By Ray King
A special called meeting of the Pine Bluff City Council to consider a resolution accepting $32 million for flood mitigation efforts that had been scheduled for Thursday night was adjourned when only three of the eight council members showed up for the meeting.
Council members Bruce Lockett, Glen Brown Sr., and Steven Mays were the only members to attend. The three are all members of the Development and Planning Committee chaired by Lockett and after the meeting was called, spoke with Deltaplex News to explain why he asked for the meeting.
Not attending were council members Lloyd Holcomb Jr., Glen Brown Jr., Steven Shaner, Lanette Frazier and LaTisha Brunson.
The resolution that was to be considered would have authorized Mayor Shirley Washington and City Clerk Janice Roberts to sign documents relating to a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that was awarded to the Arkansas Black Mayor’s Association.
Since the resolution was not adopted, Lockett was asked what’s next.
Representatives of the Arkansas Black Mayor’s Association and the NRCS were on hand to answer questions but did not get the opportunity.
Deltaplex news was given a copy of the letter Washington sent to NRCS State consultant Michael Sullivan requesting approval for watershed projects for the Bayou Bartholomew Headwaters Boggy Bayou, Caney Bayou-Arkansas River, and Cousart Bayou-Deep Bayou Watersheds in Jefferson County.
The letter went on to say that “the City of Pine Bluff and ABMA have successfully brought projects to their cities and have the capacity to manage a watershed project. The ABMA and the City have a unique and trusting relationship with their community, thus both entities are prepared to team together as co-sponsors of this initiative.”
Lockett also said this after the meeting.
In addition to the letter, Washington also sent copies of photographs and news stories detailing flooding problems in the city.
