FEBRUARY 2007 VOL. 63, NO. 2 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE */7&45*/( */ "3,"/4"4 3UHVLGHQW &OLQWRQ $YH 6XLWH fgl Y \]hgkal Ý fgl =;@: afkmj]\ Ý eYq dgk] nYdm] Ý fgl _mYjYfl]]\ Zq l`] ZYfc Ý fgl afkmj]\ Zq Yfq ^]\]jYd _gn]jfe]fl Y_]f[q FEBRUARY 2007 VOL. 63, NO. 2 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE FEBRUARY 2007 VOL. 63, NO. 2 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE FEATURES New president pleased with Conway’s growth 06 Mayor Tab Townsell wants plans developed for the growing city to accommodate a 100,000 population while the city retains “quality of life, quality of lifestyle.” New, veteran officials swell Winter Conference 08 In a record attendance for a Winter Conference, the governor, legislators repeat promises to increase the state revenue turnback to municipalities. New city officials heard an earful of helpful advice, information. Conference tip: Know your legislators 10 Noticeable and significant results occur when city officials keep ON THE COVER—Conway Mayor Tab Townsell in close contact with their legislators, especially during this became League president when Mayor Stewart legislative session. Nelson of Morrilton resigned in December to the Executive Committee. Townsell discusses this grow- Pancakes helped put up community center ing Faulkner County city for City & Town readers. 19 Saturday morning breakfasts sparked the money raising for an Also inside, visit the League Winter Conference, Everton Community Center; grants, donations came in for the finding solutions to areas of poverty in the Missis- remainder. sippi River Delta, columns and much more. Learn and enjoy!—jkw F F A T S E U G A E L , F F U R D O DEPARTMENTS O W . K N H O J Animal Corner . .26 Y B O T a'TEST Newsletter . .34 O H P Attorney General Opinions . .22 Conway mayor and new League President Tab Townsell foresees more cultural Fairs & Festivals . .35 offerings like the monthly downtown Artwalk in the city’s future. Co-sponsored by the city’s advertising and promotion commission, it is one of many events League Officers, Advisory Councils . .5 reflecting the vitality of culture and business in one of Arkansas’s fastest grow- Municipal Mart . .46 ing cities. Municipal Notes . .20 Obituaries . .17 Planning to Succeed . .24 EDITOR John K. Woodruff Professional Directory . .44-45 EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Sales Tax Map . .42 Andrew Morgan Sales Tax Receipts . .43 Debby Wilkins Sister Cities International . .28 HERE’S WHERE TO REACH US: Your Health . .36 501-374-3484 • FAX 501-374-0541 [email protected] • www.arml.org Cover Photo by John K. Woodruff, League staff CityCity&Town (ISSN 0193-8371 and PublicationPublication No. 031-620) is published monthly for $15 per year ($1.50 per single copy) by the Arkansas Municipal LLeague,eague, 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. FEBRUARY 2007 3 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Mayor Bobbie Bailey, Alpena; Mayor Crotty, Norphlet; Mayor Becky Dunn, Palestine; Mayor Levenis Penix, Tim McKinney, Berryville; Mayor Larry Mitchell, Bryant; Mayor Chris Thornton; Councilmember Becky Alston, Tontitown; Mayor Arthur Claybaker, Camden; City Director Gary Campbell, Fort Smith; Mayor Booth, Weiner; Mayor Russell Hatridge, Wilton; Mayor Lorraine Smith, James Valley, Helena-West Helena; Alderman Kenny Elliott, Jack- Councilmember Allan Loring, Wrightsville. sonville; Councilmember Joe Gies, Lakeview; Mayor JoAnne Bush, Lake Village; Mayor Mark Stodola, Little Rock; Mayor Robert Taylor, INCORPORATED TOWNS: Mayor Stanley Morris, Menifee, Chair; Marianna; Mayor Frank Fogleman, Marion; Clerk/Treasurer Regina Mayor Leroy Wright Sr., Anthonyville; Councilmember George Hall- Walker, Mena; Mayor Betty Feller, Mulberry; Clerk/Treasurer Linda man, Ben Lomond; Mayor Larry Myrick, Delaplaine; Councilmember Treadway, Newport; City Clerk Diane Whitbey, North Little Rock; John Pfenengar, Fountain Lake; Mayor Jimmie Lou Nuessner, Lead Hill; Mayor Jackie Crabtree, Pea Ridge; Mayor Howard Taylor, Prescott; Mayor Don Sikes, Maynard; Councilmember Margarette Oliver, Mayor Belinda LaForce, Searcy; Recorder/Treasurer Carolyn Willett, Menifee; Mayor Anneliese Armstrong, Mount Vernon; Recorder/Trea- Smackover; Mayor Jerre Van Hoose, Springdale; Mayor Horace surer Naomi Mitchell, St. Charles; Councilmember Robert Smith, South Shipp, Texarkana; Councilmember Dorothy Henderson, Warren; Lead Hill; Councilmember Paul Lemke, Springtown; Mayor Abron Pitts, Mayor Paul Nichols, Wynne. Widener; Mayor Merle Jackson, Winchester. ADVISORY COUNCILS PAST PRESIDENTS: Councilmember Larry Combs, El Dorado; Mayor Tommy Swaim, Jacksonville; Mayor Patrick Henry Hays, North Little Rock; Mayor Robert Patrick, St. Charles; Arkansas Municipal Mayor Gene Yarbrough, Star City. LARGE FIRST CLASS CITIES: City Manager Kent Myers, Hot Springs, Chair; Mayor Chuck Hollingshead, City Director League Officers James Calhoun, Arkadelphia; Councilmember Doug Stracener, Benton; Mayor Eddie Joe Williams, Cabot; Coun- cilmember Dianne Hammond, El Dorado; Councilmembers Mayor Tab Townsell, Conway President Mary Jeffers, Cecil Twillie, Forrest City; Councilmember Mark Mayor Mike Gaskill, Paragould First Vice President Steven Fowler, Harrison; City Director Elaine Jones, Hot Mayor L.M. Duncan, Bono Vice President, District No. 1 Springs; Councilmembers Bill Howard, Linda Rinker, Jack- sonville; City Clerk Donna Jackson, Jonesboro; Intergovern- Mayor Rick Holland, Benton Vice President, District No. 2 mental Affairs Manager Odies Wilson III, Little Rock; Coun- Mayor Dan Coody, Fayetteville Vice President, District No. 3 cilmember James Moore, Magnolia; Mayor Joe Rogers, Mon- Mayor Carl Redus, Pine Bluff Vice President, District No. 4 ticello; Mayor David Osmon, Mountain Home; Treasurer Don A. Zimmerman Executive Director Mary Ruth Morgan, North Little Rock; Councilmember Bill Eaton, Russellville; Clerk/Treasurer Tammy Gowen, Coun- cilmember Dale English Searcy; Clerk/Treasurer Virginia Hillman, Coun- PUBLIC SAFETY: Mayor Scott McCormick, Crossett, Chair; Mayor cilmembers Lex (Butch) Davis, Marina Brooks, Sherwood; Mayor M.L. Shirley Johnson, Alexander; City Manager Jimmy Bolt, Arkadelphia; Van Poucke Jr., Siloam Springs; Clerk/Treasurer Mitri Greenhill, Finance Councilmember Larry Hall, Bay; Mayor Frank Anderson, Bella Vista; Officer Jane Jackson, Stuttgart; City Clerk Patti Scott Grey, Texarkana. Fire Chief Ben Blankenship, Police Chief Gary Sipes, Benton; Mayor Fred Jack, Bethel Heights; Finance Director Marilyn Payne, Bryant; FIRST CLASS CITIES: Mayor Steve Northcutt, Malvern, Chair; Clerk/Treasurer Marva Verkler, Cabot; Councilmember Willard Thoma- Councilmember Shirley Jackson, Ashdown; Clerk/Treasurer Jean Lee, son, Caddo Valley; Fire Chief Mike Taylor, Cherokee Village; Police Councilmember Ralph Lee, Bono; Industrial Development Coordinator Chief Montie Sims, Dardanelle; City Director Steve Smith, Hot Springs; Fairy Armstrong, Brinkley; Mayor Billy Helms, Clerk/Treasurer Barbara Councilmember Marshall Smith, Police Chief Robert Baker, Jacksonville; Blackard, Councilmember J.G. (Dutch) Houston, Clarksville; Mayor Police Chief Vernon Sisemore, Johnson; City Clerk Lynette Graham, Lake Dewayne Phelan, Councilmembers Blake Johnson, Steve Weston, Corn- Village; Fire Chief Keith Frazier, Malvern; Fire Chief John Puckett, ing; Councilmember Debra Barnes, Crossett; Clerk/Treasurer Donna Mena; Fire Chief Chris Hostetter, Mineral Springs; Police Chief Larry Jones, DeQueen; Councilmember Dwendolyn Stephenson, Dermott; Yates, Nashville; Councilmember Charlie Hight, North Little Rock; Mayor Aubrey McGhee, Dewitt; Councilmember T.C. Pickett, Dumas; Mayor Gary Crocker, Pocahontas; Mayor Jerry Duvall, Police Chief Councilmember Jimmie Barham, Earle; Councilmember Danny Mays, Blake Herron, Pottsville; Councilmember Robert Wiley, Russellville; Hamburg; Councilmember Patsy McNeese, Heber Springs; City Clerk Councilmember Sheila Sulcer, Sherwood, Mayor Marianne Maynard, Billie Uzzell, Lonoke; Councilmember James Turner, Mena; Councilmem- Stuttgart; Mayor Marion Bearden, Tyronza; Mayor Bryan Martin, bers Jackie Harwell, Vivian Wright, Nashville; Mayor Charles Patterson, Warren. Parkin; Mayor Gerald Morris, Piggott; Mayor Sonny Hudson, Prairie Grove; Mayor Troy Anderson, Waldron; Mayor Randy Butler, Wal- MUNICIPAL HEALTH BENEFIT FUND BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Mayor dron; Mayor Art Brooke, Councilmember Glen Walden, Ward; Treasurer Barrett Harrison, Blytheville, District 1; Finance Director Bob Sisson, Bertia Mae Lassiter, Councilmember Joel Tolefree, Warren; Clerk/Trea- North Little Rock, District 2; Clerk/Treasurer Barbie Curtis, surer Paula Caudle, West Fork; Mayor Jitters Morgan, White Hall; Van Buren, District 3; Mayor Chuck Hollingshead, Arkadelphia, Dis- Councilmember Juanita Pruitt, Wynne. trict 4; Personnel Director Ken Ferguson, Pine Bluff, At-Large Member. SECOND CLASS CITIES: Mayor Bill Duncan, Fairfield Bay, Chair; WORKERS’ COMPENSATION TRUST BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Councilmember Johnnie Faye McKeon, Alexander; Mayor Veronica Post, Mayor William Johnson, West Memphis, District 1; Councilmember Councilmember Mary Lynn Darter, Altus; Recorder/Treasurer Charlotte Murry Witcher, North Little Rock, District 2; City Attorney Howard Cain, Goodwin, Ash Flat; Recorder/Treasurer Sarah Roberts, Caddo Valley; Huntsville, District 3; Group Manager Mayor Lane Jean, Magnolia, Dis- Mayor Danny Armstrong, Councilmembers Richard