State of the City

City of Maumelle
State of the City 2008
February 19, 2008

Members of the Maumelle City Council, department heads, city employees and my fellow citizens. As required by Arkansas law, I am pleased to report to you the State of the City of Maumelle.

The year 2007 was a great year!  The opening of numerous retail establishments and restaurants is proof that commercial growth is coming to Maumelle. We celebrated the long awaited new Kroger store groundbreaking and are anticipating the opening of a Neighborhood Market store. We welcomed two new users to our Industrial park in the last year – Frensenius Medical Care North America and Southwest Power Pool. Residential development continued to expand in Maumelle with the opening of two new subdivisions and new phases opening in three existing subdivisions. Although residential permits were down for 2007, we have not experienced the significant downturn as other areas of the State.

The City of Maumelle has an annual operating budget of just under 9 million dollars; our general fund reserves have climbed to nearly 4.5 million dollars. We are well beyond the mandated amount of holding 20% in reserves. Street fund reserves are currently at 1.87 million dollars which is 146% of its annual budget.

The overall financial condition of Maumelle improved during the past year due to hard work by city staff. Overall general fund revenues decreased slightly by $4,790 throughout the year, but expenses were cut by $1,149,310, resulting in an increase in the fund balance of $1,144,520 for the year. The street fund balance increased by $439,270 due to a $225,082 increase in revenues and a $214,188 reduction in expenses. The Sanitation fund had a $69,642 increase in revenues and a $267,998 reduction in expenses during the past year allowing an increase in retained earnings of $367,640.

Our investment income for the year was above projection in both the general fund and the street fund for 2007. The general fund recorded $72,962, and $137,683 was credited to the street fund. This income was generated from the reserves that we are able to maintain in both funds.

The city sales tax collection exceeded $1,500,000 for the first time last year. The increase of $124,022 in sales tax revenue offset the loss of $112,837 in collection of the community service fee. We also saw a reduction in building permit fees of $125,000 because of the drop in residential permits.

As the city continues to grow, our needs will also grow; transportation infrastructure will need to be addressed in the coming years. We are working on the design of a new access to Interstate 40. The construction funds will be a challenge that needs to be addressed in about two years. As the Road Rail separation nears completion on the north end of Maumelle Boulevard, this should relieve some traffic congestion on the Boulevard soon.

As we continue to make progress on our 2005 Bond projects, the new Maumelle Senior Wellness Center below City Hall opened for business in January 2007. The Rolling Oaks football field and concession stand celebrated its grand opening in the fall of 2007, and we were able to play home games during the season on the new field. The softball complex will be open for play in the spring of this year after construction began last year. The City’s Public Works facility is under construction with a planned opening date in late summer. After the Public Works Department moves out of its existing facility, construction can begin on the last two Bond projects - Animal Services and the Transfer/Recycling Facility.

We are in the process of designing a new fire station to be built along side the already designed police station at the intersection of Murphy Drive and Maumelle Boulevard. Anticipated construction of both facilities should begin this summer. This will allow us to better serve the citizens of Maumelle with public safety being our number one priority.

I am proud of the fact that our city continues to be selected as a Volunteer Community by the Division of Volunteerism of the State of Arkansas for the sixth year in a row. It proves that Maumelle is more than just a place to live - it is a place to grow and give back. Our citizens are involved and care about what happens within our city. We will continue to promote family events such as Family Fest, Hometown Thanksgiving, the annual Easter egg hunt, the annual kid’s fishing derby and Fourth Fest to bring the community together and offer opportunities to bring guests and visitors to our wonderful community.

We are making efforts to communicate better with our citizens; our web site will be going through an update this year. Check out the calendar of events on it and let us know how we are doing. This State of the City report will be placed on the new web site to allow the users to read it at their own leisure and to read the departmental summaries in depth.

I continue to be impressed with our staff. From the directors down to each individual employee, they are customer oriented and serve the citizens of Maumelle with their best efforts. We make every effort to respond to issues and incidents as quickly as possible. When your day winds down, remember that we have police officers on patrol throughout the night and firefighters responding to calls when most of us are asleep. The Sanitation worker rides on the back of a truck in a pouring rain, and Public Works employees are on the job whenever it sleets or snows, while most workers get the day off. Remember the receptionist that receives the angry telephone call or complaint only answered a ringing phone and probably had nothing to do with the source of the complaint. We completed a salary study this year and with additional training hope to install a compensation schedule that will reward employees with fair and equitable salaries and raises based on performance.

I have included departmental summaries to accompany this statement but will not read each one in the interest of time. I will hit the high points in each department but ask that you go to our website and take the time to read the entire report.

We have a wonderful community and a future that is brighter than ever. Yes, we have challenges, but we are better off than most cities throughout the state with declining populations and vacant and dilapidated buildings. Thank you for allowing me to serve you as your Mayor and for your encouraging and supportive words.

Sincerely,
Michael Watson

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The following are Departmental Summaries prepared by each department.

City Attorney’s Office

In 2007, the City Attorney's office handled four lawsuits against the City of Maumelle or City employees.  Two of those were dismissed, and two remain in active litigation.  The City Attorney, JaNan Davis, has provided legal advice to the Council, the Mayor, and many City employees and commissioners.  The City Attorney’s goal has been to try to resolve all disputes in a way which limits any financial exposure for the City of Maumelle and which helps Maumelle citizens in everyway possible.  In the second half of 2007, Ms. Davis prosecuted more than 1300 misdemeanor offenses, 91 DWI offenses, over 700 traffic violations and 46 ordinance violations.  Overall, more than $500,000 in fines was assessed after convictions.  All litigation and operations of the City Attorney's office has been conducted within the budget set forth by the City Council.

 

City Clerk’s Office

In 2007, there were many changes in the City Clerk’s office, most notably in the implementation of new technology.  Utilizing grant funds from the AT&T Foundation, the City was able to transition to a paperless Council agenda and agenda packet system.  The Council chambers, now equipped with lap top computers and a projector, has a much more professional feel.  And more importantly, it has allowed the City to disseminate more information to a greater number of people in a more efficient manner. 

Another notable change in the City Clerk’s office was the installation of a document imaging system.  This system has made a huge difference in storage, management and retrieval of documents.  It will eventually eliminate the need to spend countless hours digging through file cabinets and boxes.  It has already greatly enhanced the efficiency of the office.  Other changes in the clerk’s office were the addition of purchasing responsibilities; which will be undertaken this year.

 

Code Enforcement/ Permits Department

The year 2007 was another busy year for the Code Enforcement/Permits Department. There were 1,069 permits issued, and $308,667.00 in revenues was received.

Residential permits were down by 77 as compared to the number issued in 2006; however, revenues were bolstered by an increase in new commercial projects, such as Kroger, the Elder Retail Center, three new restaurants and the Burkhalter Warehouse. There were 18 commercial remodeling permits that included the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, three restaurants and 14 small businesses. Residential permits are expected to increase in 2008 with the opening of Majestic Point, Ridgeview and additional phases of Mountain Valley and Country Club of Arkansas subdivisions.

Vast improvements in storm water, pollution prevention and erosion control were made in 2007. Builders and developers have a clearer understanding of the requirements and are complying, for the most part. However, 398 Notices of Violation, three Stop Work Orders and three Citations were issued in 2007.

Efforts at public awareness of storm water pollution, as required by the ADEQ, led to storm water education presentations at two middle school classes and one high school class in 2007. Don Harbour also made a presentation entitled “Managing a Small MS4 Program for Municipalities” at the 2007 EPA Region 6 MS4 Operators Conference in Rogers, AR. Attendance was comprised of representatives of municipalities and EPA and ADEQ personnel. The presentation was a great success, and the City of Maumelle received many compliments as a forward thinking city and for efforts in controlling water pollution.

Code Enforcement continues to be an on going challenge. Unkempt lawns, yard waste disposal, trailer and vehicle parking were the majority of the 2007 violations. There were 2,426 notices of non-compliance issue and 39 citations for refusal to comply. The new fence ordinance and the City’s efforts at requiring fence maintenance have greatly improved the aesthetics of the City’s fences.

 

Community & Economic Development

Community and economic development in Maumelle continued to gain momentum in 2007.  A press conference was held in February 2007, announcing that Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA) would be moving to Maumelle.  Discussions began in August 2005 with Spartan Logistics in Ohio, who built the 70,000 square foot building and is leasing it to FMCNA.  FMCNA is a German owned company that distributes kidney dialysis equipment and medicines to clinics and homes. 

Claudia’s Canine Cuisine nearly doubled their original building with an expansion to give them more warehouse space. They opened their doors one year after contacting the City, and one month after opening, they began plans to expand.

Kroger partnered with the City and the Chamber to host an official ground breaking ceremony on October 1, 2007.  This was the culmination of two years of discussions, originating with a visit from city officials to the Kroger office in Memphis in October 2005.

Wal-Mart bought the Harvest Food site and announced it as the future site of a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, scheduled to open in June 2008.  Numerous other businesses opened their doors in 2007, including the Print Shop, Taco Bueno, the Pasta House, and Arby’s.  Discussions are underway now that will hopefully add other great businesses to Maumelle.

The City of Maumelle’s new DVD to promote the City was completed and presented to the City Council.  It has been used to promote the community to site selectors, restaurants, and retail businesses.  It is also used by industries to recruit employees – Target and BEI Precision Systems and Space Company.  There are plans in 2008 to review the DVD, make changes if needed, and to have additional copies made.

The City’s web site is an important source for citizens, potential citizens, visitors, and prospects/site selectors.  The site is currently under redesign, which should be complete in 2008.  In 2007, it became user friendly for those who are visually impaired.

The City of Maumelle runs ads in site selection magazines throughout the year with an attempt to appear in at least one each quarter.  In 2007, Expansion Solutions gave the City an award of excellence in the area of warehouse and distribution.  http://www.expansionsolutionsmagazine.com/2007_warehouse_distribution_awards)
In addition, GCX (Global Corporate Xpansion) recognized the City of Maumelle as one of the “rising stars” in the area of distribution.  You can read the article at: 
(http://www.gcx-online.com/gcx/article.asp?magarticle_id=626#)

Business retention and expansion continues to be a high priority.  An attempt is made to visit each of the industries at least once a year, if possible.  In 2008, there are plans to use the information from a survey of the industries to organize quarterly lunches in the industrial park for networking and addressing issues of interest/concern.  ACT software will be purchased to help track information and provide data.  Also, in 2007, the City organized meetings between the industries and the PCSSD to open dialogue between the two groups in preparation for the new high school.  PCSSD closed on the property December 18th. 

There were numerous site visits in 2007, which may result in announcements in the future.  For instance, the investors who own the Windsor Door facility are building a 60,000 square foot building to lease to an international company for the distribution and maintenance of wooden pallets.

The City began discussions with the Home Growers Association, in hopes of having a farmers’ market in Maumelle.  There was no provision for a market in the City, and it was added as a conditional use on commercial property.  The next step is to find a property owner who will be willing to allow the market to operate.  Ideally, there will be a farmers’ market in Maumelle in 2008!

Education is a vital part of community development.  The City continues to support the Community Development Institute at UCA through sponsorship and as a host for lunch and a tour for the Year 3 class. 

The City of Maumelle partners with the Little Rock Chamber, the Metro Little Rock Alliance, and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission in an effort to create new jobs in Central Arkansas and to maintain our existing industries.

 

Courts

In 2007, the Maumelle District Court processed 3,083 criminal and traffic charges with over 1,516 cases adjudicated and more than $123,793 in fines and court cost collected.  The court case load has leveled off since jurisdiction changed from county wide to city only in 2005.  The goal for the up coming year is to continue serving the citizens of Maumelle and surrounding cities with courtesy and efficient service.

 

Finance Department
           
Pam Brockhaus, Director of Finance since 2000, resigned on January 26, 2007.  Tyler Winningham, the City’s chief accountant, was appointed interim director.  In March 2007, Mr. Winningham was chosen as the new director.

The Department was able to fully change over to the newly purchased Springbrook software program, which handles the City’s accounts payable, cash receipts, billing and general ledger functions, to name a few.  The new software has proven to be an asset to the City in its increased capabilities of financial reporting and its ability to complete multiple tasks in fewer steps.  The new system has made the Finance Department much more efficient. 

The City billed just over $800,000 in community service fees and just over $1,000,000 in sanitation charges. 

In 2007, Maumelle was recognized for receiving the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its 2005 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).  The 2006 CAFR was completed and audited in September, 2007 and was submitted to be considered for the certificate also. 

 

Fire Department

The Maumelle Fire Department had another very active year, both in emergency calls and non-emergency activities.  The department responded to 1,212 calls for assistance, which is an increase of 67 calls (6%) from 2006.  Medical emergencies continue to be the most common emergency response.  With population growth, there is a predictable increase in call volume; however, there were no civilian fire fatalities in 2007. 

One additional firefighter was added to the force in 2006.  This brings shift staffing to 17 personnel.  Another firefighter position is budgeted in 2008 to bring the department to 18 personnel on shift, which allows for six firefighters per shift.  This will allow a minimal staff for two stations in 2009.  The volunteer ranks are diminishing, primarily through attrition.  Recruiting additional volunteer firefighters and providing basic training is a goal for 2008.

The Department continues to be very involved in public education programs in the schools, industries and with citizen groups.  Plan reviews, annual inspections of businesses, fire hydrant testing, equipment maintenance and training are ongoing activities. 

Efforts in obtaining grants have again been successful.  The department was awarded another “Assistance to Firefighter’s Grant” from FEMA for $35,359 (federal share with a 5% match of $1,861).  This grant is for firefighter’s protective clothing, a gas detector and gear washer.  Other grants obtained include $3,460 from the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Foundation for equipment and a donation from Wal-Mart for $1,000.  Over the last six years, the Department has received over $375,000 in grants from public and private sources.

In 2007, the Department replaced the unreliable reserve pumper with a unit that is functional and cost effective for a total cost of less than $120,000.  The old pumper is currently being advertised for sale, and the monies will be returned to the City to offset the costs.  Plans are moving forward for the new fire station, the purchase of a new fire truck and the staffing to provide services from two stations.

 

Human Resources

The year 2007 saw the departure of the City’s longtime Director of Human Resources, Wayne Keahey. Wayne began his loyal service with the City in April, 1993. Wayne is to be commended for his role in attracting and retaining qualified staff to meet the needs that citizens expect.

Wanda Hindman, HR Specialist, worked with Mayor Watson to keep the HR Department running smoothly until a new HR Director could be hired.  Vernon James was selected as the HR Director and came to the City with an impressive background in HR from other organizations, such as Heifer International and ASU-Beebe.  Vernon has been busy reviewing the City’s existing programs and making improvements that benefit the City of Maumelle, as well as the individual employees.

At mid-year, the HR Department began the review process of fringe benefits that the City offers employees. The plans initially reviewed were health, dental, and pension. As a result of the reviews, revisions were made to update the plans to meet new legal requirements and the addition of benefit improvements. The improvements were added to allow the City to remain competitive in attracting and retaining the best employees to meet the City’s growing needs while at the same time remaining fiscally prudent.

HR initiatives in 2008 include (1) continuation of the review process of existing benefits and providers; (2) updating and implementation of employee handbooks (uniform and non-uniform);   (3) implementation of a revised compensation structure; and (4) introduction of training programs designed to: enhance management skills – increase employee motivation – and maximize employee productivity.

 

Parks and Recreation

In 2007 the Parks Department went through several administrative changes. Steve Ibbotson resigned as the director, and Phillip Raborn, the Assistant Director was selected to be the new director. During this same time, the Facility Manager was deployed to Iraq, thus leaving two positions vacant.  With the Facilities Manager being a prime applicant for the Assistant Director’s position, interim positions were created and additional part time seasonal employment was added to fulfill vacancies. With all the changes and vacancies, all the department’s employees expanded their duties, which made it possible to provide current programs, implement new summer activities, maintain current facilities and expand upon additional facilities without breaking stride. By the end of the year, the Facility Manager had returned and was promoted to the Assistant Director’s position.  In 2008, the position of Facility Manager should be filled, which will bring the department to full strength.

With renovations completed, one of the City’s newest facilities, Park on the River, was opened for rentals. With the secluded area and the view of the Arkansas River, it attracted many weddings and family gatherings. It was also the site for the 2007 Arkansas Pontiac Association Car Show, which included a large display of antique cars and hot rods. With ample shade on the banks of the river, this location was a big hit with the crowd.

In 2007, the Parks and Recreation Department proudly sponsored the City’s 30th Annual Fourth Fest celebration, which included live entertainment, food, vendors and a parade. But what stood out this year was how the community joined in with the department to make the parade the largest ever. No previous parade had ever featured 30 entries, including large floats with so many participants riding or walking in the procession. To see the large crowds gather along the street curbs with the anticipation of candy being thrown or a wave from a friend made for a special anniversary.

Use of the Jess Odom Community Center continues to increase with more health club members added each year. In 2007, four new treadmills were added to the cardio room.  The building also received some needed touch up paint to the heavily used rooms and new door handles on many of the facility’s doors.

The Maumelle Diamond Center Baseball Complex was selected to host the “Five and Six Year Old 2007 Cal Ripken South West Regional Baseball Tournament.”  Sixteen teams and their families traveled to Maumelle from many areas and some as far as Mississippi. With volunteers from the Maumelle Sports Association and the Parks Department, a banquet was provided for the players and their families. Over 1,000 people attended the tournament, which was held over a five day period. The Parks Department’s staff stayed extremely busy preparing the fields and maintaining the facility to keep the tournament on schedule.

With a new football field and concession stand in place at the Rolling Oaks Sports Complex, the Youth Football Association was able to host home games for the first time. A new scoreboard, sponsored by Wal-Mart, was installed and ready to start the season. With more age groups participating, practice was a challenge that was overcome by networking with the Maumelle Middle School (MMS). With the materials provided by MMS and the use of our manpower and tools, more practice fields were created for football.

Lake Willastein is one of the City’s largest parks. Many special events are held at this park including family gatherings, festivals, the annual Easter egg hunt and the annual Fishing Derby. Park improvements included adding sod around the bunker and playground area and installing new BBQ grills throughout the park. The greatest accomplishment was being able to name and place one of the former military bunkers on the National Historical Registry.  In 2008 there are plans to continue making park improvements to this heavily utilized park.

In 2008, the Parks Department looks forward to the Grand Opening of the City’s newly built Softball Complex. It has state of the art scoreboards sponsored by Twin City Bank, Bank of the Ozarks, and Terminix Pest Control. This facility will allow the youth softball program to expand and host future tournaments here in Maumelle.

 

Planning and Zoning

Mrs. Sarah Wood was hired as Project Coordinator in the Department of Planning and Zoning.  Mrs. Wood with her background in construction management, as well as her mapping capabilities, was a very welcome addition to City Staff. Mrs. Wood performed admirably in her duties, and her expertise with map production was an asset to all City Departments.  Mrs. Woods’ mapping work allowed for the first formal updating and adoption of the Maumelle Master Land Use and Zoning Maps in three years.  Mrs. Wood has also paved the way for adoption of an updated Master Street Plan in 2008.

Many new and beneficial ordinances were adopted and some existing ordinances received a much needed facelift. Maumelle’s Commercial Building Design Ordinance was amended to require commercial buildings to be constructed with a façade comprised of 65% high quality material, an increase of 14%. The Commercial Building Design Ordinance was also amended to restrict fully the use of pre-fabricated steel panels (unless covered by a high quality material), as well as to require complete parapet roof design if a parapet roof was proposed.

A new Tree Ordinance was adopted that set forth guidelines for tree, plant, and shrub care and placement within the City right of way. This ordinance paved the way for the establishment of the Maumelle Tree Board in 2007. The Tree Board is a five member organization (with the Director of Parks and Recreation and the Director of Planning and Zoning serving as ad hoc members) that promotes the care of trees, education and outreach programs, and the general beautification of Maumelle. Members of the Tree Board worked together to immediately apply for a 2,000 dollar grant from the Arkansas Forestry Commission.  The City was awarded the grant for tree care and planting, and some of these monies were utilized in organizing a Maumelle Arbor Day that was held November 3, 2007 at Lake Willastein.  Through the efforts of the Tree Board, Maumelle will become a “Tree City USA” community in 2008.

An ordinance was adopted that will allow for the placement of roadside produce stands in specific zoning districts in the City.  The adoption of this ordinance paves the way for fresh produce being sold at a Farmers Market in 2008.

The City was awarded a 60,000 dollar grant from EPA Region 6 to help with the construction of a Strategic Area Management Plan.  This plan will aid in protecting environmentally sensitive areas of the White Oak Bayou Basin.

There were also new residential, commercial, and industrial partners welcomed to the City: Taco Bueno and the Elder Retail Center were commercial entities approved for Tract “C”, Town Center. Maumelle also became home to a new daycare center at Audubon and Millwood “Little Scholars Academy of Maumelle” and a new hotel was approved at Hwy 365, the Holiday Inn Express.  Finally, the CHEP Company was approved for a 60,000 square foot site on the existing Windsor Door property.  CHEP will store and distribute wooden pallets

Those are the highlights of an exciting year for the Department of Planning and Zoning.

 

Police Department

The year 2007 saw a number of positive changes in the Police Department and the services that are provided the citizens of Maumelle.  While the incidents of non-violent theft increased slightly, the violent non-sexual incidents decreased, as did the sexual assaults.  The number of DWI arrests decreased, which one would hope, is a result of the department’s efforts in sobriety checkpoints and education.  The stigma attached to DWI arrests is also increasing as are the repercussions in the event one is convicted, all leading to a greater awareness of the importance to drive sober.
 
The Department also made some very real progress in the area of domestic violence.  A new unit consisting of one detective was formed to investigate and facilitate victim’s assistance once a domestic violence incident is reported to the Police.  One unique facet of this unit is in the area of domestic violence prevention.  The detective assigned to the unit monitors all reports of domestic disturbances, including those that do not rise to the level constituting a criminal offense.  By monitoring these reports, the Department has an opportunity to intervene in these matters, explain different options to those involved, including informing them of groups and organizations that are available to help them deal with family problems, thereby providing a mechanism to reverse potentially violent behavior and return a family to a safe, non-aggressive environment. 

Additionally, the Department’s effort to combat the theft and burglary problem in Maumelle is a multi-faceted approach, combining education and awareness with traditional prevention and enforcement techniques.  The officers are constantly monitoring areas where thefts/burglaries are occurring to ensure that patrol techniques are the most effective possible.  The Department is combining uniform as well as unmarked patrols in an effort to identify potential theft suspects and to ensure that suspects are never convinced that their activities are not being monitored.  Other, less publicized enforcement techniques are also being utilized to combat this problem.  As to the education and awareness component of this endeavor, the local newspaper, the Maumelle Monitor, has been invaluable in providing us a forum to inform the public of ways in which they can assist us in the prevention of theft and apprehension of suspects.  Steps have also been taken to ensure that all Maumelle residents know of the “residential check” program, where officers will check citizens’ residences while they are away.  There is also a new initiative where the Police will post a bright green sticker on property that is vulnerable to theft, informing the citizen that if the person observing this situation had been a thief rather than a Police Officer, the property could easily have been stolen.  Encouraging residents and visitors to immediately notify the Police Department of suspicious activity is also a high priority, and again, traditional news sources play a vital role in helping with these efforts.  Efforts to encourage the folks in Maumelle to secure their vehicles and homes will also continue.

Upgrades in the communications system allowing us to determine the location of most cellular phone users will also help the Police to better serve members of the community.

Finally, the addition of two Police Officers to the force in 2007, and the authorized increase of two more sworn officers in 2008 will assist tremendously in implementing the new programs that are proposed while maintaining an efficient Police Department, helping to ensure the safety and security of the community.   

 

Public Works

The year 2007 was another busy year for the Public Works Department.   With the 35 plus employees, Public Works provides maintenance for the majority of the City’s common areas along with over 80 miles of dedicated streets and provides assistance on maintaining 28 miles of undedicated streets and right-of-ways.  Maumelle maintenance responsibilities are ever increasing due to the amount of construction growth in Maumelle.  In 2007, along with the normal number of phases being added to subdivisions, three major developments have been completed:  Majestic Pointe, Ridgeview, and Country Club of Arkansas, Phase 20, adding over 340 to Maumelle lot inventory. 

Public Works is also responsible for the weekly collection of garbage, yard waste and recyclables.  The Department has collected and disposed of over 12,000 cubic yards of household wastes and 4,700 cubic yards of compacted yard waste from curb side pickup at a cost of approx. $110,000.00. There was no significant change in the amount of waste collected in 2007 than in 2006.  The Maumelle Transfer Station has collected 4,400 cubic yards of solid waste and 1,120 cubic yard of green waste with a disposal cost of $41,309.00.  The Maumelle Transfer Station generated revenue of approx. $19,000.00 in 2007. 

Maumelle Animal Services also falls under Public Works which responded to 2,085 Incoming calls from citizens of which the majority were dogs at large and barking complaints.  Animal Services processed 525 incoming animals. The majority of the animals were returned to owners, transferred to the MFOA, or transferred to other organizations.  Animal Services generated revenue of $11,558.00 in 2007.

The Maumelle Public Works Department hopes to move into the new Public Works Facility in middle or late 2008.  When this has been accomplished it will enable the City to begin construction on the new Transfer Station and Animal Services building.  The two projects will be put out for bid in the near future. 

 

Senior Services

The Maumelle Senior Wellness Center opened in January featuring a state of the art cardio room, enlarged computer lab, commercial kitchen, and increased space for dedicated senior services and programs.  The focus for senior programs and services in 2007 was active aging, lifelong learning, and transportation. 

Evening hours were expanded by staggering staff schedules, allowing working seniors to utilize the senior wellness center after 5 p.m. on weekday evenings.  Membership scanning software was implemented in the first quarter of 2007 and daily attendance rose by more than 175% percent during the year.

Community partnerships, donations, and volunteers allowed for significant cost savings to the city.  Volunteers gave their time and talent saving the city the work of 6 full-time staff members.  A 13-passenger van was received thru a grant with the Arkansas Department of Transportation.  Local non-profits and families donated funds for three patio tables, commercial kitchen equipment, a gas grill, and landscaping. Funding received from the Arkansas State Legislature will enable the installation of a commercial dishwashing system in 2008.

Center members were encouraged to log their workouts during the year and partnerships with local hospitals brought health education classes to members on a monthly basis.  Complimentary fitness classes, walking programs, and the cardio room round out opportunities to experience Active Aging at the Senior Wellness Center.

A partnership with UCA allowed for on-site computer instruction for college credit to seniors aged 60 and older.  Floral design, sewing, and watercolor classes offered by talented volunteer instructors and additional task-specific computer classes focusing on web site design and digital photography were taught by volunteers allowing for a focus of lifetime learning. 

Transportation will continue to be a main focus of the department with non-emergency medical transportation and the new in-town shuttle service.  As demand increases City staff will work with volunteers and area partners to find innovative ways to meet the transportation needs of senior citizens.

 

City Projects

Softball Fields – Bond Project #7
On February 23, 2007 the City signed a contract to build two girls softball fields, one larger softball field, a parking lot, concession stand and the infrastructure for two additional fields to be built at a later date. The softball fields are in the final stages of completion. The grading and sod on the large field had to be redone, and it is the last major item outstanding on the project. The Contractor should be asking for substantial completion by the end of January.

Public Works Building – Bond Project #4
The Public Works Building was bid on March 13, 2007. The project was awarded to SAMCO, Inc after they submitted the low bid and negotiated with the City to get project within budget. The contract was signed, and the Notice to Proceed was issued on June 6, 2007. The estimated date of completion is June 30, 2008. The current Public Works building is 7264 square feet; the new building will be 12,000 square feet. There will also be an 8,000 square foot vehicle building. The construction is taking place on property behind the present Public Works building. Public Works is constructing some of the infrastructure for this project in house.

Animal Shelter – Bond Project #2
This project will include remodeling the present Public Works building into a 3600       square foot Animal Shelter. The shelter will include expanded space for dogs and cats, extra office space, storage, adoption room, laundry, food prep area and an outside grass dog run. The project will be bid out after the Public Works Building Project is completed and personnel have been moved.

Recycle/Transfer Station Bond Project #1
This project will be bid out later this year. It will be located in the same place as the present Transfer Station and Recycling Center. The new facility will be expanded and offer easier access into and out of the facility.     

Wetlands Walk Trail
The City of Maumelle received a grant from the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department to build a Wetlands Walk Trail. The Grant was for $34,000.00, and the City will match at least $8,500.00. The trail will be 2670 feet long and will be located next to the new softball fields. The trail will be 8 feet wide and will run along and adjacent to the City’s wetlands. Construction on the trail was begun on January 10, 2008. Depending on the weather it should be completed by the end of March 2008.