The Dumas City Council passed several Resolutions, listened to Community Service Reports and discussed Dodie's Place on Highway 65 South violations Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at City Hall.
With approximately 20 people attended the City Council meeting, the Council voted to approve the minutes from September the 14, 2021 and the September 20th Special meeting. They also voted to approve the budget as presented and payments of the city's monthly bills.
Mayor Flora Simon reported receiving a letter about the cancellation of the Arkansas Workforce Centers lease as of December 31, 2021. Three workforce centers are closing in the state including Dumas. Another occupant, who has space in the workforce section, has expressed interest in leasing the space.
Councilmember John Owens provided more details about the tabled ProMed contract. After a review of the information, Owens recommended the city renew the contract. Owen made a motion to renew the contract, seconded by Councilmember Romona Weatherford and all approved by the council.
City Attorney Brooks Gill gave a report on the current status of the Peterson Trust. Gill learned that the financial assets were in the trust, but the real estate property was still a part of the Peterson estate. The Council will allow Gill to monitor the progress of Simmons Bank in order to see when the funds of the trust will be distributed.
Mayor Simon's report: Mayor Simon gave a report on the Winchester Project with the loan certification and Bond issues of 2021B and 2021C. Five companies are interested in bidding to work on the project with a delay in getting supplies possible.
Simon presented the rules and regulations for the use of the parks drafted by the Parks committee. She said they have received requests to use the parks for special events. The council discussed having people provide a refundable deposit for the use of the park if the park is cleaned up after. Gill suggested setting up an ordinance or resolution setting up a fine if the rules such as consuming alcohol in the park are broken.
Simon recommended setting aside $200,000 in American Rescue Funds to lift the Bowles Street Pump Station out of the ground with the possibility of a new pump. Owen made a motion to appropriate the money from the American Rescue Funds to do the proposed improvements to the Bowles Street pump station. It was seconded and approved.
The Fall Festival, sponsored by JOAT Podcast, will be held October 23, 2021. Simon reported receiving some interest in cleaning up for 606 West Waterman Street. The Park and Recreation Grant for Memorial Park was accepted for presentation on October 28 to receive funding to update Memorial Park. The City of Dumas will be participating in the National Opioids Settlement. There will be a Public Hearing, November 9 at 5:30 pm for the Pickens Wholesale Water Project.
The council went into executive session to discuss the buyout agreement of Dumas Police Chief Keith Finch. They voted not to approve the buyout, it was moved , seconded and all approved.
Code Enforcer Lecester Bell reported sending letters to the new owner of 332 College Street advising him the resolution and said the owner told him he would get the property into compliance. Bell has also been in contact with the owners of Dodie's on Highway 65 south concerning code violations and alerting them of the time they have to clean up the property. He reported one call of a dog bite. The dog was quarantined for 14 days and was found not to have rabies.
Community Service ReportsChamber of Commerce: Judy Day reported their membership meetings on October 4 with a large number in attendance. The C of C will be patterning with Merry MainStreet for the annual Christmas Parade to be held December 2. The Chamber will have a table set up at the Fall Festival.MainStreet Dumas: Julianne Ford reported attending several meetings. They are excited to partner with the Chamber and to have the parade and the opening of Merry MainStreet this year. They are receiving applications for the mural to be painted on Meador Pharmacy with a deadline of October 15. They sold their first print of the cookbooks in the first two weeks with a second printing to be available in December. They are still working on a plan to update the streetscape to replace plants damaged by the winter storm.Food Pantry reportedly served 180 households with 406 individuals and 42 households on October 12. They are soliciting donations through October 28 which will be matched by Modern Woodman.Community Center: Lynn Weatherford reported 17 events booked for the month of October.
Department Reports:Dumas Volunteer Fire Department: Chief David Byrd reported 20 calls for the month of September.EMS: Director Gary Gill reported 112 Ambulance calls for September with 44 for the month of October. To date they have had 966 calls.Dumas Police Department: Chief Finch reported 1,135 total public contacts. Finch and Lt. Jamie Donaldson attended the chief convention. He again asked the council to provide the officers with additional pay if possible and that they work hard.Street and Sanitation: Shelby Slater reported that they are still working on mowing and weeding. The garbage trucks are performing well. They had one load of boxes recycled with a load every six weeks. They had a Monday safety meeting about interactions between citizens and city workers. All Service Electrical replaced the 65/165 traffic light. The DPD directed traffic during the replacement process.
City Clerk Norma Eldridge presented her report that the Water sewer Audit had been completed and filed by Ryan Bowman. A motion was made to adopt the bond, it was seconded and all approved.
The Council voted to approve seven resolutions. Resolution 1396 is a resolution to give Mayor Simon authorization to request construction bids for the new maintenance building. A motion was made to approve the resolution; it was seconded and approved. Resolution 1397 is a resolution to amend 2021 General Fund Budget Account # 5250 to purchase Onsolve One Call Now Critical Communications Program for the City of Dumas. A motion was made, seconded and all approved.Resolution 1398 is a resolution designating and authorizing Mayor Flora Simon and City Clerk Norma Eldridge to execute and sign documents in connection with funding administered by the Arkansas Natural Resource Commission for the Dumas-Mitchellville Sewer Project. A motion was made to adopt the resolution, seconded and all approved.Resolution No 1399 is a resolution of intent regarding the sewer project. A motion was made to adopt the resolution, seconded and all approved.The Council voted to table Resolution 1400, a resolution declaring that Dodie's Place is in violation of The City's health, safety, sanitation and fire ordinances. Gill recommended that the council go back to court with the property. A motion was made to table the resolution, it was seconded and all approved.Resolution 1401 is a resolution to pay all service electric, Inc invoice for the City of Dumas insurance claim filed for Highway 65/165 traffic signal repair caused by a vehicle strike. A motion was made to adopt the resolution, seconded and all approved.Resolution No. 1402 is a resolution to give authorization to Mayor Simon to represent the City of Dumas in all negotiations concerning the Dumas-Mitchellville Sewer Project and to immediately enter into a MOA (Memorandum of Agreement). A motion was made to adopt the resolution, seconded and all approved.
