City & Town, December 2014 Vol. 70, No. 12
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DECEMBER 2014 VOL. 70, NO. 12 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE Happy Holidays Time to prep for 90th Arkansas General Assembly DECEMBER 2014 VOL. 70, NO. 12 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE FEATURES District 4 VP focuses on infrastructure, workforce 6After a career in local media, De Queen Mayor and League District 4 Vice President Billy Ray McKelvy, took his intimate knowledge of his city’s government and turned it into a second career in public service. ON THE COVER—Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season from your Arkansas Delta Caucus brings issues to Municipal League! We’d like to thank Clayton Helena-West Helena Wells for the lovely cover photo. This year 10At its fall meeting in Helena-West Helena, the Mississippi Delta marks the 75th anniversary of the lighting of Grassroots Caucus focused on improving opportunities for our state Capitol. The 90th General Assembly women and children, jobs, and infrastructure in the eight-state will convene at the Capitol in mere weeks, and Delta region. inside this issue you’ll find some simple tips on keeping the lines of communication open between you and your legislators. Read also Veteran exchange program looks to expand inside about our 2014-2015 District 4 Vice After a successful first round of international exchange visits, President, the recent meeting of the Mississippi several Arkansas veterans are working to expand the initiative to 12 Delta Grassroots Caucus, traffic-calming help each other readjust to civilian life, and Rison Mayor Vernon capabilities of roundabouts, and more.—atm Dollar has established a nonprofit to support the effort. Animal Control . 28 Roundabouts: safe and viable a'TEST . 18 Roundabouts have a lot going for them as an alternative to Attorney General Opinions . 32 14traditional stop-and-go intersections, and not just in urban Calendar . .. 39 areas. Economic Development . 40 Engineering . .24 Grant Money Matters . 46 League Officers, Advisory Councils . 5 Municipal Mart . 52 Municipal Notes . .. 38 Planning to Succeed . 42 Publisher Communications Director President's Letter . 4 Don Zimmerman Whitnee V. Bullerwell Professional Directory . 54 Sales Tax Map . 49 Advertising Assistant Sales Tax Receipts . 50 Tricia Zello Turnback Estimates . 48 Editor Graphic/Layout Designer Urban Forestry . 30 Andrew T. Morgan Mark Potter Your Health . 34 Cover photo by Clayton Wells Here’s where to reach us: 501-413-7326 501-374-3484 • FAX 501-374-0541 www.flickr.com/photos/cwellsphotography/ [email protected] • www.arml.org 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. DECEMBER 2014 3 PRESIDENT'S LETTER Dear Colleagues, December is an important time for municipal officials across our state. While the holidays are always a busy time for everyone, municipal officials know this is the time of year when we must prepare and pass a budget for the next calendar year. Cities across our state wrestle with these numbers each year in order to provide our citizens with the greatest amount of services within a limited budget. All of us know the importance of providing services from trash collec- tion to public safety and we all must do it within the confines of a balanced budget. I know you will all use your time and resources wisely to provide the best outcomes for your residents. We are only a few short weeks away until the 90th Arkansas General Assembly convenes at the State Capitol. As always, League officials will keep a close watch on the legislative session and advocate for the position of our cities. During this session, we will be advocating for bills that affect finance, district courts, housing, and public safety. Specifically, we need relief from the Legislature on the jail overcrowding issue in our county jails. It affects both the counties and the cities. We have an entire legislative team at the League. Please don’t hesitate to call Don Zimmerman or Mark Hayes at 501-374-3484 if you have any questions. I hope you will also stay in close contact with the legislators from your city throughout the session so they understand our position on the issues and the importance of cities to our state. I would encourage everyone to register for the League’s Winter Conference, which will take place Jan. 14-16, 2015, at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. You will find a tentative agenda for the conference in this issue of City & Town. I have also spoken with the management of the recently remod- eled Little Rock Marriott Hotel and they are looking forward to providing us with a first-class experience. All Best Wishes, Mark Stodola Mayor, Little Rock President, Arkansas Municipal League 4 CITY & TOWN LEAGUE OFFICERS, ADVISORY COUNCILS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Mayor Bob McCaslin, Bentonville; Mayor Scott McCormick, Crossett; Clerk/Treasurer Johnny Brigham, Dumas; Mayor Frank Hash, El Dorado; Mayor Larry Arkansas Municipal Bryant, Forrest City; Vice Mayor Kevin Settle, Fort Smith; Mayor Laura Hamilton, Garfield; Mayor Jeff Crockett, Harrison; League Officers Alderman Rose Marie Wilkinson, Haskell; City Manager Catherine Cook, Hope; Alderman Reedie Ray, Jacksonville; Mayor Mark Stodola, Little Rock .............................President Clerk/Treasurer Linda Simpson, Lake City; Alderman Sam Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Batesville .............First Vice President Angel, II, Lake Village; Mayor Dennis Behling, Lakeview; Mayor James Sanders, Blytheville ..... Vice President, District 1 Mayor Mike Watson, Maumelle; Mayor Joe Smith, North Little Rock; Mayor Sonny Hudson, Prairie Grove; Mayor Mike Kemp, Mayor David Morris, Searcy .............. Vice President, District 2 Shannon Hills; Mayor Virginia Hillman, Sherwood; Mayor Mayor Bill Eaton, Russellville ............ Vice President, District 3 Doug Sprouse, Springdale; Mayor Harry Brown, Stephens; Mayor Billy Ray McKelvy, De Queen .. Vice President, District 4 Mayor Bob Freeman, Van Buren; Mayor Art Brooke, Ward; Don A. Zimmerman ...................................... Executive Director Alderman Dorothy Henderson, Warren PAST PRESIDENTS ADVISORY COUNCIL: Mayor Chris Mayor Jerry Boen, Lamar; Mayor Cindy Roberts and Recorder/ Claybaker, Camden; Mayor Tab Townsell, Conway; Mayor Treasurer Bobby Brown, McDougal; Mayor Robert Sullivan, JoAnne Bush, Lake Village; Mayor Frank Fogleman, Marion; McRae; Mayor Gary Baxter, Mulberry; Mayor Jim Reeves and Mayor Stewart Nelson, Morrilton; Alderman Murry Witcher, Alderman Don Sappington, Norfork; Alderman Michael Barnett, North Little Rock; Mayor Mike Gaskill, Paragould; Mayor Rison; Alderman Sue Skipper, Shannon Hills; Mayor Bobby Neal Jackie Crabtree, Pea Ridge; Mayor Robert Patrick, St. Charles and Recorder/Treasurer Carolyn Willett, Smackover; Recorder/ LARGE FIRST CLASS CITIES ADVISORY COUNCIL: City Treasurer Rita Fite, Sparkman; Mayor Dwayne Snyder, Star City; Manager David Watkins, Hot Springs, Chair; City Director James Recorder/Treasurer Jamie Cushman, Stephens; Alderman Allan Calhoun, Arkadelphia; City Clerk Jane Wilms, Bella Vista; Loring, Wrightsville Alderman Burton Head, Bentonville; Human Resources Manager INCORPORATED TOWNS ADVISORY COUNCIL: Mayor Kathy Kirk, Benton; City Clerk Heather McKim, Bryant; Aldermen Bobbie Bailey, Alpena, Chair; Mayor Lora Weatherford and Ann Gilliam, Ed Long, Jon Moore and Director of Operations Eddie Recorder/Treasurer Leila Skelton, Cushman; Mayor Michael Lester, Cook, Cabot; Regional Landfill Director Bob Gaston, Helena-West Gum Springs; Recorder/Treasurer Birdia Thompson, Jennette; Helena; Mayor Ruth Carney and Assistant City Manager Lance Mayor Danny Gifford, O’Kean; Alderman Janelle Riddle, St. Paul; Spicer, Hot Springs; Aldermen Bill Howard and Kenny Elliott, Mayor Theodore Brown, Jr., Twin Groves Jacksonville; Aldermen Chris Gibson, John Street and Chief PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COUNCIL: Operating Officer L.M. Duncan, Jonesboro; Intergovernmental Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Fayetteville Bella Vista Relations Manager Emily Cox, Little Rock; Alderman James Moore, , Chair; Alderman James Wozniak, ; Cabot Magnolia; Clerk/Treasurer Joshua Clausen and Alderman Preston Alderman Kevin Davis, ; Fire Chief Bill Johnson and Police Gassville Gravette Lewis, Maumelle; Mayor David Osmon, Mountain Home; City Chief Tim Mayfield, ; Mayor Byron Warren, ; Little Flock Little Clerk/Collector Diane Whitbey, Aldermen Charlie Hight, Debbi Mayor Buddy Blue, ; Police Captain Alice Fulk, Rock Lowell Ross and Beth White, North Little Rock; Alderman Steven Mays, ; Alderman Ronnie Breland, ; Fire Chief Kevin Lang, Paragould Siloam Springs Pine Bluff; Mayor Greg Hines, Rogers; Alderman Dale English, ; City Director Brad Burns, ; Alderman Ward Searcy; Aldermen Marina Brooks, Charlie Harmon and Ken Charles Gastineau, Keplinger, Sherwood; Mayor John Mark Turner, Siloam Springs; ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL: Mayor City Director Laney Harris, Texarkana; Clerk/Treasurer Barbie Harold Perrin, Jonesboro, Chair; Mayor C.T. Hollingshead and Curtis, Van Buren City Director Julian Jaeger, Arkadelphia; Chief of Staff Don Marr, Fayetteville Forrest City FIRST CLASS CITIES ADVISORY COUNCIL: Mayor Jimmy ; Alderman Steve Hollowell, ; Alderman Horseshoe Bend Williams, Marianna, Chair; City Director Bruce Farrar, Barling; John Grochowski, ; Mayor Larry