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First-ever public service scholarship and first-ever municipal officials of year rules approved, along with deciding on later discussion about district courts and FOIA.
The Municipal League Executive Committee, on Dec. 8, in a wide-ranging agenda reviewed proposed legislation for the 2005 legislative session, accepted strong year-end financial reports, approved a scholarship for the Clinton School of Public Service and approved guidelines for choosing two mayors and two council members of the year. Much of the legislative discussion focused on district courts, merging city courts into the district court system and judges' retirement. The Executive Committee adopted a resolution that in part says that the League "supports legislation requiring that all small claims court filing fees be applied to the expenses related to said small claims court on an equitable basis and not be included in the Administration of Justice Fund." Because other district court issues went unresolved the Committee authorized the League staff to continue discussions with the district judges, the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Association of Arkansas Counties. The Committee also supported a proposed amendment to state law, ACA 7-5-104, affecting special elections to say: "All expenses of special elections in this state including any runoff elections shall be paid by the entity or entities calling for the election." The change was recommended by the City County Task Force.
Discussions on courts, FOIA will continue. The Committee decided to continue discussions with the counties, legislators and media representatives over clarifying provisions of the state Freedom of Information Act. Supreme Court Justice Jim Hanna advised in an opinion last fall that the FOIA be amended. The advice followed a ruling that the Fort Smith city administrator acted incorrectly in polling by phone city directors individually on his making an offer to buy for the city downtown property at an auction. The League's legislative packet approved at the 2004 League convention was inserted in the November City & Town. The Arkansas Index Fund investments in Arkansas-based companies and those with a major presence in Arkansas continued to outpace the Standard & Poor Index. The yield for the portfolio, year ended Sept. 30, was a return of 24.6 percent vs. 13.9 percent for the S&P stock market index. Executive Director Don Zimmerman reported that he and Star City Mayor Gene Yarbrough had asked the state legislature for a 10 percent increase in turnback funds.
The source of the money has yet to be found. Municipal leaders have reminded their colleagues of the need to keep an open line with their legislators about the continuing needs of cities and towns. The legislature is grappling with the report that it will take $2.3 billion to repair deficient school buildings in the state. The sources for the money have yet to be determined. The scholarship approved by the Committee, in the amount of $10,000, will be among 20 scholarships to student's in the nation's first master's program for public service at the Clinton School of Public Service. The school had asked the League to sponsor a scholarship. Former Senator David Pryor is the school's dean. It is part of the William J. Clinton Presidential Center. Naming two mayors and two council members of the year was initiated last year by St. Charles Mayor Robert Patrick, the 2003-2004 president of the Municipal League, and approved last year by the League. One mayor of the year would come from one category: large first class cities and first class cities; the other mayor of the year would come from a category of incorporated towns and second class cities. The same would happen with council members or city directors. One would come from a large first class city or a first class city; the other would come from an incorporated town or second class city. See page 17 in this City & Town for a nomination form. The Committee approved a $3.2 million, 2005 operating budget.
Arkansas League officials attend Congress of Cities in Indianapolis
Municipal League Executive Committee finishes year with lengthy agenda
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