The Dumas City Council voted on the 2022 budget, at a Special Called Meeting held in late November 2021, and on three Resolutions at Dumas City Hall.
2022 Budget Items included:
• Cost of Living Increase - The cost-o 3% for each employee and 4% for each department head.
Three Police Department Proposals
• The Departmental Pay Scale Proposal - Mayor Simon prefers to use one rate for a 40 hours per shift for all departments. There will still be some overtime, but the 171 Rule saves the City money. Motion made by John Owen and seconded by Amber Madison to accept the proposal pay scale recommended by Mayor Simon.
• Added Training for Officers - The cost for PoliceOne Academy is $416.00 for 8 users and officers can train on their own time. Motion made to accept the added training for officers by John Owen and seconded by Jared May and Roy Dalton.
The Police Officers received a clothing allowance. Officers purchase their uniforms by receiving a clothing allowance check every three months. Mayor Simon stated the officers need to wear the uniforms, since they are receiving a clothing allowance or the clothing allowance will be removed. Uniforms for new officers are purchased by the city. Chief Keith Finch stated that most officers purchase their own shirts to be embroidered.
More online alert training will be performed after the first of the year. Mayor Simon suggested having a professional come to look at the building and review an escape route for the City of Dumas. John Owen made a motion to accept alert training and seconded by Jared May and Roy Dalton.
Adding A Nurse Proposal - The cost to add a nurse is $300.00 per month.
The nurse will provide two visits to check all inmates. Council members expressed the need to abide by the law. Additional information is needed from Chief Keith Finch before the Council members can make a decision.
Finance Officer - The council decided the salary for the Finance Officer is satisfactory.
April Patterson resigned as Chief Court Clerk, December 1, 2021. Shelbi Walters will be promoted to Chief Court Clerk and the Deputy Court Clerk position will be advertised in the newspaper.
Elected Officials
• City Clerk - Diane Fisher made a motion and seconded by Kenneth Daniels to increase the City Clerk's salary to $35,000.00 for added assignments. Motion passed unanimously.
Kenneth Daniles made a motion and seconded by Amber Madison an $200 increase of the Council member’s pay. There will not be any extra income for extra meetings. Five council members approved and three opposed the increase.
Jared May made a motion and seconded by John Owen to increase the Mayor Simon's salary. Motion passed unanimously.
A meeting was set to be held December 1, 2021 to discuss the Wish Lists.
Resolution 1403 is to adopt the annual fee for the Accidental Death and Dismemberment Plan for coverage of each elected official and department head in Dumas. Resolution 1403 was approved November 9, 2021 and ratified November 22, 2021.
John Owen made a motion and seconded by Kenneth Daniels to adopt and ratify Resolution 1403. Motion passed unanimously.
Resolution 1410 is to keep the same premium pay per month and the deductible will be lowered for the Municipal Health Benefit Program. Resolution 1410 was tabled November 9, 2021 and adopted November 22, 2021.
John Owen made a motion and seconded by Romona Weatherford. Motion passed unanimously.
Resolution 1411 is to prepare premium pay and have a separate Merchants and Farmers Bank account to process payroll per CSA Software Solutions.
Arkansas Municipal League requested that city set up a special budget for the American Rescue Plan Act Fund line item.
Romona Weatherford made a motion and seconded by Kenneth Daniels to ratify and accept Resolution 1411. John Owen abstained from voting. Motion passed unanimously.
Drainage Project Observer - An unlicensed observer is needed to make sure the project on Belmont Street and Robinwood Street is done correctly. The cost will increase if the engineers locate someone. $7,800.00 is the amount in the grant application. A person is needed as soon as possible to work approximately thirteen to fifteen days at $25.00 an hour.
Dumas-Winchester Construction Bid - The forgivable loan shortfall is 25%. It has been recommended not to touch the contingency funds of $311,395.00.
There are four options on how to handle the shortfall of $84,367.00.
Option 1 - Drop the project.
Option 2 - Write another grant application to make up for the shortfall. There aren't any more forgivable loans and funds can't be taken from one project to give to another project.
Option 3 - The engineers and the City of Dumas need to have items taken out to bring the total down.
Option 4 - Discuss with Winchester Mayor to see what areas can be changed. All council members are in favor of option 3 and would like to move forward.
The Council learned about the new census lines for the City of Dumas. Census - The City of Dumas Wards show the current population. Wards 1 is over 5%. Ward 2 and 3 are under 5%. Wards 1 through 3 need to be redrawn. Ward 4 does not need any work to be performed. Council members are to review the City Wards to see if there are any changes in the population to get the population balanced. Engineers will do a draft to redraw the lines.
Main Street Dumas announced the resignation of Julianne Gasaway and the new contact for Main Street Dumas as Sammye Owen.
Other Concerns:
A committee is needed to review Occupation Taxes. Vendor permits have been and are still in effect. Roy Dalton made a motion and seconded by Amber Madison for Steve Stevens, Dumas Airport Commission Chair, to hire a person to clean the Airport Maintenance Building. Motion passed unanimously. The Christmas Parade will be held December 6, 2021. The City of Dumas will represent and participate in the parade.The special meeting was adjourned at 7:27 p.m.
Present for the meeting were: Mayor, Flora Simon and Council members Roy Dalton, Romona Weatherford, John Owen, Jared May, Diane Fisher, Franklin Healey, Amber Madison, Kenneth Daniels and Norma Eldridge as recorder. Attorney Brooks Gill was absent. Linna Jones, represented The Press for the Dumas Clarion.
