On Tuesday, the city of Pine Bluff Urban Renewal Agency held its regular monthly meeting to discuss its brief agenda that included two actions for the commissioners to vote upon. The meeting was held at the Donald D. Reynolds Center with three commissioners present including Lloyd Franklin Sr., Lynn Guynn, Kirby Moser, and Chair Jimmy Dill.
The financial statements for May 2023 were the first action item on the agenda but it was tabled by Secretary Franklin Sr. who explained an issue with the report not showing the exact salaries from the last two months.
The second topic on the agenda that required action from the commissioners was the offer to purchase URA property for three lots on East 17th off of East Harding Ave. Executive Director Chandra Griffin explained the interested buyer for the lots and the contract details during the meeting.
Dill went on to ask Griffin about the process that the agency has in place for the purchase of property and recommended the approval be subject to that process by the City Attorney and the agency’s lawyer. The commissioners went on to approve the purchase with that recommendation in place before the purchase.
Other items on the agenda were information-based, beginning with the housing report, and Griffin reported this to the commissioners.
She went on to discuss RFPs for housing on 33rd Street from two respondents but due to Griffin working with the FOIA deadlines she has to meet before she’s able to move forward with the single-family housing.
Also discussed was a property disposition that will be used that lays out information for applicants interested in obtaining property for the commissioners to review for their next monthly meeting.
On another subject, Griffin gave her executive report explaining the current projects and demolitions underway.
Griffin went on to talk about the Go-Kart Track Project.
Griffin closed out the meeting by mentioning the current investigation underway involving the previous Executive Director. She explained a process that she would like to put in place to ensure that they hiring are legit companies and invoices submitted are legit.
The commissioners commented on making recommendations for a license number to be specified but agreed that this process could be efficient moving forward.
