The Forrest City Council on Tuesday agreed to use the existing Forrest City Airport as collateral for a line of credit to be used by the Delta Regional Airport Authority.

 

     The line of credit will be up to $117,000. It was approved on the condition that City Attorney Alan Cline finds no legal problems with the agreement. According to Dr. Robert Cole, a DRAA board member who attended the council meeting, the Forrest City Airport has been appraised at $1 million.

 

     The line of credit will be used to pay the DRAA’s share of matching funds before state funding arrives, DRAA members explained to the council. DRAA board members Phillip Hicky and Bill Hays were also at the meeting.

 

     Council members were also invited to an official groundbreaking for the regional airport, to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 1 p.m. at the airport site.

 

     In other business, six bids were opened on the project to improve the city shop. The bidders and their base bids were as follows: Frank Rogers and Co. of West Memphis and Jonesboro, $166,316; Hurd Construction of Forrest City, $175,740; Murdock Enterprises of Marianna, $165,000; Kenco Construction of Forrest City, $175,000; Jetton General of Paragould, $186,002.55 and Jancour Inc. of Palestine, $245,212.

 

     Each bidder also submitted three alternative bids, leaving off certain parts of the project. The bids will be taken under advisement by the mayor. Murdock had the apparent low base bid.

 

     On another matter, the council was going to discuss a policy for disposal of equipment that is no longer usable. However, Cline said he believes the city already has a policy in place, and suggested the existing policy be studied first to see if it is sufficient.

 

     The council also gave the mayor permission to seek bids for the demolition of a house at 301 Laney in the Beech Grove area. The city bought the house after several years of dispute over alleged damage caused by a city drainage project.

 

     The council also approved next year’s city millage, which will remain unchanged at 3.8 mills.

 

     In other business, the council voted to renew the contract with Powerhouse Electric for service on generators, for $3,100 a year, which was unchanged from the previous contract.

 

     Council members were also reminded that there will be a budget meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

By: David Nichol, T-H Staff Writer