The Blytheville City Council has been asked to consider taking some of the city’s money from the general fund, water department and sewer department and putting it into a six-month CD for protection against cyber crime.
Blytheville Mayor James Sanders said that across the country several cities are running into an issue of having their funds digitally attacked, leaving a city’s bank account drained.
The CD would allow the city to set aside money for emergency usage were a cyber attack to occur. Sanders said that he has already spoken to auditors who have suggested that the city take this action. The council voiced no concerns for carrying out this process.
Councilman R.L. Jones asked Councilman L.C. Hartsfield if he had received a report on mosquitos within the city.
Jones noted that he has received “a lot of calls on them.” Hartsfield stated that he is due to receive a report over email and Sanders added that the company that the city uses for mosquito control, Vector Disease Control, has been responsive and has handled situations that they have been made aware of.
“They are spraying but one thing that our residents have to understand is that they are going to have to mow and clean up,” Councilwoman Barbara Brothers said.
“Yeah, but a lot of them have been mowing…I mean a lot of people have been keeping their yards mowed when you get them calls…all up in North Blytheville so we can’t blame it on the mowing,” Jones responded.
Brothers added that the mosquitos have been heavily complained about everywhere this year even outside of Blytheville. Councilman Stan Parks noted that this year has been particularly difficult with mosquitos.
Councilman John Mayberry mentioned that the set up of the Nuisance Abatement Board was brought up by a citizen in his July Code Enforcement Committee meeting. He asked Sanders when that board would be set up and Sanders explained that the board’s forming is a priority and apologized to the council for being absent of late for personal reasons. Brothers asked if there would be any guidelines for whom could serve on the board, specifically if felons would be allowed to serve. Sanders stated that there would be guidelines that were followed based on suggestion from the Arkansas Municipal League.
Sanders also mentioned that he travelled to Texas with ADEQ to meet with EPA. Currently, many communities around the country are dealing with asbestos removal when looking at removing dilapidated structures within a city.
Blytheville has run into this issue on more than one occasion, and the meeting was set to address some potential solutions. Sanders stated that the city would no longer be seeking to have their employees trained in removal of asbestos due to the cost and danger involved. He did note that some city employees are trained in identification of asbestos and that has saved the city money on numerous occasions.
Tuesday night, the council also passed a resolution authorizing the police department to dispose of unneeded equipment such as light bars, consoles, cages, etc. from decommissioned Crown Victoria model police vehicles. Chief of Police Ross Thompson previously stated that some of the equipment could possibly be given to other police departments, adding that the equipment is not compatible with the BPD’s newer vehicles.
Two issuances of industrial development revenue bonds, “Act 9 bonds”, were made to Nucor and Calstrip Industries. The bonds are given “for the purpose of securing and developing industry near the city; authorizing the execution and delivery of a bond purchase agreement providing for the sale of bonds; authorizing the execution and delivery of a seventh supplemental trust indenture securing the bonds.”
A resolution was also passed certifying local government endorsements of business to participate in the tax back program.
The resolutions states, “Calstrip Arkansas, Inc located at 5053 North County Road 1015, Blytheville Arkansas has sought to participate in the program and more specifically has requested benefits accruing from expansion of the specific facility; and whereas, Calstrip Arkansas, Inc has agreed to furnish the local government all necessary information for compliance.
The council also re-appointed David Lyttle, Len Williams, Jill Mazar, Judith Bell and James Odom to the Delta Gateway Museum Commission. The board also appointed Dustin Kemper to the commission. All commissioners’ terms will last between 2020 and 2022.
gwilliams@blythevillecourier.com