November 2007 Vol
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NOVEMBER 2007 VOL. 63, NO. 11 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE WHEN IT COMES TO MUNICIPAL BONDS, WE’RE THE NATURAL CHOICE. In Arkansas. In the nation. In the South Central United States, Morgan Keegan has been the top underwriter of municipal bonds for over a decade, and has become one of the leading underwriters in the country. We’ve done it by offeringinnovativeideasandbuildinglastingrelation- ships. After all, as part of the Regions family, we can pair deep local knowledge with very deep resources to achieve success for our clients. You might say it comes naturally. Give us a call. 501-671-1339 JimAlexander BobSnider JimFowler JasonThomas RonPyle PaulYoung 479-684-5289MichaelLindsey Securities offered through Morgan Keegan are not FDIC insured, may lose value, and are not bank guaranteed. NOVEMBER 2007 VOL. 63, NO.11 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE NOVEMBER 2007 VOL. 63, NO. 11 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE FEATURES League fall seminars cover wide array 06 of municipal issues City budgets, workers’ compensation, land use and planning were all on the table during seminars this fall at League headquarters. Mitigating disaster 8 Experts agree it’s only a matter of time before the New ON THE COVER— The Peabody Hotel and the Madrid Seismic Zone produces an earthquake large enough Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little to cause considerable damage. State and federal agencies are Rock will once again host municipal leaders from across the state Jan. 9-11 at the League’s Winter preparing for that day. Conference. Register now on pages 14-15 to join us in preparing for what promises to be an event - Municipal tort immunity secure ful 2008 for Arkansas cities and towns. Read also 9 inside about tort immunity, municipal records re - Recent amendments to the state’s Good Samaritan Law tention and destruction policies, earthquake pre - won’t affect cities’ tort immunity. paredness and more. Enjoy!—atm Retain this; destroy that DEPARTMENTS 10 Cities and towns must take care to follow state law when retaining and destroying public records. This summary Animal Corner . 24 Arkansas Municipal Officials Directory changes . 31 will help you decide what stays and what goes. Attorney General Opinions . 20 a'TEST . 36 Calendar . 19 Books and bookcases for all 12 Engineering Perspective . 28 An innovative program founded in Conway fights Fairs & Festivals . 33 illiteracy with the gift of books and bookcases on which Grant Money Matters . 34 to shelve them. Health Fund Provider changes . 38 League Officers, Advisory Councils . 5 Municipal Mart . 46 Municipal Notes . 18 Obituary . 29 Publisher Editor Planning to Succeed . 22 Don Zimmerman Ken Wasson Professional Directory . 44-45 Communications Coordinator Sales Tax Map . 42 Whitnee Bullerwell Sales Tax Receipts . 43 Publishing Assistant Managing Editor Debby Wilkins Andrew Morgan Sister Cities International . 26 Urban Forestry . 30 Here’s where to reach us: Your Health . 32 501-374-3484 • FAX 501-374-0541 [email protected] • www.arml.org Cover Photo by Andrew Morgan, League staff City &Town (ISSN 0193-8371 and Publication No. 031-620) is published monthly for $20 per year ($1.67 per single copy) by the Arkansas Municipal League, 301 W. Second St., North Little Rock, AR 72114. Periodicals postage paid at North Little Rock, Ark. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to City &Town , P.O. Box 38, North Little Rock, AR 72115. NOVEMBER 2007 3 Want the latest information? Are you a member of the Arkansas Municipal League? Subscribe to our list servs and be automatically notified of pertinent municipal information. How do I subscribe? Step 1: Choose the lists from which you would like to receive information. Discussion lists: J Mayors/City Managers J Clerks/Recorders/Treasurers J City Attorneys Announcement lists (choose all that apply): J General J Arkansas City Management Association J Fire Chiefs J Police Chiefs J Legislative Advocacy J Loss Control J Meetings J Technology J Municipal Health Benefit Fund J Municipal League Workers’ Compensation Trust J Municipal Vehicle Program/Municipal Property Program Step 2: Subscribe to the list servs by using one of the following options: Option A: Visit www.arml.org and click on the Discussion List and Announcement List links. Option B: Complete Step 3 and fax to 501-374-0541, attn: Whitnee Bullerwell. Option C: Complete Step 3 and mail to Arkansas Municipal League, attn: Whitnee Bullerwell, P.O. Box 38, North Little Rock, AR 72115. Step 3: Complete the following information: Name Ti tle Member City E-mail Address Daytime Phone Number EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE : Mayor Bobbie Bailey, Alpena ; Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Batesville ; Mayor Rick Holland, Benton ; Mayor Tim McKinney, Berryville ; Mayor L.M. Duncan, Bono ; Mayor Arkansas Municipal Larry Mitchell, Bryant ; Mayor Chris Claybaker, Camden ; Mayor Dan Coody, Fayetteville ; City Director Gary Campbell, Fort Smith ; City Manager Kent Myers, Hot Springs ; Councilmember Kenny League Officers Elliott, Jacksonville ; Councilmember Joe Gies, Lakeview ; Mayor Steve Northcutt, Malvern ; Mayor Mike Gaskill, Paragould President Mayor Robert Taylor, Marianna ; Mayor Frank Mayor JoAnne Bush, Lake Village First Vice President Fogleman, Marion ; Mayor Betty Feller, Mulberry ; Mayor James Valley, Helena-West Helena Vice President, District No. 1 Mayor Gerald Morris, Piggott ; Mayor Carl Redus, Pine Bluff ; Mayor Howard Taylor, Prescott ; Mayor Mayor Mark Stodola, Little Rock Vice President, District No. 2 Belinda LaForce, Searcy ; Mayor Jerre Van Hoose, Mayor Jackie Crabtree, Pea Ridge Vice President, District No. 3 Springdale ; City Clerk Patti Scott Grey, Texarkana ; Councilmember Dorothy Henderson, Mayor James Morgan, White Hall Vice President, District No. 4 Warren ; Mayor Paul Nichols, Wynne . Don A. Zimmerman Executive Director ADVISORY COUNCILS PAST PRESIDENTS : Mayor Tab Townsell, Conway ; Councilmember Bay ; Recorder/Treasurer Janice Hanson, Garland ; Councilmember Larry Combs, El Dorado ; Mayor Tommy Swaim, Jacksonville ; Jeff Braim, Gassville ; Councilmember Verlin Price, Glenwood ; Mayor Mayor Patrick Henry Hays, North Little Rock ; Mayor Robert Patrick, Ed C. Hardin III, Grady ; Mayor Lionel Johnson, Hampton ; St. Charles ; Mayor Gene Yarbrough, Star City . Councilmember Rose Marie Wilkinson, Haskell ; Mayor Jerome Norwood, Highland ; Mayor Randy Holland, Mayflower ; LARGE FIRST CLASS CITIES : Mayor David Osmon, Mountain Recorder/Treasurer Bobby Brown, McDougal ; Mayor Robert Sullivan, Home , Chair; City Director James Calhoun, Arkadelphia ; McRae ; Mayor Mike Cone, Melbourne ; Mayor Jim Reeves, Councilmember Chris Sooter, Bentonville ; Mayor Eddie J. Williams, Councilmember Don Sappington, Norfork ; Mayor Becky Dunn, Cabot ; Councilmember Phillip Gordon, Camden ; Mayor Mike Dumas, Palestine ; Mayor Charles E. Patterson, Parkin ; Planning Councilmember Dianne Hammond, El Dorado ; Mayor Pat Moles, Commissioner Dan Long, Rockport ; Mayor Bobby Neal, Smackover ; Harrison ; Councilmember Trece Shepherd-Williams, Helena-West Mayor Ian Ouei, Stamps ; Mayor Rodney Williams, Waldo ; Mayor Helena ; Human Resources Director Charlotte Bradley, Hope Water Lorraine Smith, Wrightsville . & Light ; Councilmembers Bill Howard, Kevin McCleary, Reedie Ray and Bob Stroud, Jacksonville ; Intergovernmental Affairs Manager INCORPORATED TOWNS : Mayor Stanley Morris, Menifee , Chair; Odies Wilson III, Little Rock ; Councilmember James Moore, Mayor Leroy C. Wright Sr., Anthonyville ; Councilmember George Magnolia ; Mayor Michael Watson, City Clerk Joshua Clausen, Hallman, Ben Lomond ; Mayor Larry Myrick, Delaplaine ; Maumelle ; Mayor Joe Rogers, Monticello ; City Clerk Diane Councilmember John Pfeneger, Fountain Lake ; Mayor Laura Whitbey, Treasurer Mary Ruth Morgan, North Little Rock ; Hamilton, Garfield ; Mayor Randall Homsley, Higginson ; Mayor Councilmembers Randal Crouch and Bill Eaton, Russellville ; Jimmie Lou Nuessner, Lead Hill ; Mayor Don Sikes, Maynard ; Mayor Clerk/Treasurer Tammy Gowen, Councilmember Dale English, Searcy ; Marion Hoosier, McCaskill ; Councilmember Margarette Oliver, Mayor Virginia Hillman, Councilmembers Marina Brooks and Lex Menifee ; Mayor Anne Armstrong, Mount Vernon ; Recorder/ “Butch” Davis, Sherwood ; Mayor M.L. Van Poucke Jr., City Clerk Treasurer Naomi Mitchell, St. Charles ; Mayor Charles Miller, Peggy Woody, Siloam Springs ; Clerk/Treasurer Mitri Greenhill, Councilmember Hazel McGhee, Tollette . Finance Officer Jane Jackson, Stuttgart ; Mayor Bob Freeman, PUBLIC SAFETY : Mayor Scott McCormick, Crossett , Chair; Councilmember Kevin Johnson, Van Buren . Councilmember Larry Hall, Bay ; Mayor Frank Anderson, Bella Vista ; FIRST CLASS CITIES : Clerk/Treasurer Regina Walker, Mena , Chair; Fire Chief Ben Blankenship, Police Chief Gary Sipes, Benton ; Financial Councilmember Shirley Jackson, Ashdown ; Clerk/Treasurer Carol Director Marilyn Payne, Bryant ; Clerk/Treasurer Marva Verkler, Crump-Westergren, Councilmember Tracy Lightfoot, Beebe ; Cabot ; Mayor Allan Dillavou, Councilmember Willard Thomason, Clerk/Treasurer Jean Lee, Councilmember Ralph Lee, Bono ; Mayor Caddo Valley ; Councilmember Marshall Smith, Police Chief Robert Barbara Skouras, Brinkley ; Mayor Lloyd Hefley, Cherokee Village ; Baker, Jacksonville ; City Clerk Lynette Graham, Lake Village ; Mayor Billy Helms, Clerk/Treasurer Barbara Blackard, Councilmember Clerk/Treasurer Janette Lasater, Lowell ; Fire Chief Keith Frazier, J.G. “Dutch” Houston, Clarksville ; Mayor Dewayne