By Joseph Fondren
NEA Town
Courier Contributor
BLYTHEVILLE— The Blytheville City Council held their final council meetings — Fire, Police, and Safety (FPS) and Finance — Tuesday night at the Ritz Civic Center before next Monday’s City Council meeting.
Fire, Police, and Safety
Pafford’s Charles Stanton informed the council Pafford had 625 ambulance responses while having five ambulances a day on the streets, for August.
Stanton had a friendly competitive discussion concerning Saturday’s Battle of the Badges at Cooking for a Cure.
“We already have won,” Stanton said laughingly. “It’s excellence only that’s how we roll.”
Blytheville Fire Department Assistant Chief/ Fire Marshall Daniel Holifield spoke on behalf of Fire Chief Mike Carney, in which he informed the committee that the BFD is fully staffed with 27 personnel, and three firefighters will be attending the Fire Standard Class (Rookie School) in Camden, Arkansas next month.
Holifield added that the BFD will be starting its annual fire hose testing in September, which is required by the ISO Rating System.
When asked if there were any questions from the audience, local citizen Joseph Fondren stood up to thank Chief Carney and the BFD for assisting the “Sea of Red” parade for his late grandfather, Donnie Joe Fondren, in August.
Donnie was a retired Captain for the Blytheville Fire Department.
Chairwoman for the FPS committee Councilwoman Barbra McAdoo-Brothers stated, “Thank you, Joseph. That’s very sweet of you. Your family has been a part of our community for many, many years. We appreciate and respect them all.”
Blytheville Interim Police Chief Jonathan Frazier informed the council that the BPD is currently staffed at 29 and has 35 budgeted.
The BPD is reviewing applications and holding interviews to fill the open slots.
Frazier stated the BPD sought approval to purchase a 2019 Ford Transit 250 for $30,950. The vehicle currently has 73,016 miles.
McAdoo-Brothers motioned to approve the purchase and enact the emergency clause, which Councilman R.L. Jones seconded. The Finance committee later approved the purchase to be sent to the full council.
In between the FPS meeting and the Finance meeting, Blytheville Mayor Melissa Logan informed the council members of three items that will be discussed at the full council meeting Monday night.
The first item discussed was a temporary easement for land owned by the city of Blytheville that Tenaris purchased from Ipsco. She stated there would be a temporary substation, which would be located on the land owned by the city.
Logan added NexAir’s Nick Jazmin stopped by her office Tuesday morning to give an update on the groundbreaking of the solar project. Logan stated the groundbreaking should take place in March or April 2025, and when the groundbreaking takes place, Blytheville has been promised $1,000,000 upon groundbreaking and $11,000 per month for the next 30 years.
Another topic discussed was local citizen Jeff Evans's interest in leasing a plot of land near the animal shelter to be used for deer hunting. Logan stated the hunting would be strictly bow and arrow hunting, and the lease would be $4,000, along with Evan’s cleaning of the property as long as he leases the land from the city.
After the Finance Committee, local citizen Charles Middlebrooks addressed the audience on reasons why he deserves an opportunity to be the next chief of police for the city of Blytheville and how he was treated in prior administrations when he served for the Blytheville Police Department.
Finance
John Callens, chief financial officer, informed the council that most of the departments are around 67 percent or under.
Callens added that city parks, wastewater, and animal control are three departments that are above 67 percent —city parks— or under 67 percent with wastewater and animal control.
Callens informed the council that the city parks are above 67 percent due to a majority of their budget being help at the pool during the summer months, Callens stated that by the end of the year, they will be in line with the budget.
The reason for wastewater and animal control being under 67 percent is due to budget projects that have not yet started.
The Finance Committee unanimously approved the proposal from the Parks and Recreation Committee, giving Logan the approval to apply for the $500,000 grant to upgrade the lights in the Ritz.
The Finance Committee unanimously approved the proposal by Sierra Group from the Animal Control Committee for $68,300. An issue discussed at the Monday night meeting was if there was a warranty. McAdoo-Brothers informed the council there would be a two-year warranty on labor and a 10-year warranty on parts.
The purchase of a generator from CAT, which came from the Airport and Utilities Committee, for $55,624 was approved by the Finance Committee.
Last, the Finance Committee approved Jowers Construction's bid to do the drainage project near Dogwood.
Logan made an announcement reminding the full council will meet on Monday, September, 16 instead of the normal Tuesday due to an event Mayor Logan needs to attend on Tuesday.