By Ray King
Mayor Vivian Flowers cast the deciding no vote Monday as a resolution declaring certain areas of Pine Bluff as “blighted’ was defeated.
The vote was actually a tie with Council members Lloyd Holcomb Jr., Glen Brown, Bruce Lockett and Lanette Frazier supporting it while council members Steven Mays, Yvonne Denton and William Fells voted no, then Flowers added her no to make it official.
Council member LaTisha Brunson was initially present but left before the vote on the resolution.
The resolution was sponsored by Lockett who explained why to Deltaplex News.
When Urban Renewal was originally brought back, it designated three “blighted areas” while the new resolution added a fourth area, a large portion of Ward Three, which was the only ward that had not been in the original plan.
Fells represents Ward Three and he explained his no vote.
Also Monday, the council approved a resolution that will permit angle parking on the south side of Fourth Avenue after a tenant at 400 Main Street asked for it.
According to the resolution, the striping outlining the parking will be paid for by the business, Pop’s Barber Shop, with the street department being responsible for the striping and maintenance.
Attempts to add resolutions amending the 2026 regarding the 2025-year end budget adjustment and the 2026 Police Department budget failed with Lockett casting a no vote on each. In order to add an item after an agenda has been published, all eight members of the council must agree.
