The meeting proceeded without the presence of City Manager J.R. Wilson, whom Mayor Don Still said was travelling.
After the call to order by Mayor Still, the invocation by Director Linda Clark, the saying of the Pledge of Allegiance and the approval of the prior meeting’s minutes, Bonnie Raff of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented a speech in commemoration of National Family Literacy Day in the United States, which is November 1st.
Raff said literacy “is the single most important factor in determining a person’s career arc.” Perhaps the most surprising fact in her presentation was that 54 percent of adults in the U.S. do not read beyond the sixth-grade level. This was determined by the U.S. Department of Education.
Raff announced the Hempstead County Library would be the home of display on literacy starting November 1st. She closed by inviting men to volunteer for D.O.G.S (Dad’s of Good Students), which helps students at Clinton Primary learn to read.
Mayor Still read his proclamation of Family Literacy Day in Hope.
Next, Hope Police Department’s Chief Kim Tomlin asked that the board approve the receiving of a grant the department applied to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration’s Office of Intergovernmental Services for the enforcement of the Federal Violence Against Women Act, called the Stop Violence Against Women, or STOP, grant.
The department received notice of winning the grant September 20th, which is in the amount of $26,683. It is used to pay half of one detective’s wages and benefits for that detective to work on domestic violence crimes. The city would provide a 28 percent in-kind match ($10,960) for a project cost of $37,643. The board voted unanimously by voice vote to accept the grant.
Tomlin also requested from the board permission to accept a grant the department applied for and won from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Arkansas Highway Safety Office. Referred to as the Step grant, for its financing of stepped-up enforcement of DWI/DUI, speeding, distracted driving and seat belt laws, the grant will provide $35,100 to the HPD, requiring an in-kind math of $15,400. Through this program, the HPD provides child car seats and even helps citizens install them and inspect them. The board unanimously approved the acceptance of this grant.
Next on the meeting agenda was the declaration of three vehicles used by the Hope Airport and the Police Department: a 2011 Crown Victoria, a 2013 Dodge Charger and a 2011 Chevy Impala. These will be sold by a company that lists the vehicles on line. The board approved the declaration unanimously.
At this point the board spent about 20 minutes paging through a financial report of revenues and expenses for the city’s general fund as well as each of the city’s departments. City directors Mark Ross, Steve Montgomery and Trevor Coffee asked about particular expenditures that appeared to be ahead of the expected pace of spending. The city’s finance director Cindy Clark provided explanations for the spending in these line items.
Asked how much was left in the American Rescue Plan Act funds account, Clark said almost a million and about $800,000 of it will be accounted for in the 2024 budget. The city has until December 31, 2024 to obligate the funds and until 2026.
There being no citizen requests, the mayor asked for questions or comments from the board. Director Coffee asked if anyone knew what was happening in the Sixth Street project. si
“They were working on it, today,” Director Ross said.
Mayor Still said he knew City Manager Wilson had been calling the state about the slow progress of the project. “There have got to be some penalties,” he added. He said he also thought there may be some fees or additional money requested from the city for the project.
The mayor welcomed Harbor Freight, which is now open, to the city. He also expressed well-wishes to Director Reginald Easter who missed the meeting due to illness.
Director Ross asked for prayers for the employees of Hope’s Sonic location, where a fire did damage to the kitchen and roof Sunday afternoon.
