Hope City Board

The City Board met in the City Hall Board Room on Tuesday June 20th. After the invocation and the pledge and approval of the minutes the board considered an ordinance transferring administration of the old fireman’s pension to LOPFI. Arkansas law requires LOPFI management when the plan is reduced to five full-time members. There are currently 7. The Board of Trustees voted last week to transfer administration to the pension fund. There are many benefits to the transfer. Primary among these is an annual 3% COLA each year for members.  David Clark , Executive Director of LOPFI was present to address all questions the Board of Directors might have about the transfer of administration.  There was a question about the unfounded liability whether the city would have to paid for immediately with response no. Clarke spoke about what this was, the amoratization. $2500 would have to be paid annually. Clarke recommended paying more as it would be seen as an asset.  Clarke stated the trust had been administered very well by the trustees and the dedicated millage has been extremely helpful.  City Manager JR Wilson talked about paying $220 a month with the result that in 15 years it would be fully funded. The obligation wouldn’t disappear for 30 years with the spouses.  Board member Dr. Trevor Coffee asked whether quarterly meetings would be retired with the response that no they weren’t required and meetins would disappear with LOPFI.  Board Member Kiffenea Talley asked what happened when people passed away. Clarke responded the funds would stay with the Fire Department for current employees
 He also stated funds could be used for other towns and would stay in Hope.  There was a motion to suspend the rules by Board Member Steve Montgomery, which was seconded and proved there was a motion to adopt the ordinance by Board Member Coffee, which was seconded and approved. There was a motion to approve an emergency clause by Member Montgomery, which was seconded and approved.
The Board considered a request to declare a second FEMA building surplus. This building was to be used for public works. But with the cost of $150,000 to take an move it, it was considered unfeasible to do it. Those who win the auction will be responsible for moving the building.  A motion to approve was made by Board Member Talley which was seconded and approved.
There was a request for proposals to purchase timber at the airport. There is some urgency with this project as between 20 and 40 acres is bug infested. Some of it wasn’t thinned properly. Some of the trees are 18-22 inches think and need to go. All of this planting dates from 1991.  A city officiat stated he wants zero wildlife on the land as they are not good for the airport.
City Manager Wilson talked about Code Official and Darrel Allen setting up a true management plan.   Board Mover Talley made a motion to let Code officials prepare a plan, which was seconded and passed.
The idea of “branding” with Titan for the airport fuel sales was discussed.  This would mean that the city would only be supplied by Titan and be covered by their $50 million insurance policy. Since the other company they did business with is no longer willing to work with the city,  this largely is a formalization of what they are already doing.
Talley also made a motion for branding, which was seconded and passed. City Manager Wilson will sign it after City Attorney Randy Wright checks the paperwork.
The city financial report was considered  Dr. Coffee asked the part-time salaries number and was told it had to do with not being fully budgeted. It is four positions, which are funded by the tourism commission. These are two for the visitor’s center, one for the Amtrak station downtown, one for Maintenance. Another number examined was one for rail service maintenance, of which Raytheon pays over half. Grants aren’t budgeted but still might be a possibility.
City Manager Wilson made his report on the city departments, with how many arrests there had been and how many of the calls were responded to by the police department and how many by the Fire Department. There was a quick review of certain balances and cash equivalencies with sales tax being up 5.575% this year.
Mark Beauchamp, with UFS has been talked to about doing a waste water rate study  It would cost $16,500. UFS is willing and already has most of the data.
City Manager Wilson was asked about the train derailment and said that it lasted from about 10:30am in the morning till 10:00pm at night. He said the Old Lewisville road was blocked for days – Friday through Sunday and citizens have complained as they are concerned with emergency vehicles being delayed as a result. An 18-wheeler went down the road without knowing it would stay blocked and had to be helped back out.  The Highway Commission could fine train companies for blocking the roads. This could be appealed all the way to the State Supreme Court.
For citizen’s requests there was a concern about vehicles without license plates stopping around the individual’s house and new curtains in the bathroom at Northside Park.
Sylvia Brown thanked the Board for all the support and said she wanted to bring to the board Engineering information for Northside Park.
There will be an outdoor grant meeting on Thursday at 6pm at the Fair Park office.
The new Economic Development Corporation president, Anna Powell was in the audience and said she would be working with the city but didn’t have anything to add at this meeting.