News
COUNCIL RAISES SALARIES, HEARS LEGISLATION
By Erin France/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 10:22 AM CDT
Besides the normal ordinances and resolutions, Pine Bluff City Council members also tackled six budget adjustments during the Monday night meeting.
One of those budget adjustments was an increase of $3,845.64, with benefits, for a salary increase for city zoning official Lakishia Hill.
Previous request
Hill had previously requested a raise during a meeting of the administration committee because she said she was filling the position of two zoning officials.
Her statement that the city once hired new individuals at their predecessor’s salary was disputed by council members.
Hill’s new salary is $35,145 and comes from unused salaries in the inspection and zoning department.
Equalizing salaries
Another budget adjustment sought to equalize salaries for District Court Division 2 clerks with the same positions in District Court Division 1.
The adjustment also added another full-time deputy clerk position in District Court Division 2, with $23,931.56 coming out of the undesignated fund for salaries and benefits.
Council members also:
Heard the second reading of a proposed ordinance to close Bryant Street between Webb and Smart streets.
Heard the second reading of a proposed ordinance to rezone lots near the Pine Bluff Country Club as R-PUD, or residential planned unit development district for single family homes and two-unit condominiums.
Heard the first reading of a proposed ordinance waiving competitive bidding for an engineering study. The legislation would allow the city to purchase a copy of an engineering study completed by Carter & Burgess Inc. for the area of Bayou Bartholomew west of Olive Street.
Approved a resolution declaring four structures a nuisance and ordering their abatement.
Authorized city officials to execute an agreement for researching and grant writing with Finnegan and Company Inc., for $30,000.
Sent to committee an ordinance to increase fines for convictions on misdemeanor offenses and violations from $5 to $20 to defray the cost of incarcerating prisoners. The county passed a similar measure earlier in the year.
Authorized matching funds for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s application to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department’s trails grant to construct the second phase of the trail around Lake Saracen.
Paid retired Interim Fire Chief Howard “Skipper” Hipp $23,770.53 for 816 hours of accumulated sick time.
Passed a $5,000 consulting fee for Finnegan and Company for grant writing for the Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services Department.
Passed two more budget adjustments for the city clerk’s department $325 for repair and equipment maintenance and another $20,226.82 for the Pine Bluff Police Department’s purchase of a new vehicle from the sale of used vehicles.
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