The Dumas City Council voted on two resolutions at the August City Council meeting August 9
The Dumas City Council voted to approve two resolutions 1457and 1458. Resolution No 1457 is a resolution not to renew the current routine maintenance contract with Kone Care and adopt a full-service maintenance contract. Resolution No. 1458 is a resolution to continue the present service contracts at the same amounts for four community service groups in Dumas.
Mayor Flora Simon announced a future salary amount for overtime for overtime for the Dumas Emergency Medical Services and Dumas Police Department. Policy states that overtime is defined as time over 40 hours per week.
Mayor Simon's Report: Mayor Simon received a request from Verizon regarding the tower permit request. Simon said the request was denied due to where Verizon's towers would be located in Dumas. The Winrock International USDA Rural Development submitted a proposal for the “AR Delta Rhythm and Bayou Placemaking Initiative.” The organizations selected Dumas to work with on the new initiative and possibly McGehee and Dermott. The grant will provide a $10,000 cash grant that can be used for any public event or activity in the city. Simon and the Dumas Chamber of Commerce submitted support letters along with support from several community volunteers. They hired an in-house City of Dumas employee to fill the Street Sweeper Operator position. They will be looking into a personnel rate for the Dumas EMS. The council received a memo concerning the Belmont-Sud division from Attorney Brookes Gill. The Dumas City Council is reviewing information concerning the unpaved road and community members request to consider Valley Drive located off Belmont Street. The Compassionate Friends will be hosting a walk Saturday, August 20 at the Dumas Community Center.
Monthly Community Service reports:Dumas Chamber of Commerce: Judy Day reported that the Chamber Board of Directors met on July 20. The Zoning Committee met on August 1st at which assisted living for a working area could be installed for its employees. The next Chamber of Commerce meeting will be held September 6 with the meal sponsored by Clearwater Paper who will be providing the program. They met Joe McFarland, out of Congressman Rick Crawford's office, who wanted information about the area with the biggest concern being teacher's salaries.Economic Development Committee: They distributed discount tickets featuring Dumas' businesses to teachers. They will also have thermal cups with the City of Dumas emblem that will be distributed to industries.Main Street Dumas: They held their monthly meeting. Main Street Dumas Executive Director Suzy Norris attended a quarterly training of Arkansas Heritage on July 19. Main Street Dumas held a committee meeting concerning a fundraiser to continue collecting funds to build their kitchen at the Area Arts Center. Taco Tuesday Bingo will be held August 23 at the Area Arts Center. The Farmer's Market will be held on Thursday evening from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The mural is complete and a dedication will be announced at a later time.
Department Reports:Dumas EMS: Paramedic Jonathan Whipple gave the report with 94 ambulance calls with cardiac arrest as the biggest calls. Three Dumas EMS medics attended the EMS conference in Hot Springs attending different classes. They are having difficulty obtaining some necessary drugs needed for patient care. The new ambulance is projected to be available early next year. They are applying for a grant for new equipment like a stair chair, new power pro stretcher loading system in fall of this year.Water and Sewer: Superintendent Patrick Fitzgerald reports the return of the backhoe being repaired and another one in the shop. Fitzgerald and Helen Castaneda attended training. They are still fixing leaks, maintaining pumps and answering customer calls for service.Street and Sanitation: Superintendent Shelby Slater reported the garbage trucks continued as normal. They are working to fix a leak on the newly repaved John Street. They held their monthly safety meeting concerning highway traffic. Slater said he is working with the DPSD Superintendent Camille Sterrett to repair the part of the street next to the high school on Dan Gill Drive.Dumas Volunteer Fire Department: The DVFD reported 12 total runs, 4 grass fires, 1 alarm malfunction, 2 building fires, 1 irrigation motor, 1 fire in the jailhouse and 2 mutuals. The burn ban has been lifted by Desha County Judge Richard Tindall.Dumas Police Department: Chief Keith Finch had a warrant served on an inmate who snuck a lighter into the jail. They are working on moving the inmate to another location. They had a total of 6, 586 miles driven, 944 hours worked, 25 warrants served, 20 criminal arrests, 958 officer contacts, 30 in court, 3 burglaries, 8 violent crimes. 5 accidents, a total of 41 citations issued, 4 public cases opened and 7 public cases closed. They have one officer in CID class. Finch finished the Arkansas Leader program. Several dispatchers go through training with ACIC. They are currently working on dispatch training and getting the service they provide better. The usable cars have been re-striped and redesigned. Finch and Lt. Jamie Donaldson are working on a $250,000 grant to update needed police equipment like body cams, TASERS, vests, and a new surveillance system for the police department.Dumas Community Center: Lynn Weatherford reported $4,050 in deposits for June rentals and July deposits were $7,080 with 24 events. The Arkansas Department of workforce will have their mobile unit in the Community Center parting lot the 2nd Monday of each month.
