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Prior to the 71st Arkansas Municipal League Convention, League President Gene Yarbrough, mayor of Star City, set a goal for a 100 percent membership of all the state's municipalities in the League by the convention start. The goal was reached just as the convention began June 15 as the last four or five towns expressed their participation, Yarbrough, smiling broadly, announced at the convention and to applause.
The membership of all 501 municipalities was timely and fit the goals of the 2005-2006 League president, Bentonville Mayor Terry Coberly, who wants all cities and towns to cooperate and be prepared to approach the state legislature in 2007 with a strong, single voice. Yarbrough concluded his term by thanking city officials for participating on the League committees and boards and helping to make the league "the greatest organization in the state of Arkansas."
Don Zimmerman also reported, in his annual business meeting report, a solid year of League progress and expressed his "delight" in serving under Yarbrough's leadership, especially as it was exhibited in the "great session" of the state legislature. Zimmerman said "a lot of credit" goes to Yarbrough for most of the League's legislative packet being enacted into law. "I had no idea we'd accomplish what we did," he said of the 2005 legislative session. Zimmerman also praised state Sen. Jerry Taylor of Pine Bluff and state Rep. George Overbey Jr. for their leadership on League bill handling and for the work of the League officers, executive committee and advisory councils. Taylor is a former mayor of Pine Bluff and Overbey, mayor of Lamar, was the 2001-2002 League president.
Zimmerman prompted applause with his note of League membership-"we are 100 percent, 501 of 501"-of the incorporated municipalities. Powhatten was the final municipality to join. He estimated a convention attendance of 1,200 to 1,300, although a goal of 1,500 had been mentioned.
He reported participation in the League optional programs and that Bentonville and Mineral Springs participated in all 11 programs. City participation in the programs, he reported, are: · Municipal Health Benefit Fund-217 members · Municipal Legal Defense Program-414 · Accidental Death and Disability-161 · Workers' Compensation-484 · Municipal Vehicle Program-380 · Municipal Property Program-226 · Cash/Pension Management-22 · Volunteer Firefighters Supplemental Income Plan-254, an increase of 28 fire departments · Deferred Compensation-37 · Municipal Technology Assistance Program-188 · Ordinance Codification Service-106 Zimmerman asked for comments on the moving of the annual convention from Little Rock to Hot Springs and holding the winter convention in January in Little Rock.
The biggest problem the state faces, Zimmerman said, looking ahead, is the state school system. If schools will begin running as efficiently as municipalities do, "we're going to have one heck of a state."
Zimmerman described the state as one of the best places in the world to live. He said another challenge to the League is to "protect and enhance" the type of things that the League is doing. Later the convention passed a resolution to, indeed, enhance and expand League programs. Some persons in the state object to the League saving taxpayers the money that they are and those persons would like to get rid of the League programs, such as health coverage, he said, adding that they need protection.
Municipal League ends 71st convention; President Coberly calls for cities to have
"a strong voice, one voice."
'Great' legislative session, Executive Director Zimmerman reports
'05 legislative session, lawsuits, Hispanics, negative media among hot topics at convention
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