By Chris Murphy
Staff Writer for Villager Online

After two months of not knowing, Highland finally has figures from the federal government for estimated damage to city property caused by the Feb. 5 tornado.

At the April 8 city council meeting, Mayor Jerome Norwood said the city has $415,065.98 in damages. The estimated replacement cost for the fire station is $224,416. Of that figure, the city’s insurance will pay for $35,000 leaving the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management to pay for $189,416. In addition, the contents of the fire station to be replaced is valued at $81,512.90. The remainder of the figure is for labor.

The figures were arrived at by using a standard formula for disaster assistance, Norwood said. FEMA pays 75 percent, the state pays 12.5 percent and the city pays 12.5 percent; however, labor can be deducted from the city’s portion.

The council unanimously agreed to waive the $500 spending limit of the mayor in order to get the fire department settled and back on its feet as soon as possible. The department has been continuing to respond to calls by utilizing the help of others. Trucks and equipment have been donated or loaned to the department since the tornado by many other departments across the region and the state. Norwood announced that the blue firetruck is back in service.

Norwood said with the $130,000 in grants the city has applied for on behalf of the fire department, an engineer and an architect are required.

Norwood spoke to an engineer from Jonesboro who actually filed one of the grants for him, he said. The engineer has agreed to work for the city, if it receives the grants, for 10 percent of the total cost.

A local architect also submitted a bid for the work for the city. The base price was $22,000 with additional costs.

The council voted to move forward with the engineer and let him take the lead on the project if the city is approved.

In other business, the council approved an ordinance that calls for the mayor or his representative to order a resident or property owner to take care of unsightly or unsanitary conditions on their property.

The ordinance replaces another ordinance that has been on the books since 2001. The new ordinance has updated information from the state, Norwood said.

Alderman Larry Allen said the council doesn’t need to give the mayor permission to make the call. Instead, the code enforcement officer should be given the permission. Alderman Woody Pardue said it doesn’t matter whether it is in the ordinance or not. The mayor has the authority over the code enforcement officer.

In addition, in some instances the situation may not be black and white, Allen said. Many of the situations will require a judgement call from the officer. Allen said because of that reason, he would like to give residents an opportunity to appeal. The ordinance was changed to include an appeal period of 30 days.

The ordinance passed 7-1 with an emergency clause. Alderman Mary Jo Clark voted against all three readings of the ordinance.

In addition, the council also approved an ordinance that authorizes the city to raze or remove unsafe buildings in the city.

Allen said he would like for a professional to verify that a building is unsafe before it is destroyed.

Alderman David Harris said the ordinance is needed now because of existing trash and portions of buildings left standing from the tornado.

He said he and Norwood have both heard of property owners who have no plans to clean up their property.

The ordinance was approved unanimously. The ordinances requires the council to act on the matter, not just the mayor.

The council unanimously voted to table an ordinance that would allow the city to collect franchise fees from Charter Communications.

The ordinance would be non-exclusive meaning another provider could come into town and offer cable service to city residents. Charter would pay five percent in franchise fees to the city on a quarterly basis. The agreement would expire Feb. 1, 2013

Resident and business owner Max Hill said by approving the fee, the added cost will be passed on to customers including those who don’t have much money to begin with. Alderman Jack Kimbrell suggested the city look at a lower fee such as three percent.

Allen suggested the city go online and look at the agreement the company has with West Plains, Mo. He said the more lengthy ordinance is more specific than the one presented to the council. In addition, he said the city should make sure the company abides by all city ordinances.

Allen asked that the ordinance be tabled in order for the council to have an opportunity to research the possibility more thoroughly and look at the West Plains ordinance.

Alderman Shawn Reed said a similar agreement was brought up years ago. At that time, the council rejected the agreement. Norwood said the rejection was because the agreement was exclusive.

Recorder/treasurer Mary Ruth Wiles said the sales tax check the city receives from the state this month will reflect the loss of sales tax caused by the tornado. Those findings will be presented to the council at the May 13 meeting.