City board says police to keep report fees

The Texarkana, Ark., Police Department can begin keeping a $10 fee it charges for copies of certain reports, the city Board of Directors voted during its regular meeting Monday.

The per-copy fee for motor vehicle accident reports, records of traffic violations and traffic accident investigating officers’ reports has been going into the Bi-State fund, TAPD Chief Robert Harrison told the board. That fund covers the cost of operating the Bi-State Justice Building.

However, state law specifies that such fees must be used to support the reporting law enforcement agency, Harrison and City Attorney George Matteson said.

“We were recently made aware that it has to go to the generating agency,” Harrison said. “We’re just trying to comply with the law.”

“The statute itself actually says all funds collected under this subsection shall be retained by the municipality for support of the law enforcement agency, and the way that is carried out in practice is a reimbursement vehicle for the law enforcement agency,” Matteson said.

The Gazette erroneously reported in Sunday’s edition that the fee is new.

The board also approved an emergency measure authorizing spending to replace a Sanderson Lane bridge.

An August inspection by the Arkansas Department of Transportation found the bridge over McKinney Bayou to be in serious need of repair. It has been closed to traffic since Oct. 4 to ensure drivers’ safety.

The board voted to suspend competitive bidding and award a $54,200 contract to Cleve Batte Construction Inc. to replace the bridge. The city will cover 75 percent of the cost, up to $40,650, with Miller County paying the rest.

The board also voted to condemn eight substandard buildings, at 1416 Ash St., 1108 Beech St., 925 County Ave., 1413 County Ave., 1020 Laurel St., 1305 Laurel St., 1314 Laurel St. and 1315 Laurel St.

Their owners have 30 days to obtain permits to repair or demolish them. If the owners do not do so, the city will give them notice at least 10 days beforehand and then demolish the buildings itself.

A resolution expressing support for restructuring Texarkana, Ark., School District bonds to fund building a new middle school was approved unanimously.

Residents will vote on the bond issue in November. If they approve it, the proposed restructuring will not require any new or increased taxes and will be repaid through the existing 13.90 mills voted for debt service.

TASD Superintendent Becky Kessler told the board about the district’s plans.

“The state has agreed to give us $6 million toward building a new school, and leaves us just about $12 to 15 million short. And the way we’re going to come up with that money is to restructure our bonds,” she said, comparing the move with refinancing a home mortgage. “It will extend that debt on out, but it will not cost the taxpayers any money.”

Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders would attend the new middle school, and fifth-graders would be in elementary schools, Kessler said.

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 6.