YELL COUNTY QUORUM COURT MEMBERS HAVE APPROVED THE EXPENDATURE OF MORE THE 247-THOUSAND DOLLARS, TO REEQUIPMENT THE YELL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH 10 NEW VEHICLE. SHERIFF BILL GILKEY SPOKE TO THE COURT DURING THEIR MARCH SESSION, INDICATING THIS WILL BE A RENEWAL OF THE DEPARTMENT FLEET PURCHACE PROGRAM THRU THE STATE. GILKEY SAID WHILE THEY NORMALLY UPGRADE THEIR VEHICLES THRU THIS PLAN EVERY THREE YEARS, HE DECIDED TO DELAY THAT ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR IN 2014, BUT, INDICATED THE UPGRADE IS NEEDED NOW.
GILKEY SAID THE DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST HAS PURCHACED SOME USED VEHICLES IN GOOD CONDITION, BUT, THRU THE STATE EQUIPMENT PROGRAM, THEY CAN BUY NEW, FOR A COMPARABLE COST. THE SHERIFF SAID THE REQUEST HAD BEEN BUDGETED FOR, SO THIS IS NOT A NEW APPROPRIATION REQUEST FROM THE COURT.
IN OTHER MATTERS, THE COURT APPROVED THREE APPOINTMENTS. INCLUDED WAS JUDGE DAVID McCORMICK, REAPPOINTED TO THE DARDANELLE LAW LIBRARY, TOM TATUM TO THE DANVILLE LAW LIBRARY AND WAYNE SHUMAKE TO THE YELL COUNTY EMS BOARD.
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APPROVAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF A NEW POLICE CAR AND PASSAGE OF AN ORDINANCE TO REPLACE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S EXISTING POLICY AND PROCEDURE HANDBOOK ARE AMONG THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MORRILTON CITY COUNCIL DURING MONDAY NIGHT'S REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING. THE COUNCIL APPROVED A RECOMMENDATION TO PURCHASE A 2016 FORD EXPLORER FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FIRST PURCHASE OF A NEW PATROL UNIT FOR THE DEPARTMENT IN THREE YEARS. CHIEF SONNY STOVER EXPLAINS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HANDBOOK CHANGE THAT WAS APPROVED WAS DONE SO TO GET THE POLICY IN LINE WITH THE MODEL POLICY RECOMMENDED BY THE POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION AND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
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ITS ELECTION DAY FOR THE SPECIAL MILLAGE ELECTION FOR THE DOVER SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND POLLS WILL BE OPEN UNTIL 7:30 THIS (TUES.) EVENING. DOVER FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH WILL BE TODAY'S ELECTION POLLING PLACE. EARLY VOTING COMPLETED ON MONDAY, AND A TOTAL OF 235 BALLOTS, THAT HAD BEEN RECORDED. IF APPROVED, FUNDS FROM THE PROPOSED MILLAGE ADDITION, WOULD BE USED TO FUND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL AND OTHER NEEDED EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES. THAT INCREASE WOULD RAISE THE MILLAGE FROM A CURRENT RATE OF 40.30 TO 43.50.
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RUSSELLVILLE CITY CORPORATION OFFICIALS WILL BE VISITING WITH AREA RESIDENTS TONIGHT (TUES.), DURING A PUBLIC HEARING, IN RELATION TO A REQUESTED WATER AND WASTE WATER RATE INCREASE. CITY CORP MANAGER STEVE MALLETT SAYS A NECESSITY OF MEETING INCREASING FEDERAL GUIDELINES, IS THE REASON FOR THIS RATE CONSIDERATION. FEDERAL STANDARDS, STEMING FROM THE CLEAN WATER ACT PASSED IN THE 1970'S AND AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, GIVE LITTLE LEAWAY TO MAKING THESE IMPROVEMENTS. MALLETT SAYS IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM MUST BE COMPLETED BY 2022, TO MEET FEDERAL GUIDELINES AND DEAL WITH THE CONSENT ORDERS FACING THE CITY. TONIGHT'S (TUES.) PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL.
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JUST PRIOR TO THAT MEETING, RUSSELLVILLE CITY COUNCIL PERSONNEL COMMITTEE MEMBERS WILL FURTHER DISCUSS ON TUESDAY, PROPOSALS BY FIVE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES, INTERESTED IN BECOMING PROJECT MANAGER FOR CITY PROJECTS. THE CITY'S FINANCE COMMITTEE VOTED RECENTLY TO NAME VAN HORN CONSTRUCTION TO PROJECT MANAGER'S STATUS ON THE AQUATICS CENTER. THE COUNCIL'S PERSONNEL COMMITTEE WANTED TO DISCUSS THAT MATTER FURTHER. OF THE FIVE COMPANIES, WHO'VE INDICATED INTEREST IN THE POST, THREE ARE LOCAL BUSINESSES, EWI, INCORPORATED, VAN HORN CONSTRUCTION, AND VEI GENERAL CONTRACTORS. TUESDAY'S MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR 5 P/M, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL.
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