Blytheville City Council passed the four code enforcement ordinances that were originally presented in March. The ordinances focus heavily on city cleanup and appearance. The council also approved a $48,864 purchase of a mobile SkyCop surveillance unit.
A similar SkyCop unit was demoed in 2017 by the city and Chief Ross Thompson, along with CFO John Callens, determined earlier this month that the city did have sufficient funds to purchase their first unit. Thompson stated earlier this month that he wanted to get the unit in soon so that it could be used at the fair in August.
The four ordinances passed were an ordinance establishing a nuisance abatement board; an ordinance addressing grass clippings being blown into city streets; an ordinance associated with the fees for city performed mowing; and an ordinance concerning unsightly trash for businesses in the city.
The council will now be tasked with appointing members to the nuisance abatement board which will be a citizen-run commission that will have the power to identify structures, businesses and homes as nuisances and decide what legal action will be taken against these offenders.
City Attorney Chris Brown will serve as an advisor to the board.
Mayor James Sanders also presented the council with the Blytheville Waterworks and Blytheville Sewer Department’s audited financial statements from December 2017. The audits for both departments are clean audits stating, "…as of December, 31, 2017, the respective changes in financial position, and, where applicable, cash flows thereof for the year ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America."
The council also approved a resolution authorizing an agreement to bond issues for the financing of a Calstrip Industries new facility near Nucor Hickman.
The Baseball Facilities Board also had the number of members allowed in the commission increased from five to seven members. The ordinance states that the two additional members may live outside of the city limits but must live in Mississippi County. Jeff Hollingsead of Armorel was selected to be one such member and was appointed to the commission.
The council also appointed Len Whitehead and Trey Speight to the commission finishing the terms of Billy Fair and Ryan Perkins who have resigned from the board.
Several vehicles and equipment were approved to be featured in the auction, which has not yet had a determined date, or be sent to the scrap recycling businesses.
The city auction will be held in the future. Those items to be sent to the auction include: a 1998 Mack Flatbed, a John Deere 4WD Tractor, a 200 Case 885 Tractor, a 2005 Johnson Sweeper, a 2012 Ford F-150, a 1976 Ford 2 Ton, a Davis 4x2 Trencher and a Red Trailer 8x20 Dovetail.
The council did receive a few questions from a document provided to the council by Mike Leathers questioning the selling of the items being sold directly for scrap.
The document contained questions about how the council will determine the price of the scrap and how they will get the best price without competitive bidding.
The document also included a suggestion for advertising the scrap in an ad format and having prospective buyers meet and make offers until one buyer wins the highest bid. Councilman Jon Musgraves stated that they would consider the suggestions in the future.
"I would love to see us look into and do some consideration but I'm not saying we don't need to do anything (tonight) but for future reference," Musgraves said.
Sanders added that the document would be given to Public Works director Mark Key for his review and insight, adding that he wished the questions had been presented to the Public Works committee in weeks prior.
The items being sent directly to the highest paying scrap yard were deemed to be to damage or parted out to be moved to the auction and include: a 2001 Sterling Knuckle boom, a 2003 Ford Ext Cab, a 2006 Chev Pickup Truck, a 2007 Case 440 Steer Skid Loader, a Chevy Suburban, a Ford Ambulance, a Ford Pickup, a Kodiak Knuckleboom, and 3 Landpride Mower Decks.
The council also passed a resolution condemning properties at 413 East Rose Street, 702 Ruddle Road, 312 Franklin Street and 521 Franklin Street.
gwilliams@blythevillecourier.com