By Ray King

With no dissent, the Pine Bluff City Council on Monday approved a resolution authorizing an application to the Arkansas Department of Health for money to replace lead water lines.

Larry Matthews, the director of Economic and Community Development explained exactly what the resolution does.

The resolution authorizes the city to hire EJES Corporation, which has offices in Houston, Texas., Shreveport and New Orleans, La., and Jackson, Miss. To conduct the survey to determine the number of lead pipes in the city and prepare a report to the state.

Also Monday, a proposed ordinance requiring reviews of plans for solar power systems and cell phone towers was read once and placed on the calendar for future meetings.

Council member LaTisha Brunson was one of the co-sponsors of the legislation and after the meeting told Deltaplex News why she sponsored it.

Among other things, the legislation sets up s fee of $100 for each review conducted by the city Inspection Department and provides that any person or company who installs a solar powered system or a cell phone tower without having an inspection plan approved will be fined up to $1,000.

When the ordinance is approved, it will take effect June 1, 2023 and any solar power system installed before that date will not be covered by the ordinance.