The Leachville City Council discussed potential annexation with City Attorney Chris Jester at the council meeting held Monday, Sept. 10.
"There are three ways to annex," Jester said. "These include by contiguous property surrounded by city, election by adopting an ordinance stating need to annex, and land owners petition to annex."
The council inquired about drawing up an ordinance for annexation.
"Normally in your ordinance you would allow three years to offer city services to the newly annexed citizens," Jester said.
The council inquired if they were required to offer services above police protection and sanitation, as sewer services would be very expensive, and providing water was not an option at this time.
"You need to offer them all the facilities or they would be second class citizens," Jester said.
Questions were asked about redistricting of voting wards.
"If you annex you can re-draw ward boundaries at that time," Jester said. "You would need to re-draw according to equalization of population based on your last census and see how it will affect the new wards. The wards are based on population, not size."
After a brief discussion the annexation decision was tabled.
Mark Johnson reported the Fire Department repeater had been struck by lightning and burned up, leaving the department without a fire radio at present.
Police Chief Keith Evans reported $3,953 in fine monies turned over to the General Fund for July. Thirty-two traffic citations had been administered, with 14 criminal arrests, and three DWIs. There were reimbursements of $4,547.24 from Police Supply JAG Grant for purchase of Armor Express vests. A new JAG Grant has been received for the purchase of a radar unit, two gun racks with storage, an actual ID Maker, and storage box with gun safe.
A citywide clean up is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28-29. Persons may call city hall for more information.
The council voted to pay for street paving out of the General Fund.
The council discussed listings for property condemning at 505, 507 and 706 Nelson Street.
Mayor Sheila Spurlock expressed future budget needs for Street Department equipment, also for chip and seal at the City Cemetery now, as well as posting of new street names there.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8, at city hall.