Council declares Carroll's position is vacant

Alderman Penny Carroll was ousted from her city council seat Monday evening after Eureka Springs council member spent more than an hour trying to get her to answer questions about her actual place of residence.

Aldermen Karen Lindblad, Gayle Money and Earl "Bud" Umland voted to recognize the vacancy in Ward 1. Aldermen Robert "Butch" Berry, Bill Ott and Carroll voted against.

Mayor Kathy Harrison voted yes to carry the motion to recognize the vacancy.

Carroll took off her microphone, picked up her books and papers and left the table at 9:35 p.m. Her only response to the vote was a quiet, "I am surprised."

The issue first came up during the June 28 council meeting. Umland said he had calls from citizens saying Carroll had moved from Vaughn St., out of Ward 1, which she represents, and onto Eureka St., into Ward 2.

She denied she had left the ward and said any further questions "would be a legal challenge to answer through legal channels."

She did not offer any other explanations in answer to questions about where she was living.

She asked that the matter be deferred until Monday's meeting because she was going on vacation and would miss the July 12 meeting.

Umland brought the issue up again July 12, but could not get the other council members to agree to a vote. Alderman Bill Ott was also absent from the July 12 meeting.

Carroll said Monday night the house she had been renting on Vaughn St. had been sold and she had made arrangements to move into a house on Eureka St.

The Vaughn Street house was sold at the end of May. The closing date was June 30 and the new owners took possession, according to the salesman who handled the sale.

Carroll said that "When the situation at the wastewater treatment plant became critical, (in mid-June) I decided to stay in my ward to work on the problem."

She owns a house at 22 Emporia St. and gave her renters of five years a 30-day notice the first of July to vacate. She told the renters she wanted to sell the house.

Monday, she said she intends to live in the Emporia St. house as soon as it is cleaned up and made ready.

She said she is currently leasing the bottom level of the house at 27 Paxos and is living there now. The lease runs through the end of December.

Carroll said the Eureka St. house is leased to John Foley, her business partner with whom she "is in a committed relationship."

Bob Mosby, owner of the Eureka St. house, sent an e-mail to Police Chief Earl Hyatt explaining he and his wife had agreed "in the early summer" to rent the house to Carroll and Foley at the end of July.

Debbie Frisbie and Ron Phelps have had the keys to the house and have "watched" the Mosby property for the past two years.

Frisbie said Monday night Carroll's furniture and other belongings were in the house and in more than half of a four-car garage.

Carroll presented her voter registration card, mortgage papers and the lease agreement agreement to prove she lives in Ward 1.

Because of her reluctance to directly answer many of the questions put to her Monday night, Umland, Money and Lindblad said they did not feel she was being truthful about the situation.

CAPC enforcement

ordinance

It took the mayor, the city clerk and all six council members more than 30 minutes to read the 14 pages of the proposed ordinance putting enforcement language into the City Advertising and Promotion Commission (CAPC) tax collection ordinance.

After some discussion, the council agreed to hold a public hearing on the proposal at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9, prior to the regular council meeting.

The ordinance is based on the Hot Springs ordinance and has been tested in court. Copies are available at the CAPC office and city hall.

Changes to sign ordinance

Rather than amend the existing sign ordinance now and have to amend the proposed new sign ordinance, Alderman Money agreed to send both to the Planning Commission for review.

The commission had developed a new sign ordinance and sent it to the council almost two years ago, but it wasn't presented for consideration until last September.

The council has taken no action on the new sign ordinance.

Berry said the state legislature has made some changes to state statutes regarding billboards that needs to be included in the city ordinance.

Manufactured home zones

The ordinance setting up areas where manufactured homes can be installed has been postponed until the Planning Commission can come forward with recommendations.

Initially, the council has been considering an ordinance allowing manufactured homes in R-3 and A-agriculture zones.

The commission has asked the A zones be taken out of the ordinance. They are still trying to determine if the R-3, multi-family zone, is an appropriate location for the houses.

Executive session

In a brief executive session, the council agreed to confirm the hiring of Ileene Kelly as accounts supervisor and to accept the resignation of Building Inspector Randy Mills.

Mills was fired July 19 for allegedly using the city's credit card to purchase a TV-DVD-VCR combination for $266. He was charged with theft of property, a misdemeanor, July 20.

Voting by wards

The first reading of the proposed ordinance to establish voting for city council candidates by ward was done.

For the ordinance to go into effect for the November general election, it will have to be approved with an emergency clause before the candidate filing period ends at noon Aug. 4.

Council members want a statement from Carroll County Election Commission Chairman Levi Phillips that the three city wards are proportional and do not need to be changed.

As soon as Phillips can send a letter, the council will call for a special meeting to complete the second and third readings of the ordinance.

Moving trolley stop

The council agreed with merchant's request to remove trolley stop #83 at 99 Spring St. for the rest of the season in an effort to boost business on Upper Spring St.

Transit Director Lamont Richie is opposed to the action, but council members wanted to give it a try anyway.

Council declares Carroll's position is vacant

Alderman Penny Carroll was ousted from her city council seat Monday evening after Eureka Springs council member spent more than an hour trying to get her to answer questions about her actual place of residence.

Garner recognized for forestry award, city gets $20,000

Georgette Garner has won the Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council and the City of Eureka Springs has been given a $20,000 grant from the Arkansas Forestry Commission.

Karate studio relocating to Eureka Springs

Groves Karate Studio, formerly located in the Park Shopping Center in Holiday Island, has relocated to Eureka Springs.

HISID approves letter to Rep. Jackson to sponsor legislation

The Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) Board of Commissioners voted Monday to send a letter to Rep. Phil Jackson asking him to draft legislation on solid waste authority representation.