COUNCIL MINUTES AUGUST, 2023

Date Posted: 09/20/2023

CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS
MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 22, 2023

A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Gassville, Arkansas was held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at the Gassville Community Center, one week later than the usual date. Mayor Braim led those in attendance in saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and in offering a word of prayer. The meeting was then called to order at 6:00 PM by Mayor Jeff Braim, Presiding Officer.

Upon the calling of the roll, those in attendance were Council Member Kenneth Smith, Council Member Tim McFarland, Council Member Anita Seaman, Council Member Naomi Lassen, Council Member Ralph Bird, Mayor Jeff Braim, and Recorder-Treasurer Jeff Lewis. Council Member Ernest Adkins was absent. Department Heads in attendance were Police Chief Tim Mayfield, Fire Chief Michael Glotzl, and Water and Street Superintendent Michael Dewey.

The minutes from the last regular meeting held July 18, 2023 were then up for consideration. Council Member Seaman moved to approve those minutes as presented, which motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. No corrections or additions were called for, whereupon the Mayor called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

The financial report for the month of July, 2023, was presented for approval. Council Member Bird moved to approve the July financial report as submitted, which motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. Before calling for the vote, the Mayor stated that the old water and sewer depreciation accounts have now been consolidated with the new 5% depreciation accounts in water and sewer as per previous authorization of the City Council. The vote was then called for. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Chief of Police Mayfield gave the police department report for the month of July, 2023. It was accepted into the record without objection.

Fire Chief Glotzl gave the fire department report for the month of July, 2023, including information that all fire hydrants in the city have been flow tested and painted during the past 18 months. His report was also accepted into the record without objection.

Fire Chief Glotzl went on to present the City Council with a proposed addition to the fire department's Standard Operation Guidelines (SOG). After reviewing the proposal, Council Member Bird moved to strike and remove in its entirety the paragraph on page 5 of the proposal entitled "REVIEW AND REVISION", then to adopt the remainder of the new SOG addition as submitted. This motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The vote was called for. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

The sale of the fire truck that was deemed to be surplus to the needs of the fire department was again discussed. There has been no success thus far in listing the truck for sale or seeking offers. The Fire Chief asked for permission to list the fire truck for sale on an online auction site called govdeals.com. There is no cost to the city for using this venue, and a minimum acceptable offer can be specified. Council Member Lassen moved to authorize Fire Chief Glotzl to put the fire truck up for sale at govdeals.com, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. The vote was called for. Council Members McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. Council Member Smith voted against the motion. The Mayor declared the motion to be carried by majority vote.

Mayor Braim then gave the building inspection report for the period of July 19th through August 18th, which was accepted into the record without objection.

Council Member Seaman gave a report from the Cotter-Gassville Joint Sewer Commission, which had met on July 20th and on August 10th. A new gear box has been installed at the wastewater treatment facility by Crawford Electric. The facility is functioning normally with usual maintenance requirements. Improved access for the line crew has been gained to the Magness property near the Cotter School. The line crew finally got to take possession of the long awaited new truck that was ordered years ago. The payments on the truck, with insurance, will be about $1,700 per month. The commission wants to sell of the old truck, a 2005 flat bed, with a blue book value of approximately $7,000. Council Member Lassen moved to authorize the sale of the old truck, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Upon calling for the vote, Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. The commission also discussed the Phase II renovation of the collection system, costs, and funding.

Council Member Lassen gave a report from the Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission, which had met on August 14th. The commission discussed the situation with billboards and also potential modification of re-zoning procedures for properties with highway frontage on Hwy 62/412. She also announced that Dalton Haley has expressed interest in a vacant position on the commission. He was present in the
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audience and introduced himself. Council Member McFarland moved to appoint Dalton Haley to the Gassville Planning and Zoning Commission, which motion was seconded by Council Member Smith. Upon calling for the vote, Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Under unfinished business, the City Council heard a presentation from Travis Doshier to provide outsourced bookkeeping services for the water and sewer department for $650 per month. Council Member Lassen moved to approve this proposal, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Upon calling for the vote, Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

CPA Brian Haas presented the City Council with a draft of the water and sewer department audit for 2022.

Under new business, the Mayor opened bids that had been received for street paving, to-wit:

Atlas:            Category A   $99 ton
                      Category B   $95 ton
                      Category C   $95 ton

Dilbeck:         Category A   $101 ton
                      Category B   $101 ton
                      Category C   $101 ton

Council Member McFarland moved to award the bid for street paving to Dilbeck, which motion was seconded by Council Member Smith. The Mayor called for discussion, then for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

The Phase II renovation project with the sewer collection system was further discussed. The bids received for the project greatly exceeded original estimated costs and the amount of funding that has already been secured or pledged. The City of Cotter is engaged with funding sources to see if additional government funding can be obtained. Mayor Braim believes that either an increase in sales tax is needed to pay for this project or a large increase in sewer use fees. Council Member seemed to be in agreement that an additional permanent sales tax levy would be preferable to a large rate increase on customers. The current sales tax rate in Gassville city limits is 8.75%.

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Any sales tax increase would have to be approved by the voters. Council Member McFarland moved that the Mayor begin moving forward with the sales tax option, with a vote being held next March. This motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. The vote was called for. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

With the new cslc truck finally having now been received, the Joint Commission asked that the capital improvement line item in that budget be eliminated. Council Member Bird moved to eliminate that capital improvement line item, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. Upon calling for the vote, Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

With the new agreement with Travis Doshier for outsourced booking services in the water and sewer department going into effect, it was also requested that the administrative fees in the budget be offset accordingly. Council Member Seaman moved to amend the budget to offset administrative fees as requested, which motion was seconded by Council Member Lassen. The vote was called for. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the Mayor declared the motion carried.

Fire Chief Glotzl asked the City Council for an additional appropriation into his budget for repairs needed to Engine 1. The cost for full repairs/replacement of the pump heater, air brake hoses and chamber, and heater hoses will be about $3,700. Council Member Bird moved to appropriate an additional $3,700 from the General Fund into the fire department O/M line item for the purpose indicated. This motion was seconded by Council Member McFarland. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Proposed Ordinance No. 2023-07 was next up for consideration. This ordinance pertains to advertising billboards in Gassville. Council Member McFarland moved to place the proposed ordinance on its first reading, which motion was seconded by Council Member Seaman. The Mayor called for the vote. Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried. Thereupon, Recorder-Treasurer Lewis read aloud in its entirety the proposed ordinance, entitled:

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"ORDINANCE NO. 2023-07. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 2004-10 TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF ADVERTISING BILLBOARDS IN THE CITY OF GASSVILLE, ARKANSAS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

Upon the reading of the proposed ordinance, Mr. Mark Medley addressed the City Council with some questions regarding its content and meaning.

Mayor Braim then asked the City Council for authorization to destroy unused blank checks on former accounts at Farmers & Merchants Bank, a full list of which was provided. Council Member Lassen moved to authorize the destruction of those checks, which motion was seconded by Council Member Bird. Upon calling for the vote, Council Members Smith, McFarland, Seaman, Lassen, and Bird voted for the motion. There were no nays, and the motion was declared to be carried.

Mayor Braim announced that due to a data breach at LOPFI, the LOPFI system is offering free credit monitoring enrollment and services to officials and employees who are in the LOPFI system.

Mayor Braim stated he attended a planning meeting last week at the Arkansas Municipal League. He learned that there will be an increase in property insurance next year.

Finally, the Mayor presented Council Member Seaman with a leadership award from the Arkansas Municipal League.

There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting then adjourned at 7:31 PM upon motion of Council Member Bird, seconded by Council Member Lassen, with all members voting in favor.

Submitted by: /s/ Jeffrey Lewis,
Recorder-Treasurer

Approved by: /s/ Jeff Braim,
Mayor

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