A proposed ordinance setting rules for renaming streets and the third and final reading of a measure to rename Marguerite Street "Henton Drive" in honor of longtime educator Gene Henton are among several items on tonight's (Tuesday) Blytheville City Council agenda.
Thursday night, the Blytheville Planning Commission gave its blessing to the rules, which would be added to the Blytheville Subdivision Regulations if approved.
Meanwhile, the Henton Drive could potentially be voted on tonight. Last month, it took an affirmative vote from Mayor James Sanders for a second reading because a councilman motioned to suspended the rules to read it by title only, which required a vote.
Councilmen R.L. Jones, John Musgraves and Tommy Abbott voted in favor of reading it by title only, while Councilwoman Missy Langston, Councilman Stan Parks and Councilman Kevin Snow all abstained.
Though it was a 3-0 vote, City Attorney Mike Bearden said the abstentions were essentially "no" votes, making it a tie. Sanders cast the tiebreaking "yes" vote, allowing City Clerk Connie Mosley to read the measure, which is now one reading away from a final vote.
The proposal was read once at the January meeting with no opposition, but a recent email from the family of Marguerite Coppedge, forwarded to fellow Council members by Langston, lobbied against the name change. The email detailed the street's history and contributions by Marguerite Coppedge, who like Henton, was a longtime educator in the Blytheville School District.
Meanwhile, the agenda also includes:
-- Third reading of an ordinance permitting business owner Tony Emmert to conduct business with the city.
-- An ordinance adopting personnel policies. The proposal calls for adding policies for the police and fire departments to the general policy manual.
-- An ordinance adopting the cross-connection control program of the Arkansas Department of Health.
-- A resolution authorizing the sale of the following vehicles: a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria; a 1997 Ford Crown Victoria; 2004 Chevy Impala; and two 2005 Chevy Impalas.
-- A resolution condemning the following structures: 110 W. Vine, 638 Lake, 112 Cherry, 621 Lake, 1016 Lilly, 2120 Peabody, 212 Sawyer and 1323 Seventh.
-- A resolution confirming Lubertha Ingram's appointment to the Blytheville Housing Authority board.
The Blytheville City Council will meet at 5 p.m. tonight in the Municipal Courtroom.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com