Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Council Bickers Over Roof Costs; Three Say They Would Resign

For a while it appeared as though several members of the Rosston City Council would quit, thereby leaving the city with no governing body.

During its regular monthly meeting Thursday, Aug. 7, Rosston Mayor Lewis Jackson, councilman Rob Robison and city recorder/treasurer Cindy Taylor all offered to resign their positions.

Apparently, the roof of the community center had more damage than was originally thought and Jackson approved spending $460 to get the necessary work done without consulting the council.

Council member Edna Kelly voiced opposition to this move saying she was under the impression the original bid for getting a new roof covered everything, including new decking. She questioned Jackson's authority to spend the money without approval by the council.

This led Jackson to ask the council if he should have called a special meeting recently at 1 a.m. when the water pump went out on the city's well.

Kelly said he should have, just to let the people know what's being done.

She said the roofer should have anticipated the decking would be bad because of the leaks the roof had. Kelly said it wasn't the extra money she objected to spending, but the principal of the mayor spending money without council approval.

Jackson said the council needed to set the parameters for his spending as mayor. He said if anyone wanted the job of mayor they could have it and he would resign the position.

In fact, Jackson had contacted Prescott attorney Glenn Vassar to find out what the council would have to do should he resign the post. He was informed all the council would need to do is appoint someone to fill his unexpired term until the next general election.

"I'm prepared to resign," Jackson told the council. "I'm tired of fighting."

Robison said there should be no limit on how much the mayor could spend on the water system in an emergency situation because water is necessary for the survival of the people.

"I don't know what we're bickering about," he said. "I'm ready to resign, too. We need water to fight fires and survive."

Jim Cross, a resident of Rosston, said in no other city does the mayor have to call a special meeting of the council in an emergency situation.

Kelly said it wasn't spending the money she objected to, but following the rules.

Jackson reminded the panel he is new at this position and is still learning how the job works.

He told the council he appreciated these matters being brought to his attention and will do what he can to correct them. He also said the bickering among council members needs to stop.

Taylor spoke up saying whatever the council decides on the mayor's spending abilities needs to be in the minutes or she will not sign any more checks in the future. "I want this thing done right. I don't think Jackson is doing anything wrong, but if it's not in the minutes, I won't put my signature on any more checks," she said.

The council then agreed to give the mayor unlimited spending privileges during emergency situations, getting three votes for and one member not voting.

Bids were then opened for the backhoe, firetruck, water tank and air conditioner the city was selling.

Brother's Farm submitted the high bid for the backhoe at $5,757. Jim Cross purchased the water tank for the princely sum of $16.10, while Billy Hines' bid of $310 garnered him the firetruck. The air conditioner went to Gary Taylor for $61.25.

The council will look into where the money from the sale of these items needs to go in the city's budget.

Rosston's governing body also discussed putting in a window where the air conditioner currently is. Until the window is installed, a sheet of plywood will be used to cover the hole.

Taylor spoke up saying she's been looking at the city's books and has been unable to find a starting place.

There are no cash journals, she said, asking the council to get someone in to help her get the books straightened out and put in the proper order.

Jackson said the auditors have not found any problem with the city's bookkeeping methods, but agreed to get someone to help Taylor out.

She reminded the council she is also new at her job with the city and needs help getting the books in the proper order.

"I need help getting the books straight or I can't do it," she said. I won't do it. If you want my resignation you can have it, but I won't let this interfere with my regular job."

According to Taylor, there are no official books for the city, just checkbook records.

Jackson said he would get in touch with the Arkansas Municipal League and see if they can get someone to come to Rosston and help Taylor with the bookkeeping situation.

The final orders of business primarily concerned resolutions from Entergy and the Arkansas Transportation and Highway Department.

The council approved a resolution from the ATHD to make Arkansas State Highway 4 a U.S. Highway, but took no action on Entergy's resolution for fair utility operation when the electric company's are deregulated.

Jackson said he would see if there are any grants available to help restore the remainder of the community center, which was bought from the Masons for the purpose of public use.

The citizens of Rosston will now be able to pay delinquent water bills at city hall Monday and Friday evenings, beginning after Sept. 10.