LITTLE ROCK — New wastewater
budget approved
The Little Rock Sanitary Sewer Committee approved a revised version of the Little Rock Wastewater Utility’s 2012 budget, partly because of a delay in passing a rate increase.
The revised budget decreases revenue expectations by more than $2.7 million.
Finance staff also decreased operations spending by about $1.1 million and decreased interest on long-term debt by about $1.6 million. The capital-projects budget also was reduced by about $3.7 million.
The reduction in the capital budget cut capital spending by about a third, staff members said.
The original budget approved for 2012 counted on a 20 percent rate increase that was expected to become effective in April. The Little Rock Board of Directors approved a 12.75 percent increase for 2012 that went into effect June 12. The utility forecast that the delay and reduction would result in lost revenue of $2,775,000.
City seeks to shut down ‘speak-easy’
City attorneys are asking that a pair of repeat offenders be evicted and/or fined for operating a “speak-easy.”
The couple, Effie and Lessie Smith, both in their 80s, have been cited a handful of times for selling alcohol on Sundays and selling alcohol without a permit from their home at 2709 Jefferson St. The city’s lawsuit, filed Thursday, asks a Pulaski County circuit judge to issue an injunction to stop the couple from using the home for illegal purposes.
The city has sought nuisance and abatement actions against several businesses in the past few months, including an apartment complex, an extended-stay motel and a gas station.
City Attorney Tom Carpenter said the court likely won’t evict the couple but it could resort to a large civil penalty.
The abatement lawsuit includes warrants and arrest reports in the past year: Sept. 4, 13 and 18; Feb. 5, 12 and 19, and March 4 and 19. A criminal-records search showed that Lessie Smith was arrested and pleaded guilty to the same charges in 2006.
Effie Smith is listed as the homeowner on the Pulaski County assessor’s website.
Calls to a phone number listed under the address were not answered.
Little Rock City Manager Bruce Moore said last week that the various city departments responsible for abatement actions are working to address nuisance properties.
High schoolers set
for S. Korea trip
High school students from the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Program will travel to Hanam City, South Korea, in the next few weeks as part of the Little Rock sister cities program.
Participating students are: Parker See from e-Stem Public Charter High School; Mustafa Filat, Jacob Stansell and Jacob Straessle from Little Rock Catholic High School; and Assira Ba, Klari Farzley, Kristen Harper, Jennifer Kim, Selma Robinson, Megan Stelly and Rozena Stewart from Little Rock Central.
On the trip, the students will tour the city, meet with dignitaries to discuss topical issues, and learn about problems the people face.
Griffin Coop from the mayor’s office, Misty Borkowski from the Sister Cities Commission and Megan Moore from the Clinton Foundation will chaperone the trip.
Arkansas, Pages 20 on 07/22/2012