Council approves seeking grant to replace lead pipes

Groups working together to promote area, recruit businesses, industries

A resolution allowing the city to apply for grant funding to replace lead pipes was approved by members of the Forrest City City Council during a brief meeting Tuesday evening.

Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant read the resolution to the council in the absence of city attorney Marshall Wright.

“You all have heard about lead pipes. We have lead pipes in Forrest City and throughout America. We want to apply for this grant to see if we can get funding to replace the lead pipes here,” said Bryant. “We want to apply to make sure we’re in the pipeline.”

The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has set aside $3 billion for cities across the nation to replace lead pipes. The city’s application will be submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health’s Division of Engineering.

Bryant also updated the council on the city’s plans to extend water and sewer services to the Highway 1 Bypass between Interstate 40 and the north end of the bypass near Caldwell. The city is currently advertising for bids for that project which would see about 4,000 feet of water lines, a sanitary pump station and 4,365 feet of four-inch sewer lines installed along the route.

“We’re working with a business that may be coming to town, and by the end of the week we may know if everything is kosher,” said Bryant. “We have bids on water and sewer coming in on April 4, and we’ll open those prior to the council meeting that night.”

The council heard from resident Connie Bates who voiced concerns about sewer issues she has been dealing with on North Izard Street.

“Right now, I’m responsible for any clog that goes from my driveway across the street,” Bates told the council. “I was wanting to see if that ordinance can be changed and the city be responsible for the lines coming into citizens’ yards so we’re not responsible for everything going across the street.”

Bates explained she and several neighbors were having to call plumbers “frequently.”

“Even if you can’t do that part, maybe you could come up with a portal where we can find reputable people who can come and handle our situations,” said Bates, adding that she paid a plumber that day for supplies to repair her problem but he failed to return to do the work.

“We need more support from the city to make sure we have an inclusive solution to where citizens are not carrying the burden for a lot of these infrastructure issues,” said Bates.

Bryant responded that he would visit with water manager Edward Gregory and get back in touch with Bates regarding the problem.

“I don’t know exactly what you’re talking about across the street or to a manhole, but I’ll get you an answer,” said Bryant. “I sympathize with you on trying to find a plumber. They’re hard to find in Forrest City this day and time and it’s not only just plumbers.”

“Some here are just not doing their due diligence,” added Bates.

(Continued from Page 1) In other business, Bryant mentioned the search for an economic developer to promote the area. The position is being funded by Forrest City, St. Francis County, Forrest City Advertising and Promotion and the Forrest City Industrial Development Corporation.

“We have been trying to hire someone to do economic development. We thought we had someone but he slipped throughout fingers,” said Bryant. “We’re working toward promoting our area as a unit, not just Forrest City, but the county and everybody working together to try and create energy toward creating jobs and bringing industries to Forrest City. We’re trying to utilize the three exits we have on Interstate 40 to maximize our tax revenue.”

Bryant explained how the city’s services depend on sales tax revenue.

“Sales tax is king for cities, not property taxes,” said Bryant. “You can look at the budget and see what we get in property tax. Right now it brings in less than $400,000 a year. I’d almost give it away for a one-eighth cent sales tax since that’s just about what it brings in.”

The council also heard second readings on a pair of ordinances.

One ordinance allows the city to waive bid requirements to purchase a culvert for repairs to Old Madison Road. The second would allow city councilman Jim Bailey to operate the concession stands at the Sports Complex.

Due to the absence of three council members, Chris Oswalt, Marvin Metcalf and Justin Reeves, the council did not have enough members present to suspend the rules and read the ordinances a third time before voting on them.

Before adjourning, the council agreed to pay general bills of $51,341.48, street bills of $13,041.62, water bills of $47,394.25 and solid waste bills of $35,119.02.