[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6027817,"mediaKeyId","5700961-1c9de928dd1326ae1b5e24ecd27e8113","parentId",5700961,"title","Residents report repeat sewage backups at Twin City Manor; city staff outline short- and long-term fixes","audioSeconds",494,"startMs",6795000,"endMs",7289000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5700961-1c9de928dd1326ae1b5e24ecd27e8113&start=6795&end=7289","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5700961-1c9de928dd1326ae1b5e24ecd27e8113/thumbnail_6795000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6027817/Arkansas/Residents-report-repeat-sewage-backups-at-Twin-City-Manor-city-staff-outline-short-and-long-term-fixes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6027817-47042a5ed8ef1aa72189c9518b0b7ab1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775116524&Signature=OX5BpdiSxJ7nklxDN1S9ID-CioRYwrMALF8O25G5gGBQix2ZSh-V~ZChKfRzKr4xMGpyozqcmiq45lYLVhy7HRE0if7wzwpDKBuk8q03CfrkITwH2vXJWFvOKFS~qXPF1AXBPPzFEIy2zCAXa7xOoCqVjhwzacLBB24R11krFeqeWw8um1rVmuA0AR6yTiM53eSr8rOtuz8CoSClOQF-x0bqac-tz0ebw~h6IIkXOMZ6taDJXaeZE9KKp5fUUKQYvKYHNNl2Y3jCKwWi4FMRZJNQQkokmK48wJ6uuWzxsB9K8PcNfD4QzffZIWdNlRhT6quYZ7~L9s8r~o9AsMhGrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Helena City","date","2025-04-02T01:28:22Z","article","Jacqueline Udeneze, community manager at Twin City Manor, told the council that repeated pump failures and heavy-rain sewage backups have flooded lower-floor units and forced temporary relocations of residents, including tenants with disabilities.

Public works staff described a three-stage response: an immediate bypass arrangement to prevent repeat overflows; an intermediate short-term bypass and redundancy setup so one pump will pick up if another fails; and a long-term rebuild of the lift station. Public works staff said equipment already purchased had some mechanical failures and that vendors returned faulty units; staff said a double-bypass pump arrangement has been installed as an immediate mitigation.

On the long-term fix, staff provided a preliminary parts estimate of about $1,314,000 (not including electrical work). Staff also said the lift station will need variable-frequency drives (VFDs) and related electrical work; those items could add roughly $30,000–$40,000. The public works representative asked for time to present a full engineering and cost breakdown for the entire sewer-stormwater program, noting the city must also satisfy requirements in a consent administrative order tied to the broader sewer system plan.

Council members and staff agreed to schedule follow-up briefings and to include the lift-station work in broader wastewater planning and funding conversations. The city manager and grants staff said they will look for state and federal funding sources tied to wastewater and said some drinking-water grants on file cannot be used for sewer work, so separate funding sources will be needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Helena-West Helena City Council Meeting Apr 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Twin City Manor manager described repeated sewage backups into ground-floor units. Public works staff said a double-bypass pump setup is in place short-term and estimated roughly $1.314 million (parts-only) to fully rebuild the lift station; electrical and variable-frequency-drive costs are additional.","taxTitle","Helena, Phillips County, Arkansas","taxId",80580,"location","Arkansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6027822,"Votes at a glance: council approves festival permit, utility invoice and grant applications; airport appointment fails",0,6644000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5700961-1c9de928dd1326ae1b5e24ecd27e8113&start=6644&end=6644","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5700961-1c9de928dd1326ae1b5e24ecd27e8113/thumbnail_6644000.jpg","/articles/6027822/Arkansas/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-festival-permit-utility-invoice-and-grant-applications-airport-appointment-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6027822-e8dfc10e5e3366466b4eed3c01d1f9d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775116524&Signature=l0fJONqjp5hl4zV1Pt4W0hsWATymRhyU3mdXgG~M1Z6d9A8JmWSb9tuSUBm8rvRf8lg~vuZb2Ar8OwUalp-QvfX5vA4OXVPuPezae9OKs3JFkMIj-EYo4Y2OPQTCKWo2nhG03q7ii8zwqYOb9zvu78i0jOiO4xbMLqKNVctp3aYb-p7R~EijH3Wdj7mS364GK2svqL2WwhzlwCfCH~3nn8qULZVZiuiddWlmdyeiEi4250C~5VXi2jRNh30eP5xgZ2gZDUsJ1b9~6ukUXreQc1-PY3vfhKysiUDK62O~LEPmG3eg9KdZ41ku4EDD5aBFFIDW4F3qP4IgZinX-NyAwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Helena-West Helena City Council took several brief votes on permits, invoices and grant applications during the meeting.

Permit for Catfish and Gospel Festival: The council unanimously approved a permit for Faye Duncan Daniels to hold the Living Waters gospel and catfish festival on July 26, 2025. The application packet and department sign-offs were in the meeting packet; the motion carried on a unanimous roll call.

Airport commission appointment: A motion to appoint Paul Riddell to the airport commission to replace Buff Brothers failed for lack of confirmation. The roll call recorded four yes votes and two abstentions; council rules required five votes to confirm, so the motion failed.

Henna Utilities invoice: The council voted to authorize payment of $20,009.90 to Henna Utilities for meters and supplies tied to new residential water connections on North Meadowbrook and West Street. The motion was approved by roll call.

Health Foundation grant applications: The council authorized city staff to apply for Helena Health Foundation funding: $86,850 for landfill work and $35,533.30 for summer swim programming at the city pool. The applications were submitted the same day, and the council approved filing them.

Other procedural actions: The clerk also recorded that the council will revisit the base-pay ordinance for police personnel at the next meeting and that several administrative appointments and contracts (including a previously adopted three-year contract with Fuse Cloud for phone and internet services) were confirmed earlier in the packet.","At the council meeting the body approved a permit for a Catfish and Gospel Festival, authorized payment for utility materials, and approved applications to two foundation grants; an appointment to the airport commission failed for lack of affirmative votes.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6027828,"Council authorizes police hiring plan, authorizes chief to advertise at higher entry pay",3494,136000,3630000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5700961-1c9de928dd1326ae1b5e24ecd27e8113&start=136&end=3630","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5700961-1c9de928dd1326ae1b5e24ecd27e8113/thumbnail_136000.jpg","/articles/6027828/Arkansas/Council-authorizes-police-hiring-plan-authorizes-chief-to-advertise-at-higher-entry-pay","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6027828-b9875a80f2d0eb8936dab71bf164bfbb/orig.mp4?Expires=1775116524&Signature=dEcuZwE~NPv1uQwZVn9rt0tBDpCOikALYOyRpiSJnJVJHpdgfvHnlgdr4o38RAxU1nEaS258Es5~baqpPTxjJCQ772ptjClZ~nGjKNDcZRfWJQi1WFSA-f31WQMWsKQ20SU78tWkxx0vdtbGPIGnPvAAyTB7Cx4ZK6I-ch6hDHCG7B1H8oc2SYQhEodTVNV7o54-KkrYJ2xQ9EY9h334dhlIxJ-oYFvmccAqZkdA5s6h07XfYDfj~38f68Ghpsjeu8yJOel7JbnzRDXf2BQwXpUnK0SaZPM4RgjkM5yUkKaMbJxMgxgb6JCNMIINCYDPE3CbyBfmT3OpTjzOxHWjpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Bell, Helena-West Helena police chief, told the City Council that his department is critically understaffed and asked the council to approve a budget redistribution that would allow higher starting pay and hire new officers.

The council approved a motion to authorize the chief to advertise and recruit officers at the proposed new rates — $35,000 for patrolman entry level and $40,000 for patrolman first class — and to adopt a base-pay ordinance at the council meeting on the 15th. The motion was made by Joe Saint Columbia and seconded by Mister Messina; the clerk recorded six yes votes (Saint Columbia, Messina, Dr. Miller, Miss Davis, Miss Miller and Mister Ethele).

The chief said the department currently has seven full-time officers and expects to lose one soon, leaving six on staff. He described extended schedules and heavy overtime as drivers of both burnout and cost: “We spent 275,000 last year in overtime. The year before that, we spent 400,000.” He argued higher starting pay was necessary to recruit certified officers quickly and said the department has identified at least two to four candidates who could start promptly if pay is adjusted.

City staff and councilors discussed implementation mechanics and fiscal controls. The council and the chief agreed the advertised raises would not be paid out until new officers were actually on the force; the chief said increases for current employees would be considered after new hires arrived and overtime levels fell. The city clerk asked that the implementation steps be recorded; the clerk noted for the minutes that the first 11 officers hired will come on at the new rates and that pay adjustments for remaining officers (including the chief) will be considered afterward.

Council members pressed for precision about timing and cost. Chief Bell projected filling to the target staffing level (18 officers total) within about six to eight weeks after advertising. City staff told the council there is a federal reimbursement stream that could offset salaries: the city has approximately $915,000 pending in Washington, D.C., tied to a Department of Justice grant, and the city expects to draw down those funds after completing required performance and financial reports. Staff said the DOJ grant can cover about 75% of eligible officer salaries with the city responsible for 25%. The clerk also reminded the council of a February 2024 Department of Justice audit that cited insufficient officer staffing and that grant rules require an active hiring advertisement to qualify for some funds.

The council majority framed the vote as a budget-neutral reallocation of already-appropriated money rather than a request for new city dollars; several members said they wanted written language tying the advertised hiring and the ordinance adoption to the staffing and reporting steps discussed in the meeting. After the roll call vote the mayor instructed staff to draft the base-pay ordinance for formal consideration on the 15th and to record the implementation conditions in the minutes.

The vote record on the motion was recorded in roll call: Joe Saint Columbia — yes; Mister Messina — yes; Dr. Miller — yes; Miss Davis — yes; Miss Miller — yes; Mister Ethele — yes. The motion passed (6–0).","The Helena-West Helena City Council voted to let the police chief advertise and hire patrol officers at higher entry pay — $35,000 for entry-level and $40,000 for first-class — and to adopt a base-pay ordinance at the council’s next meeting; implementation is contingent on staffing and grant reimbursements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents report repeat sewage backups at Twin City Manor; city staff outline short- and long-term fixes

Votes at a glance: council approves festival permit, utility invoice and grant applications; airport appointment fails

Council authorizes police hiring plan, authorizes chief to advertise at higher entry pay