Baxter County Friends of the Taxpayers

MEETING NOTES

BAXTER COUNTY FRIENDS OF THE TAXPAYERS

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2007

BCFT Director Frank Kaye called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church.  Treasurer Ken Blade gave the following report:  beginning balance on 2-24-07 was $506.46; deposits of $260 (dues), withdrawals of $7.50 (room rental), $43.20 (copy key at UPS store), and $71.40 (1 yr website hosting fee), leaving a balance of $644.36.

Minutes of the previous meeting:  Sam Ghianni brought up his objection over the change in dues structure that was voted on in January, which was not precisely what he had proposed.  He had intended for it to be $15 for a “family” membership (i.e., husband & wife), and that any other adult in the household could join for $10 and have a vote.  Frank pointed out that what was voted on (and approved) was $15 for the primary member of the household, plus $10 for each additional member; he said that anyone was free to make a motion to change the dues if so desired.  After several minutes of discussion, motion was made by Vera Hughes to leave things they way they are; it was seconded by Ed Schild.  Motion carried with 18 in favor, 1 against.

City Committee Meetings:  Still need people to attend the various meetings each month.  For schedule, please see the “Local Government” page on the BCFT website (http://bcfriendsofthetaxpayers.org/), or call 424-6235. The monthly schedule has been revised somewhat, so please be sure to check with us or call City Hall (425-5116) if you have any questions about meeting times/places. Frank thanked those members who come to the meetings and dispensed with the committee reports, as most of the information appears in the Baxter Bulletin.

Old Business:

A&P Tax reform bill (HB1365 – Requiring Voter Approval of Certain Tax Levies):  this bill was on the deferred list as of last meeting (Feb 24); it was reactivated and presented to the House Revenue & Taxation committee on March 6^th, where it was defeated.  The bill was to be run March 20^th, then 22^nd, but it was not brought up, and Johnny Key let us know at that time that he would not bring it up again … he simply didn’t have the necessary support.  This bill received next-to-zero backing from the press, in spite of sending dozens of letters to the editor to newspapers around the state.  There was 1 report in the NWA Morning News on March 7^th reporting on the meeting the day before, where Frank testified before the committee.  We might try to bring it back during the next legislative session.

Quorum:  In January we discussed lowering the number of members present required to make a quorum.  After much discussion, it was decided that the proposal would be to lower the requirement from 50% to 35%; the vote was 18 in favor to 7 opposed.  This proposed change was to have been voted on at the February meeting – but due to an oversight on the Secretary’s part, the change was not sent to all members more than 5 days in advance of the meeting at which action was to be taken, so the vote had to be postponed until the March meeting.  Ed Schild made the motion to amend the Bylaws to show a quorum of 35% of paid members, John Miskelley seconded; the motion carried.

New Business

School Board Meeting Date & other issues:  Jim Bond told the group about the conflict between school board meetings and City Council meetings – both on the same night, times overlap; would like to see the SB change meeting to another night so that Frank and other council members could attend.  He has talked to the superintendent and someone “connected” to SB President Byrd; the superintendent is against the change.  Proposed that BCFT members send letters requesting change.  A handout was distributed with names and phone numbers of all school board members and the suggestion was made to call each of them to request a change in meeting date (4^th Thursday instead of 3^rd?).

Discussion continued as to the number of coaches employed by the school system and the salaries paid.  We also discussed the practice of allowing coaches to drive sports teams to away games after having worked all day; bus drivers are available to do this, but SB says there isn’t enough money to pay them.

The question came up about whether the public is allowed at SB meetings.  Frank explained that they are technically public meetings; but a BCFT member who has family members employed by the local school system said it is nearly impossible to get permission to address items on the agenda (similar to City Council meetings under the previous mayor). 

Frank asked whether BCFT should get involved in the issue of trying to change the school board meeting date; motion was made to do so by Jim Bond and seconded by Ed Schild; the motion carried.  Recommendation was to contact school board members and request this change.  We can’t do anything about teachers’ or coaches’ salaries – the only way to do that is when an individual’s contract is up and a new person is hired.

Jim also asked for a motion to allow him to investigate whether the coaches have CDL’s and time restrictions (similar to those for commercial truck drivers), and will invite some bus drivers to come to a future meeting.  Motion from Sam Ghianni, seconded by Carl Graves; motion carried.

Airport:  The saga continues.  Official report is that a “little money” has been spent to move gravel at the airport (new hangar site & access roads).  Jim Bond has copies of bills for $103,000 and $17,000, but there is no itemization on either showing how much went for what.  He also said that the newspaper reported that Les Ives (Lori Benedict’s tenant) “has” financing in place to finish the construction of “his” new hangar.  A letter from Ozark Regional Airport says there is only a verbal agreement.  A deposition in this case is scheduled for June – everyone will have to tell the truth; it has to be done according to the law.

Open Discussion

John Miskelley thanked Frank for his work on the new Farmers Market ordinance, and pointed out that the old rules are still in effect until April 15^th; resellers don’t have to move to the north side of the square until that date.

Kit Kaufman suggested that Jim write a letter to the editor about the school board issues.

Frank brought up the Chamber of Commerce golf tournament at Big Creek, scheduled for April 27-28.  We received a mailing from the C of C regarding hole sponsorships – did we want to invest $250 for this event?  Or donate some of our magnets for the goodie bags that each entrant would receive?  Verbal approval was given to the goodie bag donation; Suzan will deliver 100 magnets to the C of C next week.

Suzan reported that a recent article in the paper showed that a local group was involved in creating a new visitor’s center for the Norfork Fish Hatchery, and suggested that BCFT offer to help (with manpower rather than $$$).  No formal vote was taken, but there were no vocal objections.  Will pursue this further, and invite someone from the group to come to a future meeting.

Jim said he thought the next couple of water & sewer and street department meetings might be interesting.  The city is planning to widen Buzzard Roost Cutoff (most of which is outside city limits), and water issues are coming up, potentially a sales tax for bonds.  Frank explained that there cannot be a sales tax to retire the existing water & sewer bonds:  the ordinances governing them require that the bonds be paid off with revenue from the system (unless the ordinances were written under specific Arkansas codes allowing for such a tax – these ordinances were not).  Frank said that he would still like to reorganize the water rate structure to allow revenue to pay off the bonds, and will try to work with Water & Sewer Committee Chair Marshella Norell and W&S Dept Head Alma Clark to achieve this goal.

Sam Ghianni asked whether it would still be twice the in-city-limits cost for out-of-city residents; Frank said he was still working on that and believes the practice is unfair.  Terry McElwain said that education is the big thing – water bills are hard to understand.  The bottom line is that the city needs to raise water rates to pay off the bonds so they can borrow more money.  It’s tough to sell the idea to people without numbers and info sufficient for them to understand.

The Pass-the-Bucket collection was $16 (thanks, everyone!)  This money goes toward our hall rental, postage and copying costs, newspaper ads and other administrative expenses.  Six more members paid dues during/after the meeting.

Meeting was adjourned at 2:20 pm.  Next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, April 28, 2007, at 1:00 pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hwy 5 North.

Suzan Kaye, Secretary
Friday, April 27, 2007