Monday, April 26, 2010

MONDAY APRIL 26, 2010
1:22 PM

I signed a contract this morning to build the bridge on MLK. The work should begin in a few days.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

SUNDAY APRIL 25, 2010
5:40 PM

I went to church and Sunday school this morning. Brother Matt has a very good sermon. The lesson in Sunday school was very interesting as usual.

This afternoon I went to Memphis and had lunch with Amy. On my way to Memphis she called and said that she was on her way to embalm a body. I told her that I would drive slow and I need to stop at a store in Memphis. I told her to call me when she finished her work. I had just gone in the store when she called and told me that she was finished with the body. We agreed about where to eat and decided that we would meet at the cafe. We both arrived at the parking lot at the same time. When we got inside she told me that another funeral home had called and wanted her to embalm a body for them. When we finished lunch, I came home and she headed for her job. We had a very good lunch and enjoyed our visit. In fact we could not eat all of our lunch and she got a box to take home with her. She said that there was enough food for her supper.

After I got home I called and got a report from Pat. She is doing fine and having a good time with Sher. Just after I hung up mother called to check on me. I had planned to call her, but she beat me to the call. She was doing fine and just wanted to check on me.

Friday, April 23, 2010

FRIDAY APRIL 23, 2010
6:00 PM

I got my old truck back from the shop this afternoon. The mechanic did a lot of work on the truck and now it should be road ready. The mechanic has had the truck for several days, but he knew that I was not in a rush and he had a few problems finding parts to make the repairs. I drove it a little bit this afternoon and it really works well. I look forward to driving it more over the next few days. I will not drive it very much. It has no power, no air conditioner and it is a 1972 model.

Pat is in Panama City visiting with her sister. She seems to be having a good time.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

TUESDAY APRIL 20, 2010
3:30 PM

It has been quiet in the city the last two days. I did spend a good deal of time yesterday dealing with cemetery issues.

The city residential truck broke down yesterday morning. The crew started to Jonesboro with it, but had to be towed the last 25 miles. The dealer got the truck in very quick and made the necessary repairs. The crew got back to Wynne about 6:30 pm. The driver came in early this morning and completed yesterday's route and then picked up the normal Tuesday route.

We hired a contractor to make some repairs on a drainage ditch over the last several days. They completed their work yesterday and the ditch looks good.

Friday, April 16, 2010

FRIDAY APRIL 16, 2010
3:45 PM

Today has been bike day in Wynne. This morning I signed a proclamation for motorcycle week safety.

This afternoon I went to Village Creek State Park to welcome a group of bicycle riders. This group is on a bike ride through eastern Arkansas. They will spend the night at VCSP and then end their trip tomorrow in Helena. There were about twenty bikes participation in the ride that has covered several miles. They told me that they usually ride about 60 miles per day. They were a very interesting group. Most of the riders were older than me. I could not ride a bike for 60 miles in one day. They have done this for several days in a row. I think that the trip covered ten states.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

WEDNESDAY APRIL 14, 2010
1:05 PM

The Wynne City Council met for their regular monthly meeting last night. Following is the business that was conducted:

1. Accepted bid to replace a bridge on MLK. The work should be completed in 6o days after the contract is signed.

2. Heard a request from a Wynne couple for a variance to place a mobile home on a lot zoned R-2. They denied their request.

3. Accepted bids for tables and benches for some of the mini parks in Wynne. I wrote a grant last year to pay for these items. We plan to spend $23,990.52 for these items.

4. Accepted our proposal to build a storage building for our public works department. Our crews will pour the concrete floor and hire a contractor to erect the building. This will be a metal building that is 30 feet by 30 feet with one roll up door and one walk through door. The total cost is a little over $10,000.00.

5. Heard a report from the committee that has been looking a abolishing the Wynne Water Utilities Commission. After discussion the council voted 9 to 1 to keep the commission.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

SUNDAY APRIL 11, 2010
2:30 PM

The Wynne City Council will meet for the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday night. The most interesting item to me will be the action they take on taking over the Wynne Water Utilities. A committee has had the task of making a recommendation since October of last year. I have no idea of the direction they will choose on this item. One of the alderman told me that he was going to call for a vote on this issue. He told me that it was time to make a decision one way or another. I agree it is time to make a decision.

I will make a report on the bid opening for a new bridge on MLK. The bids came in higher that we had budgeted for this bridge. I think that we have the money to take to low bid, but I do not know if the council will choose to spend the extra money over the budgeted amount.

I am also going to ask the council to allow the street department to build a building for storage at the city shop. We can build the building for about $12,000.00. I did not put this item in the budget that was passed in December. I was not aware that our present storage building were in as bad a shape as they are.

The resident that was turned down last month for placement of a mobile home in R-2 will be back asking the council to change their decision. After hearing the discussion at the March meeting, I do not think that they will change their mind.

I have a very busy week scheduled next week. I have several meeting to attend in addition to the normal activities of serving a Mayor.

We have been making some changes in our break room for the past several months. Last week all of the work was completed. I am very pleased with the way the room turned out. We also replaced the carpet in three police department offices with tile. That work was also completed last week.

I talked with Amy yesterday. She has had a very busy week doing work for three funeral homes in Memphis. I wish she could get a full time position, but I am pleased that she has been able to stay pretty busy working part time.

Monday, April 5, 2010

MONDAY APRIL 5, 2010
6:15 PM

I had a very busy day at the office today. I spent a lot of time dealing with cemetery business. I made about six trips to the cemetery to handle all of the request.

I had a meeting with an engineering firm from Little Rock. They were making a call to inform me of the services that they offer for cities. I had met with one of their employees some time back, but today one of the owners came to meet me. I am aware of this firm and they have a good reputation, but at the present time the city does not have work for an engineering firm.

I also had a meeting with representative of Senator Lincoln's office. He was here with a group from Forrest City that I have been working with for over eleven years on Town Creek. The representative thinks that we might get some funds to work on this project. I sure hope so.

Friday, April 2, 2010

FRIDAY APRIL 2, 2010
6:40 AM

The city was notified yesterday that we have been awarded two grants. We received a grant of $31,000.00 for the Wynne Fire Department. The money will be used to promote fire prevention. The money will be used to purchase 2000 smoke alarms that will be installed in citizens homes in Wynne by the fire department. They will also purchase pencils and fire hat to be given to students in school as part of the departments effort to promote fire prevention.

The city also received a grant of $70,000.00 for the use by the city parks. We will use this money to build a stage at the sports complex. This stage will offer an opportunity to use the facilities at the complex by a different group of citizens that do not usually use these city facilities. We will also purchase and install picnic tables and park benches at all of the mini parks in the city.

I am going to Wynne High School this morning to speak to the resource students. I will make presentations to a number of groups of these students from 8:30 AM till 11:00 AM. I will have about 2o minutes with each group.

A representative of a crack sealing company visited with Jerry yesterday and they toured the city looking at the streets. The company will return in a few weeks and demonstrate for the city the process that they use to seal cracks. The city will make a decision about this process after the demonstration. This is one way to improve streets. It is not a permanent fix, but is does extend the life of our streets for a smaller cost than overlaying with hot mix.