Protesters challenge director’s residency
Protesters seeking the resignation of District 5 City Director Rick Ramick assembled Monday in front of the real estate office where he works in the 1400 block of Central Avenue.
The Concerned Citizens Coalition organized the protest, continuing the challenge the group mounted last
August in response to Ramick’s residency qualification. Ramick owns property inside District 5 and in Enclave Study Area B. The Hot Springs Board of Directors annexed the area that includes the Paddock Point address Ramick purchased in July 2015, but three lawsuits filed against the January 2016 annexation ordinance have kept the area from joining the city.
Ramick told The Sentinel-Record in February that he’s trying to sell his condo inside the city and will resign if the courts invalidate the annexation. Ramick restated that pledge Monday. He was part of the 5-1 majority that adopted the Area B ordinance, which was scheduled to take effect last April.
“I am waiting on decisions from the judicial system concerning the annexation of Area B,” he said in an email. “If the ruling of the judge confirms the validity of the annexation, I will continue to serve the City of Hot Springs as elected.”
He and District 1 Director Suzanne Davidson are in Washington, D.C. representing the board at the D.C. FlyIn organized by the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. The city budgeted $20,000 for the city board’s travel expenses this year. Ramick took Ruth Carney’s spot. The former mayor resigned last month, 16 days after posts made on the Recall Ruth Carney Facebook page raised questions about her residency qualification.
“At times, (Ramick) has claimed to have ‘dual residency,’ but owning a vacant-forsale condo in the city does not make you a city resident, any more than owning a garage makes you a car,” the Concerned Citizens Coalition said in its news release.
The release questioned the legitimacy of actions the board has taken amid the controversy over Ramick’s residency, specifically the 2.6-mill property tax levy the board unanimously adopted last November. The proceeds will accrue to the General Fund but pay for half of the upgrades the city will make to its public safety communications system.
“Official actions taken by Mr. Ramick may not be legal or binding and, thus, should be rescinded due to fraudulent activities, improper representations, conflicts of interest and other inappropriate actions by Mr. Ramick and or the city board of directors,” the release said. “We are also concerned that the city board of directors may be complicit or guilty of aiding and abetting the actions of Mr. Ramick.”
Rex Houston, one of the protest’s organizers and the lead plaintiff in the last unresolved lawsuit challenging Area B’s annexation, told The Sentinel-Record he plans to appeal his claim to the Arkansas Supreme Court once a final order is entered.
Division 1 Circuit Court Judge John Homer Wright dismissed the lawsuit earlier this year and reaffirmed the dismissal in the findings of fact and conclusions of law he issued March 7.
Through his attorneys, Houston pledged last month to not file an appeal if the city repealed the annexation ordinance, but the board declined his offer.
“We’re planning on taking it to a higher court,” Houston said Monday. “We’re certainly going to pursue all of our legal options at this point.”
The news release said Monday’s protest is the beginning of a larger campaign to force Ramick’s resignation.
“The picketing efforts (Monday) will be continued periodically, plus complaints will be filed with all appropriate city, county and state agencies, the state Ethics Commission and on social media until such time Mr. Ramick vacates the position which we believe he fraudulently holds,” the release said. “Legal action, including possible recall, is also contemplated.”