New fire codes adopted for city by FC Council

Mayor discusses need for cameras to be installed in all police cars

Council members adopted one ordinance and held first readings on two others during a brief meeting Tuesday evening at Forrest City City Hall.

The council held second and third readings of an ordinance updating the city’s fire codes to the 2021 codes provided by the state before voting to adopt that ordinance.

An ordinance waiving the bidding process for a culvert to be installed on Old Madison Road and one to allow councilman Jim Bailey to operate the concession stands at the Sports Complex were each read one time, with second and third readings scheduled for the next council meeting.

The council previously approved the work on Old Madison Road, estimated by Mayor Larry Bryant to cost about $50,000. However, Bryant explained last night that he had the project written as an ordinance in order to waive the competitive bidding requirements for the culvert, which will be purchased from WIFCO Inc., at a cost of $32,545.39.

According to the ordinance, the bidding process was waived because the council determined it was not feasible to do so due to the “unique nature of this equipment.”

Bryant also reviewed findings noted by auditors in the city’s 2021 Legislative Audit report for the city, which showed minor infractions involving payments to employees.

In one instance, insurance premiums were withheld from an employee’s wages during a time for which the employee was not covered by insurance. Another finding showed two employees were allowed to take vacation leave before earning it. Auditors also noted the city did not always collect retiree insurance premiums prior to the month for which the coverage was effective.

“This is just for information purposes, and we’re supposed to learn from what they wrote us up on,” said Bryant.

The council also gave permission for the city’s water department to seek Requests for Qualifications for engineering services, and Bryant received permission from the council to seek bids on roofing for the former city hall building.

“We don’t know what that will cost,” said Bryant. “It has some leaks and other problems there on the roof.”

“Would this be the entire building?” asked councilman Chris Oswalt.

Bryant said the scope of the work is unknown. “We’ll look at it, take bids and see what happens,” he said.

The council approved paying the city’s general bills in the amount of $20,810.35, street bills of $39,697.76, solid waste bills of $30,441.23 and water department bills of $119,543.74.

Before voting on the bills, councilman Danny Capps asked about money spent on repairs to a 2018 Dodge truck.

“We’ve spent over $20,000 working on a 2018 vehicle and it still doesn’t work,” said Capps. “Reading through these maintenance suggestions, it says this is a big concern that needs to be taken care of sooner rather than later.”

Bryant said that vehicle is no longer being used.

“We’ve put it to rest but it has $20,000 worth of flowers laying on it,” said Capps.

“That something that happened and we’re trying to rectify that,” Bryant responded.

Councilman Lowry Astin noted in the water payments a vendor submitted bills from July last year through January this year, asking to be paid in a lump sum.

“We need to talk with our vendors and have them speed up their process because I know

(Continued from Page 1) they expect us to pay promptly,” said Astin.

“And they need to submit bills promptly,” agreed Bryant.

Before adjourning, Bryant told the council the city is planning to hold a city-wide cleanup in April, with the exact date to be announced later this month.

He also said he planned to talk with the city’s police officers to ask about equipment they might need.

“We’ve had shooting after shooting and I’m so disturbed over that,” said Bryant. “They’re doing good work and they’re arresting folks.”

He continued, “I’m planning to talk with our officers and pat them on the back for the good work they’re doing and also trying to make sure we’re doing some things we need to do in order to help them do a better job.”

Bryant said the city recently purchased new body cameras for the officers and the next step is to have cameras installed in all police cars.

“We’re working toward that end. I might be coming to you all asking for funding for that if we can’t find it somewhere else,” said Bryant. “It think every police car needs to have a camera so when the officer turns on the lights, we know it’s recording what they do.”

Bryant said he plans to deliver the annual state of the city address at the March 21 council meeting.