JANUARY 2008 VOL. 64, NO. 1 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE 2005-2007 City & Town Index Inside 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. JANUARY 2008 VOL. 64, NO. 1 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE JANUARY 2008 VOL. 64, NO. 1 OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE FEATURES Why be an elected official in 2008? 06 The National League of Cities offers a thought- and discussion- provoking top 10 reasons why local government leaders matter in this day and age. Cities make a difference with increased turnback 7 The Legislature in 2007 increased turnback to cities for the first time in 25 years, and the League has encouraged cities and towns to not only put the money to good use, but to let their legislators ON THE COVER—The stairs leading to the know just how important that money is. Peabody Hotel lobby from the Statehouse Convention Center will very soon be heavily trafficked by city leaders from across the state 2008 Winter Conference tentative program 10 heading to and from meetings at the League’s U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder, Chief Justice Jim Winter Conference, Jan. 9-11 in Little Rock. See Hannah, Gov. Mike Beebe and Arkansas Attorney General Dustin page 10 for the tentative conference program and McDaniel are among the speakers invited to speak at the League’s join us for an informative and inspiring start to an annual Winter Conference. exciting new year for cities in Arkansas. Read also inside about the benefits of being a local elected City & Town index official, the ways cities and towns are using their 31 The magazine index offers a topic-by-topic and name-by-name increased turnback funds and much more. reference to help keep track of five years’ worth of information Enjoy!—atm helpful to municipalities. Correction DEPARTMENTS On page 31 of the December issue of City & Town , the bottom center Animal Corner . 20 photograph depicts Deputy State Forester Larry Nance engaging a Attorney General Opinions . 16 young arborist during Conway’s Arbor Day celebration, not Urban Calendar . 15 Forester Pete Rausch as stated. Engineering Perspective . 24 Grant Money Matters . 30 League Officers, Advisory Councils . 5 Municipal Mart . 50 Municipal Notes . 14 Publisher Editor Planning to Succeed . 18 Don Zimmerman Ken Wasson Professional Directory . 48 Communications Coordinator Sales Tax Map . 46 Whitnee Bullerwell Sales Tax Receipts . 47 Publishing Assistant Managing Editor Debby Wilkins Andrew Morgan Sister Cities International . 22 Urban Forestry . 26 Here’s where to reach us: 501-374-3484 • FAX 501-374-0541 Your Health . 28 [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. JANUARY 2008 3 www.arml.org Submit photos of your city or town for display on the League’s homepage to [email protected]. • eNewsRoom offers online news articles from Arkansas’s municipalities’ dailies. isavailable to download in itsentirety in PDF from the • City & Town Publications page. local government portal page givesvisitorsa sneakpeek • Cities of Arkansas at the quality of life in the municipalities across Arkansas. • Flyout menus provide easier navigation and cut down on search time. • A search engine makes it easyis to now locate home topics, to legislative based on matters, specific including words. a new Legislative Action Center • . Legislative Bulletin t eCart, order and pay for publications and mailing lists online by Visa or MasterCard. us ! • J ed nch lau • Legal Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page 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 ; Planning Commissioner Dan Long, Rockport ; Mayor Bobby Councilmember Dianne Hammond, El Dorado ; Mayor Pat Moles, Neal, Smackover ; Mayor Ian Ouei, Stamps ; Mayor Rodney Harrison ; Councilmember Trece Shepherd-Williams, Helena-West Williams, Waldo ; Mayor Lorraine Smith, Wrightsville . Helena ; Human Resources Director Charlotte Bradley, Hope Water & Light ; Councilmembers Bill Howard, Kevin McCleary, Reedie Ray INCORPORATED TOWNS : Mayor Stanley Morris, Menifee , Chair; and Bob Stroud, Jacksonville ; Intergovernmental Affairs Manager Mayor Leroy C. Wright Sr., Anthonyville ; Councilmember George Odies Wilson III, Little Rock ; Councilmember James Moore, Hallman, Ben Lomond ; Mayor Larry Myrick, Delaplaine ; Magnolia ; Mayor Michael Watson, City Clerk Joshua Clausen, Councilmember John Pfeneger, Fountain Lake ; Mayor Laura Maumelle ; Mayor Joe Rogers, Monticello ; City Clerk Diane Hamilton, Garfield ; Mayor Randall Homsley, Higginson ; Mayor Whitbey, Treasurer Mary Ruth Morgan, North Little Rock ; Jimmie Lou Nuessner, Lead Hill ; Mayor Don Sikes, Maynard ; Mayor Councilmembers Randal Crouch and Bill Eaton, Russellville ; Marion Hoosier, McCaskill ; Councilmember Margarette Oliver, Clerk/Treasurer Tammy Gowen, Councilmember Dale English, Searcy ; Menifee ; Mayor Anne Armstrong, Mount Vernon ; Recorder/ Mayor Virginia Hillman, Councilmembers Marina Brooks and Lex Treasurer Naomi Mitchell, St. Charles ; Mayor Charles Miller, “Butch” Davis, Sherwood ; Mayor M.L. Van Poucke Jr., City Clerk Councilmember Hazel McGhee, Tollette . Peggy Woody, Siloam Springs ; Clerk/Treasurer Mitri Greenhill, PUBLIC SAFETY : Mayor Scott McCormick, Crossett , Chair; Finance Officer Jane Jackson, Stuttgart ; Mayor Bob Freeman, Councilmember Larry Hall, Bay ; Mayor Frank Anderson, Bella Vista ; Councilmember Kevin Johnson, Van Buren . Fire Chief Ben Blankenship, Police Chief Gary Sipes, Benton ; Financial FIRST CLASS CITIES : Clerk/Treasurer Regina Walker, Mena , Chair; Director Marilyn Payne, Bryant ; Clerk/Treasurer Marva Verkler, Councilmember Shirley Jackson, Ashdown ; Clerk/Treasurer Carol Cabot ; Mayor Allan Dillavou, Councilmember Willard Thomason, Crump-Westergren, Councilmember Tracy Lightfoot, Beebe ; Caddo Valley ; Councilmember Marshall Smith, Police Chief Robert Clerk/Treasurer Jean Lee, Councilmember Ralph Lee, Bono ; Mayor Baker, Jacksonville ; City Clerk Lynette Graham, Lake Village ; Barbara Skouras, Brinkley ; Mayor Lloyd Hefley, Cherokee Village ; Clerk/Treasurer Janette Lasater, Lowell ; Fire Chief Keith Frazier, Mayor Billy Helms, Clerk/Treasurer Barbara Blackard, Councilmember Malvern ; Fire Chief John Puckett Sr., Mena ; Police Chief Larry Yates, J.G. “Dutch” Houston, Clarksville ; Mayor Dewayne Phelan, Nashville ; Mayor Gary Crocker,