Of the people,
Home of subscriber Dell Holt
By the people, For the people
TUESDAY, November 17, 2015 / Vol. 1 Issue 6 / 75 cents
Water plan calls for big rate hike The Clinton City Council got more details on a 10-year improvement plan for the Clinton water system at its meeting last week. Oren Noble of CWB Engineers in Heber Springs told the council about the costs associated with the $13.455 million 10-year Capital Improvement Plan, set to begin in 2016. He presented details of the plan at last month's council meeting. Last week, he talked costs to customers, both residential and wholesale.
The plan calls for three rate increases over the 10-year period, the first one in 2016, which would raise rates for Clinton residential customers 19 percent for water and 127 percent for sewer. The minimum monthly bill for water-only customers would rise from a current $22.50 to $26.84, or 19 percent, the first year. In 2019 it would increase again to $30.56; and in 2022 it would become $32.27. For those with sewer service as well, the increase includes the water
hike as well as another $19.45 in 2016 for a total average bill of $61.62; $2.13 in 2019 for a total of $67.47; and $3.03 more in 2022 for a total average bill of $72.21. That total bill currently is $37.84, $22.50 for water and $15.34 for sewer. The engineering firm did not specify the costs to residential customers in the Dennard, Bee Branch and Van Buren County systems; those amounts are set by the wholesalers. Figures for the wholesalers are: Dennard, currently $11,310
monthly on average; $13,230 in 2016; $14,877 in 2019; and $15,635 in 2022. For Bee Branch, those figures are: currently, $55,590; for 2016, $59,672; in 2019, $63,175; and in 2022, $64,785. The figures for Van Buren County are: currently, $47,250 on average; $50,751 in 2016; $53,755 in 2019; and $55,136 in 2022. There is no specific timetable for the increases to start, though the engineering firm had recommended January. The increase
must have taken effect before the city can obtain a bond to pay for the improvements. CWB proposes seeking a bond of $4,978,000 for 2016; $4,795,000 for 2019; and $3,086,000 for 2022. Councilman Johnny Moore asked if some of the costs and increases could be less if "we just did the urgent stuff." Noble stressed that the system is being held together with Bandaids, and said the work is urgent. Water Department Manager Isaac "Zeke" Keeling add-
Honoring our veterans
ed: "At the rate we're going, in two months we're going to have to decide if we're going to pay bills or pay the employees." Keeling said the amount that the chicken-processing plant had paid before it was "idled" in 2008 "pretty much paid the sewage bill for the whole town." Without that to depend on, "sewer," he said, "is eating us up." Keeling said that from Sept. 19 to Oct. 16 there was an average of three breaks a See Water Plan on page 7
Hopefuls enter races
in county
The Van Buren County clerk's office has released the list of those seeking office in the county in 2016. They are:
Van Buren County Judge
• Roger Hooper (D), incumbent • Brandon Bradford (R)
Van Buren County sheriff
• Scott Bradley (D), incumbent • Lucas Emberton (R)
Circuit clerk Veterans pose for a group photo during a ceremony honoring them for their service to their country last week at South Side-Bee Branch. More photos, story Page 6.
Judge refuses to reduce Hickman bond Jerry L. Hickman, who was behind the wheel of a log truck when it lost its load in June 2014 ending in the deaths of two road crewmen, lost his bid last week in Circuit Court to have his $250,000 bond reduced. "It might as well be $1 million," said his attorney. Hickman, who has been jailed for more than a year now, is charged with two counts of negligent homicide and 16 counts of battery in the accident that occurred on a bridge under construction just north of Clinton. He also is facing probation revocation on drug charges from 2012. The defense called several witnesses to the stand, all of whom testified that Hickman is a good man and, if given a bond he could afford, would be in court when he is supposed to be. Hickman's mother, Betty, testified that he was a kind, ten-
derhearted man who would cry if he hurt a dog. Betty Hickman said she moved to Texas a couple of months ago. She also swore that she had not heard anything about a potential divorce for her son and his wife, Patricia. Patricia Hickman followed her mother-in-law to the stand and acknowledged that she has contemplated filing for divorce, even putting it in writing to Hickman. But, she said, he would be welcome to live with her and their children if he can make bail. She said much of their trouble is because he has changed behind bars. "He's sad, he's upset," she said, and "he would do better if he were outside of those four walls." Hickman, said one neighbor, is from a "good, loving family," and was a help to her with her horses. She said he is a compassionate man and would pose no danger to the community. Deputy Prosecu-
tor Chad Brown presented another side to the argument, stating that Hickman is looking at a potential 276-year prison sentence and is a "powder keg." Circuit Judge H.G. Foster noted that Hickman's bond already has been cut in half, from $500,000 to $250,000. He summarized the testimony, saying Hickman's mother is now in Texas, he and his wife are not in a stable relationship, his mental state is not improving and the sentence he is potentially facing if found guilty would give him a "legitimate reason to run." "All in all," Foster concluded, it would not be appropriate to reduce bond any further at this point. "I think it (the $250,000 bond) is required." Hickman sobbed as Foster rendered his decision. On Feb. 5, 2016, Hickman will be back in court arguing for a change of venue in his case.
• Ester Bass (D), incumbent • Debbie Gray (R)
County clerk
• Pam Bradford (R), incumbent • Phillip Ellis (D)
County assessor
• Trina A. Jones (D), incumbent • Scott Bramlett (R)
Quorum Court
JP District 6 • Randy Story (R), incumbent • John Bradford (D) JP District 8 • Kevin Housley (D), incumbent • Elias Watson (R) JP District 9 • Judy Wells (D) • Richard P. Sundelin (R) Several other current Quorum Court seats will not be opposed in the upcoming elections. Dell Holt (D) District 1; Dale James (R), District 2; James Kirkendoll (R), District 3; Mary Philips (R) District 4; Gary Linn (D), District 5; and Brian Tatum (I), District 7;
Constable
East Griggs Township • Bill Eoff (I) • Bob Leal (D) Perched and posed - This cedar waxwing was perched and posing for a photo recently. (Photo by Marguerite Dory)
See Hopefuls on page 7