The Blytheville City Council held the second reading on Tuesday of an ordinance to increase water rates in the city, but nearly skipped the third reading and approved the ordinance outright.
After no one from the public in attendance spoke up about the rate increase, councilman Stan Parks motioned to skip the third reading and adopt the rate increase immediately. The council then voted 5-1, with councilman Tommy Abbott casting the lone no vote, before city attorney Mike Bearden advised the council it may face legal trouble if challenged over skipping the final hearing.
"Once the procedure has begun there's a process you have to follow," he told the council.
Council members then withdrew the motion unanimously and will hold the final hearing at its next meeting on Nov. 15.
The increase is necessary, city leaders say, due to increased costs of providing water to residents. Following the withdrawal of the ordinance, council members discussed the importance of holding all three readings since they have told residents they would have until the November council meeting to address the council with comments or concerns.
Parks explained after the meeting his desire to adopt the ordinance immediately.
"The income will need to be shown by the Dec. 1 budget deadline," he said. "It would be nice to know if we have the money to (modernize the Waterworks and provide state-approved water) by then."
The council also approved the purchase of a dump truck for the Public Works department from Lou Fusz GMC of St. Louis for $25,995.00.
Parks said there is a pressing need for a dump truck as "we have a sewer and a street caved in and that needs fixed."
The council also awarded a contract to Jowers General Contracting, Inc. to repair the 21st Street wastewater manhole at a cost not to exceed $36,725. Jowers was the lone bidder.
The contract allows Jowers to bypass sewer from the area, remove 1,215 square feet of concrete and a manhole, furnish and install a new manhole, tie in existing sewer mains, construct a new grated storm water inlet, replace the concrete and cleanup the site.
The 2016 Waterworks department budget was altered by the council, with $10,000 decreased from the building and maintenance line item and the same amount increased in the professional service expenses. It was reported by the council the money is not new, but rather merely moved from one budgeted item to another.
The council also altered the Blytheville Historic District Commission as five members of the committee have reached the end of their appointments. The council re-appointed Marcia McClain and Pam Blankenship, with McClain serving a term until May 1, 2019, and Blankenship serving until May 1, 2018. Rena Bradley and Joyce Sanders were appointed to terms ending May 1, 2017, and Andrew Carrington was appointed to a term through May 1, 2019.
The resolution also read that Clifford Carver Jr., Harley Bradley and Marty Crawford "be commended for their service to the City of Blytheville and the Historic District Commission."
The council also adjusted the Blytheville Golf Course Facilities Board by replacing Cameron Beacham - whose term has expired - with Brian Flemming. Flemming's term expires July 1, 2019.