By Ray King
By a vote of 6-2, the Pine Bluff City Council on Monday approved a $300,000 budget adjustment for Urban Renewal to go toward construction of the long awaited go-cart track om East Harding Avenue.
Council members Steven Mays and Glen Brown Sr., cast the two no votes while council members Lloyd Holcomb Jr., Glen Brown Jr., Bruce Lockett, Steven Shaner, Lanette Frazier and LaTisha Brunson voted yes.
Go Forward CEO Ryan Watley explained the budget adjustment to Deltaplex Nerws.
With no dissent, the council voted to authorize the Mayor to sign a contract with Enterprise Fleet Management to sell 12 used police vehicles who either have very high mileage or engine trouble with the goal of maximizing the return for those vehicles.
Also approved was a resolution reallocating funds within the budget of the Group Violence Intervention program that was awarded to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to conduct a study of the program.
During public comments, Jimmy Dill, chairman of the Urban Renewal Board and Executive Director Chandra Griffin provided good news when they reported that the State Insurance Department has awarded the City $300,000 to cover almost half of what was misappropriated by former director Maurice Taggart before he was caught.
After the meeting, Dill talked about the award.
Taggart was facing multiple charges when he was shot to death Aug. 30, 2023 at his home.
Prosecuting Attorney S. Kyle Hunter said in a press release July 1 that Taggart’s son, Justice Taggart shot his father in self-defense.
A second defendant, Roderick Morris, was found guilty of numerous felonies and sentenced to prison.
