July 2024 Minutes

Minutes July 16, 2024

The City of Dover in Pope County, State of Arkansas, met in regular session July 16, 2024, 6 p.m. at the Dover City Hall. The following were present:  Mayor Lee presiding and the following Council members:  Russell Warhurst, Chris Walker, Carl Wetzel, Brent Hottinger, Fred Standridge, Connie Ragsdale, and Attorney Diedre Luker.

Absent:  none

Prayer:  Fred Standridge.

Pledge of Allegiance:  Chris Walker.

Roll Call: Recorder Renee Nelson

Minutes of June 18, 2024, meeting were reviewed and there being no corrections, Council member Walker made a motion to approve the minutes. Council member Ragsdale 2^nd.  A Voice Vote. Yeas: 6.  Nays: 0.  Motion carried.

Monthly bills were received and signed. Council member Standridge made a motion to approve payment of bills. Council member Hottinger 2^nd.  A Voice Vote. Yeas: 6.  Nays: 0.  Motion carried.

Reviewed Balance Sheet.

Aaron Brock Stipend, Act 224 has been repaid in full.

The first installment for construction on the sewer project has been paid.  The next Sewer Construction Meeting for updates will be on August 13, 2024, at 1 p.m. at the Dover City Hall.

No Library Report.

Ron Walker presented the planning commission report.  The last quarterly meeting was canceled due to attendance.  They have no new items on their agenda currently.

1. J. White presented the utilities report.

Water Department:

• Repaired one leak.
• Tank gate fully operation now.
• Spraying right of ways.
• Replaced float on waste tank.
• Received 1 bid on water tank maintenance.

Sewer Department:

• Spraying right of ways.
• Humbard progress report:

1. Line cleaning 83%.
2. Manhole rehab 78%.
3. Service line rehab 96%.

Street Department:

• Cleaned ditches.
• Cleaned ditches and Removed stump at ballpark.

Yancey Poynter Utilities Superintendent will be retiring at the end of July after 30 years of service.  J.J. White will be taking over his position.

The sewer construction project has found more manholes that need repair in the city at the additional cost of $16,000.  Mayor Lee asks for discussion on the subject.  Council member Standridge made a motion to approve $16,000 for repair and cleanout on additional manholes.  Council member Hottinger 2^nd.  A voice vote. Yeas:6. Nays:0. Motion Carried.

Sidewalk update from Jason Stueber.  Due to delays because of highway regulations and working hours allowed by the state, he will proceed with construction as their specifications are made available. The culvert on College Street will have to be assessed for drainage.  Jason mentioned when this section was done and approved, he would like to continue with the next section.  The council said yes if it was ADA approved.

Terry Duvall presented the fire report.  They had 5 calls: one smoke alarm for cooking fire, control burn, two cancelled in route calls, and school administration dumpster fire.

Chief Josh Titsworth presented the police report.  The police had 121 calls total.  Capt. Lillard is continuing his education.  He is working in the Certified Professional Criminal Investigators Class.  The Chief, Mayor and School Superintendent have worked on a New MOU for the School Resource Officers.  The Resource Officers will still use our resources for police work and training.

Differences in contract with school from last year:

1. School leases police vehicles and pays for all repairs.
2. School pays all of SRO Compensations except uniforms, personal equipment, and workers comp.
3. If SROs works for the city in the summer the city will pay for this time.

Council member Wetzel made a motion to accept the contract with the school for the SROs.  Council member Ragsdale 2^nd.  A voice vote.  Yeas:6.  Nays:0.  Motion carried.

The council will need to decide on a replacement for Attorney Deidre Luker by September.

The audit for 2023 had one finding.  The city paid $1700 to the Chamber of Commerce for Ozark Memories Day without a contract for services.  Going forward the city will need to have a contract with details for services with them to comply with the legislative joint auditing requirements.

The mayor has a meeting with ARDOT July 19 to look at streets that need resurfaced.

The mayor asks the council to discuss making Recorder Renee Nelson a full-time employee when necessary due to additional duties.  After some discussion Council member Wetzel made a motion for the mayor to have Recorder Renee Nelson become full time when he deemed necessary in the future.  Council member Walker 2^nd.  A voice vote.  Yeas:6.  Nays:0.  Motion carried.

The mayor informed the council that they had asked for quotes for new workstations for a couple of offices in the city hall.

The council was advised the city has some supporting records that need to be destroyed.  The law states that before destruction of supporting documentation after the allotted retention time, an affidavit must be filled out and signed by two approving officials.  Then the records can be destroyed according to the retention laws of Arkansas.

The mayor presented Ordinance 2024-5, an ordinance authorizing the city of Dover to make electronic funds disbursements of municipal funds to payee accounts in financial institutions.  After some discussion the council decided to proceed with ordinance.  Council member Wetzel made a motion to suspend the rules and have the first reading of Ordinance 2024-5 by title only.  Council member Hottinger 2^nd.  A voice vote.  Yeas:6.  Nays:0. Motion carried.  Attorney Luker read ordinance by title only.  Council member Wetzel made a motion to accept the ordinance as read.  Council member Hottinger 2^nd.  A voice vote.  Yeas:6.  Nays:0.  Motion carried. Council member Wetzel made a motion to suspend rules and have the second reading by title only.  Council Warhurst 2^nd.  A voice vote.  Yeas:6.  Nays:0.  Motion carried.  Attorney Luker read ordinance by title only.  Council member Wetzel made a motion to accept the ordinance as read.  Council member Ragsdale 2^nd.  A voice vote. Yeas:6.  Nays:0.  Motion carried.  Council member Wetzel made a motion to suspend the rules and have the third and final reading by title only.  Council member Ragsdale 2^nd.  A voice vote.  Yeas:6.  Nays:0.  Motion carried.  Attorney Luker read the ordinance by title only.  Council member Wetzel made a motion to accept as read.  Council member Hottinger 2^nd.  A voice vote.  Yeas:6.  Nays:0. Motion carried. Council member Wetzel made a motion to invoke an emergency clause where Ordinance 2024-5 goes into full effect upon passage.  Council member Ragsdale 2^nd.  A voice vote.  Yeas:6.  Nays:0.  Motion carried.

The mayor reported a notice will be posted at the house on 42 crest ridge drive in accordance with Ordinance 2017-3, an ordinance for addressing unsightly or unsanitary conditions on real property in the city limits of Dover, Arkansas. The council discussed several other places that needed to be addressed for cleanup. The mayor proposed a 4% pay increase for city employees.  One employee would receive an 8% increase. The school chose the budgeted amount without the raise for the SROs in the new MOU contract.  Council member Wetzel made a motion to approve a 4% pay increase for city employees with one receiving an 8% increase.  Council member Ragsdale 2^nd.  A voice vote.  Yeas:6.  Nays:0.  Motion carried.

Council member Ragsdale made a motion to adjourn.  Council member Hottinger 2^nd.  A voice vote.  Yeas:6.  Nays:0.  Motion carried.