Dumas Police Chief Keith Finch presented information about radar signs, lights and cameras on several streets including three city parks at the Dumas City Council Meeting held Tuesday, August 10, 2021.
The Council voted to purchase a lease of nine SkyCop cameras with license plate readers that will be able to send data remotely to another source. The cameras are priced on a 36 month lease. The city will have to provide a Wifi service for the cameras. Weatherford made a motion for Chief Finch to lease the SkyCop cameras and seconded by Councilmember Jared May. All approved the motion.
The Council adopted the July meeting minutes.
City Councilmember Romona Weatherford gave the financial report. She reported that the city's General Fund Revenue & Expenditures has a Total Revenue and gross profits at with an Actual Year to Date January-July 2021 budget of $3,253,791.11 and an Annual Budget January-December 2021 budget of $4,393,677.26 with Actual expenses of $2,447.116.48 and an annual expenses of $4,757,068.31. The Water and Sewer Fund's Actual Budget January-July 2021 is $960,873.64 with an Annual Budget of $1,539,559.96 with Actual expenses of $777,083.49 and an annual budget of $1,236,745.02. The Street Fund's Actual Budget January-July 2021 is $282,155.17 with an Annual Budget of $607,999.54 with Actual expenses of $222,181.78 and an annual expenses of $728,771.23 The Council voted to approve the budget and pay the monthly bills.
The council reviewed lease contracts for the old M&F Bank building. The University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology wants to renew their contract. The council discussed UAM -COT paying a percentage of utilities for the building. The mayor will negotiate the cost of lease plus a percentage of the utilities to UAM or renew it as is. The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services also leases space in the building. A motion was made, seconded and all approved.
The Council also discussed and approved Resolution 1386 to approve the yearly service contracts for MainStreet Dumas, Desha County Museum and the Dumas Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Flora Simon tabled the probate contract until she receives the document.
The VDCI reported ground spraying in one section of the city on Mondays and Wednesdays and the other section on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
City Clerk Norma Eldridge asked the council to review the Bond Disclosure Checklist with changes in July with the 2015 bonds being paid off and refinanced. Weatherford made a motion to accept the report. There was a second to accept the checklist. All approved the motion.
Councilmember Amber Brown reported that the Park and Recreation Committee will meet to price playground equipment with the hopes of getting some at a discount. They plan on purchasing playground equipment, benches and trash cans.
The Street Committee East Choctaw Street said they started working on the hole on East Choctaw. The hole had been caused by collapsed pavement and had been dug out. They are working to fill and repack the hole before replacing the asphalt.
Mayor Simon reported that they are still working on trying to get the easements for the Winchester Easement and project progress and will have to close before August 31. They are still working Pickens Wholesale Water Contract that is tied in with Winchester easement.
The city received $418,032.99 from the American Rescue Plan Act to be used for projects like police cars. If the city can show the income was lower than projected then the city, as a non-entity, can use it for other projects. The council will have a work session on how to best use the money within the specifications.
Department Reports
Chief Finch reported a total of 991 contacts with 10 warrants served, 26 criminal arrests, 32 hours in court, 8 accidents and 72 citations issued.
The Street and Sanitation Department reported that the garbage trucks are performing well at this time. They had to move the trash dumpster away from the former DTECH building, due to the continued misuse of the property.
The traffic light of Bowles Street and U.S. Highway 65 is still three weeks out. All Service Electric, Inc. of Hot Springs will be working on the light and installing it.
Dumas Volunteer Fire Department Chief David Byrd reported 21 calls. He still has not received a response for materials to fix the roof on the Choctaw Street fire station.
Emergency Medical Services thanked the DPD and DVFD for their help on calls. Director Gary Gill reported 100 calls with 60 emergency calls, 15 trauma calls, 35 transfers, and 1 confirmed Covid-19 case. Gill is working on finding a replacement for the damaged ambulance.
Community Service reports:Chamber of Commerce: Judy Day reported they fixed the Chamber's roof and Rep. Crawford's ceiling is repaired. The Board of Directors met last week to discuss improving the corn supper and looking to order two freezers.
A ribbon cutting and grand opening was held for the Majestic Pediatric and Adolescent Care. Memberships have been mailed,but the amount of memberships has stayed the same.MainStreet Dumas: Director Julianne Gasaway said they had two successful months of the farmers market and will be taking a break. They are planning on doing monthly markets in September starting Saturdays. They submitted their MainStreet Cookbook that will feature artwork and history of the building on MainStreet. They are in the process of applying for a grant to do a mural on Meador Pharmacy and will be sending out letters to local businesses to put their ad on the mural to provide more income for the project. Plans for the mural are to divide the wall into three parts including agriculture, city, and industry themes. A grant will match the money raised up to $10,000. They met to plan for Merry MainStreet and added Rachel Holthoff as a new board member. They are also working on street scaping Main Street.
The Council voted for and approved an ordinance and two resolutions.
The Council approved by vote Ordinance 968, which is an ordinance assessing a 5 mill tax against the real and personal property within the corporate limits of Dumas for the taxable year 2021.
The Council approved by vote Resolution #1384 to amend by addition general employment policies of the 2021 Personnel Policy Handbook Section 1.D-Use of Alcohol and Drug testing. City employees having an accident in city vehicles must submit to a drug and alcohol test.
Resolution 1385 authorizes Mayor Flora Simon as the signee for the pipeline crossing agreement(s) with Union Pacific Railroad and the City of Dumas for the Dumas-Winchester Sewer Line.
