hedden’s proposal, contending they were not consulted on the proposed changes. Hedden’s initial proposal was placed on first reading in April, but was allowed to die last week.
McFatridge said many of the functions of the Redfield Fire Department have been performed by volunteers and governed by the members of the Redfield Rural Volunteer Fire Association, adding the volunteers wanted to continue that practice.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The fire chief of the Redfield Fire Department will be appointed by majority vote of the Redfield Rural Volunteer Fire Association and confirmed by the city council, with the city recorder-treasurer handling the funds appropriated for the Redfield department under the new ordinance.
Aldermen were unable to agree on the procedure to correct errors in the 2012 municipal budget and Mayor Tony Lawhon held the changes could be made in June.
While the council repealed the ordinance authorizing the 2012 municipal budget and then adopted a budget by resolution, Alderman Barbara Werner acknowledged that some of the appropriations in the original ordinance were not included in the resolution.
Resolutions are easier to amend than ordinances because of the procedural differences. The budgetary changes can be designated as retroactive to a specified date in the case of raises or other expenditures.
In other business aldermen:
– Placed on second reading a proposed ordinance to establish agenda requirements for the council.
– Agreed to purchase a John Deere tractor with front loader, mower and rotary cutter for the parks department from Ag-Pro of Pine Bluff based on a bid of $15,435. It will replace a older tractor that requires extensive repairs. A second bid on another brand of tractor was $17,515.
– Approved Phase 4 of the Sunset Valley Subdivision.