Harlan retires as fire chief, honored by city council

John Harlan retired as the Piggott Fire Chief at the end of April, and was recognized for his many years of service by the Piggott City Council at their meeting last Tuesday. Mayor Gerald Morris is shown presenting a plaque to Harlan, and was joined in the occasion by, from left--Bryan Haley, city attorney John Lingle, alderman Jim Poole, Morris, Harlan, city clerk Ramona Magee, alderman Lester Edwards, Jr. and alderman Carl Birmingham. Harlan, a second-generation chief, had served on the department since 1982.
(Times photo/Tim Blair)

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Harlan, who is a second-generation chief, had been a member of the fire department since 1982. The motion to accept his resignation was made by Alderman Jim Poole, a retired firefighter himself who had served five years alongside Harlan in the 1980's. He echoed the sentiments of Mayor Morris that Harlan has been an outstanding chief and will be sorely missed.

Scheffler, the city's water and sewer superintendent, also is a second generation Piggott firefighter and his appointment was approved without dissent.

In other business, council members instructed city attorney John Lingle to rework the proposed garbage can ordinance. At issue is the problem of late pickups due to holidays and issues with the solid waste carrier. Lingle was asked to reword the ordinance to take such incidences into consideration and will present a draft at the next regular meeting.

Council members also voted to have Lingle write an ordinance that will bring the city into compliance with a new state law increasing fines. The statute increases the portion for jail upkeep from $5 to $20 on each fine levied and was approved by lawmakers in an effort to keep the burden of maintenance of the state's jails from being carried by the taxpayer. Morris indicated other cities in the county also are implementing the change and that the effort was made at the request of District Court.

The matter of water and sewer upgrades was discussed with emphasis on possible funding from federal stimulus monies. Morris told the aldermen that much of the funding being offered by the federal government is partly grant and partly loan, leaving a debt to be repaid.

He encouraged the council to consider what projects are the most important and has called a special meeting at noon, Monday, June 15, to hear an update on funding. Morris indicated he will be inviting local, state and federal officials to attend in an effort to gain the most from what is being offered.

"This federal money has a lot of strings attached, but there are a lot of jobs that we're going to have to do anyway," Morris noted. "We just want to make sure we do what's in the best interest of Piggott."

In other business council:

* heard an update on a recent meeting at Springfield concerning the wheeling of power and were told that some of the projected upgrade costs may be offset.

* approved a new agreement with Westar.

* signed a new contract on the NRCS clean-up of Sugar Creek, reducing the city's cost share from 25 to 10 percent of the total amount.

* approved the city attorney's monthly bill.

* was informed that Dedra Settlemoir has been hired to fill the position of office clerk.