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West Memphis council approves property sales, street renaming, lot split and infrastructure agreements; rejects $200,000 settlement counteroffer
Summary
At its March 2 meeting the West Memphis City Council approved multiple measures — including sales agreements, a cooperative purchasing interlocal, the renaming of South 25th Street, and a lot split at 208 West Service Road — and voted to reject a $200,000 counteroffer in pending litigation.
The West Memphis City Council on March 2 approved a slate of routine and development-related items and rejected a plaintiff’s $200,000 counteroffer in a pending lawsuit.
Council approved Resolution No. 2351, authorizing sales agreements between the city and Andrea Hodgeges; council discussion noted the terms included $1,500 per property. The body then approved Resolution No. 2352, a master intergovernmental cooperative purchasing agreement that would let West Memphis and other municipal utilities pool orders for items such as poles and transformers to secure lower prices and shorter lead times, a city presenter said.
On ordinances, council approved the third reading of Ordinance No. 2723 to redesignate South 25th Street as Mayor Leo Chipman Drive, and adopted Ordinance No. 2724 granting a lot split for property at 208 West Service Road in West Memphis. Council also approved a temporary construction easement (job 10676, tract 39507500000000) and a railroad crossing agreement tied to the South Loop project and an industrial property sold to Jaguar; discussions about the crossing emphasized maintenance responsibilities and liability when private companies and the city share access over rail lines.
On legal matters, City Attorney Stevenson told the council the plaintiff in a suit identified as Salsbury had initially demanded $250,000; the city made a counteroffer of $50,000 and the plaintiff responded with $200,000. The city motioned to reject the $200,000 counteroffer; the motion passed. Council members then discussed whether to participate in a magistrate-supervised settlement conference in Jonesboro or Little Rock or to allow the Arkansas Municipal League (which bears most of the city’s potential exposure) to continue negotiating. Council indicated conditional interest in attending a settlement conference if at least six members could travel; no formal instruction to the league was adopted at the meeting.
The meeting concluded with several departmental updates and announcements, including parks programming and a forthcoming groundbreaking for the aquatic and recreation center on March 18.
What happens next: The rejected offer will leave the case to proceed toward further negotiation or litigation unless another settlement is agreed. Ordinances and resolutions become effective per municipal rules and recordation.
