By Ray King
Five members of the Pine Bluff City Council on Monday voted to approve legislation allowing Debra Allen, who operates the First Ward Living Grace Food Pantry to relocate the operation to the former Fire Station #4 on Commerce Road.
Allen presently is located in the former Southeast Middle School on Ohio Street, which has been purchased by the city, and was given a Dec. 31 deadline to relocate because the buildings will be torn down and replaced by residential housing.
The vote came despite City Attorney Althea Hadden-Scott saying that the resolution was premature because Allen will still have go before the Pine Bluff Planning Commission to get approval for the building use. The Planning Commission will meet on the last Tuesday of this month.
Council member Ivan Whitfield, who sponsored the resolution was asked by Deltaplex News what it accomplished since the Planning Commission could reject Allen’s application.
In addition to Whitfield, council members Lloyd Holcomb Jr., Bruce Lockett, Steven Mays and Glen Brown Sr., voted yes while Council Members Glen Brown Jr., Joni Alexander and Steven Shane voted no. Holcomb chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Shirley Washington.
Brown Jr. explained that he opposed the resolution because Fire and Emergency Services Chief Shauwn Howell was not consulted, and the department currently uses the building to store equipment.
After the meeting, Howell was asked about that.
Deltaplex News asked Whitfield about previous food giveaways that Allen had conducted that resulted in traffic backed up for a number of blocks and he responded this way.
The resolution provides that in return for Allen vacating the current building earlier that Dec. 31, the city will waive a monthly rental charge and pay utility charges until Dec. 31, During that period, Allen and the City will negotiate a formal lease agreement and presented to the council for approval.
The food pantry will be responsible for any repairs needed to prepare the building for occupancy and in the event an agreement cannot be reached, will vacate the building after a 30-day notice.
