Monthly garbage fees set to go up
Beginning in November, Pine Bluff residents’ monthly garbage fees will increase from $15.59 per unit to $15.82 per unit.
The Pine Bluff City Council approved the increase in last Monday’s meeting.
City leaders are bound by ordinance to adjust the fees for residents so that the city can cover expenses related to its franchise agreement with Waste Management of Arkansas.
Tucker leaving as planning director
Planning and Zoning Director Robert Tucker announced last week that he plans to step down from his position effective Friday.
Tucker has served as Pine Bluff’s director of the department for more than six years. He said he will be taking another job, but he did not discuss specifics.
In his position, Tucker has helped oversee the restoration of the historic Saenger Theatre in downtown Pine Bluff. Workers recently repaired the building’s roof after the city received a grant to fund the work.
Aldermen reject appeal over firing
Mayor Debe Hollingsworth said Friday that she fired former Pine Bluff City Collector Albert Ridgell on Oct. 15 because he showed up late for work numerous times after being warned about his tardiness.
Ridgell, who had been in the position since 2007, appealed his firing at last Monday’s City Council meeting, but the council refused to overturn Hollingsworth’s decision.
It was the second time Ridgell had been fired.
The council previously overturned Ridgell’s July 31 firing at an August meeting. Hollingsworth said Ridgell’s first firing was related to poor job performance.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 10/28/2013