WARREN, Ark. – Meeting for the first monthly session of the new year the Warren City Council gathered at the Municipal Courtroom Monday evening, January 9, 2023 to handle a number of issues, from discussing the safety of a downtown building to passing four resolutions honoring members of the community for their service.
Presiding over the meeting for the first time since being sworn in, Warren Mayor Gregg Reep called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Monday evening. All six members of the Council were present, including new council member Latanza Atkins of Ward 3. She takes the seat of retired council member Zack Burks.
Early in the meeting, the Council introduced four separate resolutions honoring the late Robert Anderson, former City Clerk Helen Boswell, former Mayor Denisa Pennington, and longtime Councilman Zack Burks. Family and friends of Anderson, Boswell, and Burks were in attendance for the passage of the resolutions as well as for photos. Former Mayor Pennington was not available to attend the meeting. The resolution honoring her service was passed and will be presented to her at a future meeting. All four resolution presentations and readings can be seen by watching the full-meeting video below. They start around the 14:30 mark.
A lease was agreed upon to continue housing the Bradley County Chamber of Commerce in the Municipal Building. There was a discussion held in regards to the fact that the Chamber being allowed office space in the Municipal Building has its roots in an historical-verbal agreement honored to this day. Alderman Joel Tolefree asked that the Mayor look into the possibility of leasing the office space on a longer-term lease in the future to help ensure the space remains at the disposal of the Chamber.
Dr. Bob Smalling addressed the Council in his representation of the BCEDC, inviting Aldermen to the BCEDC’s Annual Meeting coming soon. Either the new Secretary of Commerce or the AEDC Director is scheduled to speak at the event. Dr. Smalling also requested that the City’s Economic Development Committee meet soon with the BCEDC to discuss any future assistance needed by the City.
Police Chief Shaun Hildreth presented his monthly report. He stated that the City Police Department is currently down in the number of personnel on the force. However, several potential officers are in line to be hired by the Civil Service Commission. Three total are set to be hired, but only one is currently certified.
The Council was presented a monthly report from Fire Chief Chuck Moore. The Fire Department responded to a total of 17 calls in December, only four had to be toned out.
Action was taken to rebid a lease program for new garbage trucks. After the Council voted to accept a lease in May of 2022 at a low-bid interest rate of 1.99 percent, the trucks took longer to come in than anticipated, and the interest rate given at that time is no longer valid. The trucks are due to arrive soon. The Council voted in favor of rebidding the financing on the lease program. The new interest rate that is being sought will be locked in once approved.
In what took up a large portion of the meeting, the Council was updated on a potential problem that arose just last Friday, January 6, 2023. Building Official Rob Johnson reported that Friday morning Street crews were cleaning the area of Main Street when they discovered recently fallen debris on the sidewalk at the corner of Cedar and Main. Upon the issue being reported by the Street crews, Building Official Johnson visited the site alongside Fire Chief Moore. “We looked it over and found some mortar and some stucco that’s turned loose from the building that was landing on the sidewalk,” said Johnson. Other damage was seen from the outside. The front awning and the rear awning had come loose and were hanging as well. After a discussion of the danger the issues could pose to people walking on the sidewalk, the decision was made to put tape up around the structure to avoid an accident.
Johnson then contacted the property owner and presented a letter from the City regarding the issue. Johnson also contacted the adjoining property owner. State Inspector and Fire Marshall, Dennis Free, was scheduled to examine all three buildings Tuesday, January 10 at 10:00 a.m. Those buildings include the old Ederington Building at the corner of Cedar and Main, as well as the Sandwich Shop building and the adjacent old Hankins building. “We want to get him(State Inspector and Fire Marshall Dennis Free) involved for his opinion, just to see what kind of shape the buildings are in,” said Johnson. Johnson mentioned that the building was inspected by the City several months ago before the church that now occupies the old Ederington Building began meeting. However, some of the changes which have occurred to the structure were not there at that time.
Mayor Reep added that the reason the letter was sent already was that “based upon our codes we can, you know, visually see something that we think is a danger or could be a danger.” He stated that the City is not trying to put the owners out of business, keep the church from holding their church services, or having their restaurant there, but there are a number of building code issues with those buildings. “When it starts to get to the point that we’re concerned it might fall in, we cannot sit back and let that go,” he said. He went on to say that the administration has tried to be cautious about the situation, but there are concerns the situation is dangerous after the initial inspection by the Building Official and the Fire Chief. More information will be gleaned following the State Inspector’s examination of the structures. “We’re trying to do this right,” said Mayor Reep, “but it cannot be left like it is, and we can’t wait six months to talk about it.” He ended by stating that the City “is not trying to bully anybody, but it(the City) “has a responsibility to the public that is driving up and down those streets and parking vehicles,” to ensure the safety of the area.
Council member Dorothy Henderson stated that the City is “headed in the right direction.” She noted that the City doesn’t want to find itself in a similar situation to Morrilton, “where the situation became catastrophic.” In 2011 a two-year-old girl was killed and six people injured when a building collapsed.
The full discussion can be watched starting at the 52:55 mark of the above video.
Later in the meeting, the Council heard from Street Foreman Monty Hearnsberger who informed the Council of repair work completed on Myrtle Street. He also told the Council that work being done on Highway 63 coming into town as well as on Smith Road and Martin Street is being done by the Highway Department. That area is being milled in preparation for repaving.
Other reports were presented by Parks and Recreation Direction Kyle Wagnon. He mentioned that some repairs were made at the Complex to pipes that busted during the recent cold spell. Lights at the walking track at the Warren City Park are also on schedule to be fixed by the end of the week.
Reports were presented from several other Commissions, and the Council voted to authorize the Mayor to come up with an employee appreciation suggestion box and possible award to be presented for City employees every quarter.
The next City Council meeting is set for February 13, 2023.