Hope Lions Hear From New Police Chief and City Manager

The Hope Lions Club heard from Hope’s new police chief Kim Tomlin and new city manager J.R. Wilson.  Chief Tomlin started things off with an update on the police department.  She noted the department is up for reaccreditation in the next few months.  Chief Tomlin says Hope is one of 21 accredited departments in the state.  Accreditation means the department is committed to doing more than the minimum “to ensure our agency provides appropriate protection for our citizens’ rights, improves safety of our employees, and ensure the operational and professional integrity of our agengy”.  Chief Tomlin said the department is committed to 174 standards.  Every three years officers from other accredited agencies come into the police department to review practices, policies, and proofs of compliance to verify they’re doing what they say they are.

Chief Tomlin said the department recently applied for and received the Arkansas Public Safety Grant in the amount of approximately $130,000.  This is a 75/25 grant which means the city matches 25% of the funds.  The grant provides funds for improving communication.  Specifically, the money will be used to purchase 37 portable radios and 16 mobile radios.  This will get the department on the AWINS system and will allow the police department to communicate with rural fire departments, the Hope Fire Department, and the Sheriff’s Department.  One advantage is the state maintains the towers for the AWINS communication.

Three new police cadets have been hired and they are starting at the Arkansas Police Academy at the end of this month.  This is a 13 week program and the new policemen will also complete a field training program with a seasoned officer.  Chief Tomlin said this leaves the department with only one open position.

City Manager J.R. Wilson complimented Chief Tomlin and expressed his confidence in her new job.

Wilson talked about himself for the Lions.  He noted he grew up in Hope and is 61 years old.  He detailed his work with the Dallas police and with the FBI.  He returned to Hope to be Police Chief 20 years ago.  He took on the additional job as Assistant City Manager in 2017.  He became Interim City Manager on December 28th and became City Manager several weeks ago.  He noted local government is close to the people and he enjoys delivering a good service.  Wilson said tells the city employees they want to do it with the best delivery of service possible.  He noted this includes being polite, treat everyone with dignity and respect, and protect the citizens constitutional rights.  Wilson said they are constantly training towards this end.  He noted the city has about 100 full-time employees and pick up some seasonal ones in the summer.  The city payroll is just over $4.7 million dollars a year.  He noted departments include police, fire, parks, code enforcement, administration, streets, wastewater, sanitation, GIS/IT and several others.

Wilson highlighted some of the current projects including the 6th Street program which is a state-aid project, the Street Scape project building larger sidewalks from the the Clinton Birthplace to the downtown area.  The city noted the Clinton Birthplace National Historic Site had heard from visitors who wanted to walk into downtown but were apprehensive by the sidewalks.  Wilson noted they had gotten the Birthplace a parking lot for buses and are working on the lighted Street Scape.

Wilson detailed a runway marking project and repair of concrete of the main runway at the airport.  He noted they are waiting for the contractor to get back and get the project started.  Wilson also talked about a drainage program for the airport and noted they hope to get into two other phrases of that project next year.

Ultraviolet disinfection at the East Wastewater Plant was detailed by Wilson.  He noted this is a new project the city hopes to complete soon.  Wilson also talked about a remediation program for the landfill, specifically a closed portion of the landfill.  This portion of the landfill doesn’t have a liner and there has been seepage into test wells. Wilson said they have a plan and hope to get funding from the state’s post-closure fund.  This project should cost about a half-million dollars.

Wilson detailed the LED lighting project at Kelly Fields at Fair Park.  He said they hope to do a large park project and find out through public hearings what the public want.  He said there is discussion on funding such a project with a bond issue.  Lion and City Board Member Mark Ross noted the lights being removed from Kelly Fields will be used to improve lighting at the soccer fields.   He noted the board will be looking at long-range goals later this month.

Following the presentation, Wilson answered questions from the Lions.