By Ray King
A resolution to lease the former Bank of America building in downtown Pine Bluff to PeopleShores was approved without dissent by the Pine Bluff City Council on Monday night.
The lease provides that the organization will pay $1,000 per month and utilities, while the city will cover the tax liability.
Council member Bruce Lockett, who sponsored the resolution, explained what PeopleShores is proposing to do.
Representatives of PeopleShores plan to start March 1 with a minimum of 50 to 75 staff members.
The lease provides that the building will be used to train workers with in-demand digital scales through paid training, employment of such persons in centers inside their communities with “long term professional centers, elevating communities with opportunities, not charity.”
Also Monday, a resolution to hire a company to conduct an employee engagement survey was also approved.
Mayor Shirley Washington said that she feels there is low morale among some city employees and the survey will be designed to determine what the concerns of the city employees are and to find a way to address those concerns.
Resolutions appointing Robert Willis Jr., Robert Treadwell, Mark E. Stephens, Win A. Trafford, Brian Reynolds Cal and Johnny Smith to the Crime Advisory Commission and Speedy Loran Wilkins ototo the Ad Hoc Committee to study the feasibility of a drag strip racing facility were also approved.
