City OKs funds for cultural district
An ongoing dispute over whether funds from the 5/8-cent sales tax should be transferred toward supporting the Delta Rhythm & Bayous Cultural District finally met its resolution Tuesday.
Pine Bluff City Council members voted 8-0 to move the remainder of a $2 million allocation from the tax to the Economic Community Development Department. For 2023, $590,584 was to go to a cultural development specialist and support staff, land acquisition, architectural and engineering cost, construction and miscellaneous expenses. That left $1,409,416 to be moved over this year.
The remaining money had stayed in an account where it generated interest, but those who support the Cultural District, a project spearheaded by Pine Bluff tourism development director Jimmy Cunningham Jr., said the failure to transfer the funds was for political gain, an accusation Mayor Shirley Washington denied.
“That’s just the way we do the projects,” she explained. “We don’t move the money until the project gets to a point where the money needs to be expended. That project hadn’t gotten there yet. The [more than] 500,000 that was moved over was needed for land acquisition. Once they do the land acquisition — they can’t bring in anything until they get their own land. We’ve only purchased one piece of land, but that’s what the money was moved for, and the money is still there for that and hiring one or two people for the project.”
Washington said the city had received a “considerable amount” of income in interest, and Ward 3 Councilwoman Lanette Frazier expressed hesitation to move any funds out of an interest-generating account before the vote.
None of the council members or speakers launched an objection to the district, which is being designed as a terminus of the Delta Rhythm & Bayous corridor along U.S. 65 and 82 into Mississippi.
Washington also denied accusations that she planned to move the money to other projects, adding that Pine Bluff is in the best financial standing since she began her first term as mayor in 2017.
“As far as saying the money where it is, is holding up the project, that’s not true at all,” Washington said, adding that most of the $1.5 million allocated for street improvements has not yet been transferred, but invoices for the work thus far have been paid out.
Cunningham was among those who passionately asked the council to transfer the funds during public comments at the start of Tuesday’s meeting, adding he needed $500,000 for a city match to apply for a grant. Washington said the city only needs to issue a letter indicating the match would be met.
Cunningham could not be reached after the meeting.
MARKETING STUDY FOR GROCERY
A unanimously approved resolution just added to the agenda allows the Association of Wholesale Growers to conduct a marketing study to identify obstacles to full-service grocery stores and the potential for opening new stores across Pine Bluff.
The measure, sponsored by Ward 1 Council Member LaTi
sha Brunson, calls for $4,500 from her discretionary funds to go to the study. The move is part of her attempt to attract either Oasis Fresh Market of Tulsa or another grocery to her ward, more than a year after Super 1 Foods vacated its location at the Broadmoor Shopping Center, citing a lack of foot traffic.
In addition, an ordinance to enact regulations on locating small-box retail stores in Pine Bluff underwent its first reading. Three readings are needed before the council can act on an ordinance.
“This ordinance helps to make sure we have a gauge on small-box stores,” Brunson said, naming dollar stores or those that have less than 15% shelf life for frozen/fresh foods in facilities of less than 12,000 square feet. “This ordinance helps big businesses to come to the city and helps us gain treadway to a full-service grocery store, which we all need access to in the city and mainly in Ward 1.”
GREEN LIGHT FOR HOTEL LOAN
Following three readings, the City Council unanimously gave the Pine Bluff Convention Center and Hotel Public Facilities Board the OK to execute an $18 million loan agreement backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and $1.9 million subordinate loan agreement with funds coming from development firm The P3 Group and management group Beechwood Pinnacle Hotels toward a new Courtyard by Marriott, to replace the shuttered Plaza Hotel next to the Convention Center.
A separate public hearing was conducted prior to the ordinance’s being passed.
A resolution was unanimously passed that allows the city to advance $5,000 toward opening a local bank account for the senior loan, which is to be finalized by Farmers State Bank of Harrisburg, Ill., by March 31.
IN OTHER CITY BUSINESS
■ The council waived bidding for the Parks and Recreation Department to purchase equipment from P&K Equipment Golf and Turf for maintaining the Harbor Oaks golf course. The equipment includes John Deere 2700E-Cut, John Deere 4052R cab tractor and TDR, John Deere 1200A Rake and John Deere 2032R with SL and tow-behind topdresser.
■ Authorization of financing from U.S. Bancorp Government Leasing and Finance for a fire truck and related apparatuses underwent a second reading.