Written by Samantha Holschbach
Punctuated with tension, Tuesday’s Searcy city council meeting entailed the passage of Resolution 2003-18, which dismisses party affiliations from local elections.
“Based on what the council told me, the nonpartisanship resolution was initiated to remove politics from this process,”Mayor Belinda LaForcesaid. “[Non-partisanship] is throughout 90 percent of Arkansas. It’s pretty much common practice.”
The resolution, which passed with a 5-3 vote, calls for all candidates running for local office to register as non-partisan. AldermanSteve Sterlingoriginally proposed the measure under the belief that dissolving party affiliations would, in turn, dissolve some tension between aldermen. However, some aldermen believe the resolution inhibits their freedom of expression.
“It takes away our freedom,” aldermanCarl Nuttersaid, who voted against the resolution along with aldermenDale BrewerandJackie Liles. “They took away our choice.”
Nutter motioned to table the resolution for two months as a means of allowing the public to “express their desires” concerning the measure. Brewer seconded the motion, though it did not pass.
“I think it would be very appropriate to have a public hearing,” Brewer said. “[The resolution] affects everyone who votes.”
Mid-meeting, several representatives of the Public Facilities Board and Board of Adjustment had their appointments renewed: Ben Berry and John Simpson of the former organization, and Herb Bacon and Blake Holzhauer of the latter.
A number of agenda items concerned the appropriation of money, including the issuance of capital improvement revenue bonds to finance renovations in Sears dormitory atHarding University. The bonds will total between $4.5 and 5 million. Additionally, other financial resolutions, ordinances and grants were submitted or passed:
- Community enhancement grant application submitted. If Searcy attains this grant, exercise equipment and stations will be established in parks.
- $23,927 appropriated for repairs to Rialto Theater roof
- $22,625 in grant funds appropriated to Police County OES grant revenue account
- $16,000 paid to Relativity from Police County OES grant expenditure account
- $16,854 authorized to Stephenson Oil Co., Inc. for city fuel purchases
- GIF fire protection grant submitted
Amid the reading of the budget-adjustment ordinance, Nutter tried to amend the ordinance with an acceptance of theA&P taxpetition, as he did in a similar fashion at last month’s council meeting. LaForce dismissed Nutter’s request, stating, “Again, this subject matter does not pertain to this particular issue.”
Once the meeting was adjourned, a small gathering of Searcy citizens, some of whom had signed the petition, chanted, “We want liberty.”Greg Niblock, a lawyer who represented Searcy Friends of Voters in the A&P tax hearing, read passages from the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence, emphasizing the rights of the people to express their ideas before government leaders.
“Let’s talk about liberty,” Niblock said. “This cause for liberty runs in our veins as Americans.”
Another Searcy citizen, Garret Myhan, expressed his thoughts penned in a letter, directed toward the council.Play the video below to wacth Myhan make his remarks.
