STATE OF THE CITY 2010
The City of Ward is Mayor and Council form of Municipal Government, State of Arkansas.
This past year our City of Ward saw a very productive year which certainly continues to make a better quality of life for all our citizens.
Administration: Increased accounts payable clerk from part time to full time. Installed a new server for the City of Ward and increased computer security. Ward Water and City of Ward 2009 audits were completed. We upgraded computer equipment as needed.
Animal Control: We did 107 welfare checks and warnings. Fifteen ordinance copies were delivered. Four citations were issued. Our continuing education of 102.5 hours included certification in Animal Cruelty Investigation and re-certification in Chemical Immobilization. We spent 417 ¾ hours patrolling with 218 animals picked up. Of these 97 were adopted or returned to the owners. We handled 1,781 phone calls. The new animal shelter was almost completed with only the dirt work, gas line, perimeter fence, handicapped access and sodding left before opening. The addition of some new volunteers at the shelter has been a blessing. Thanks to them, the pet finder website is being managed in a responsible manner with photos being added and deleted promptly. Our adoptions increased dramatically in the last 3 months of the year largely through their efforts and are following an upward trend into the new year. A washer and dryer were donated for the new shelter as well as a central heat and air unit, a small ice maker and refrigerator. The Animal Control Officer was given permission to assist the Lonoke County Humane Society as long as it does not interfere with her obligations to the city. The relationship has been mutually beneficial. The Humane Society has donated a heavy duty large animal trap and two and a half large outdoor runs for our use. The ladies are also available to care for the animals in the shelter if the ACO should need to be off and no volunteers are available at that time, and often come by to help when the shelter becomes overcrowded and needs extra time for more cleaning during the week. Many of the animals are sick and abandoned or dumped on private property and some would undoubtedly find their way into the city if these ladies didn’t respond to calls outside our city limits, requiring us to catch and hold them for the 5 days our ordinance requires. The Humane Society also voluntarily assumed financial responsibility for our body disposal in addition their own.
Code Enforcement: In July, our new part time code enforcement officer came on board. He issued 106 verbal warnings with copies of the city ordinance, 28 notices of code violations were hand delivered or sent by certified mail. All came into compliance except one who had to be issued a citation and one affidavit was issued. Great work! Code Enforcement issued 34 building permits, spent 451 hours on patrol, handled 440 phone calls and picked up 94 yard sale signs. We had 25 assists to the police and animal control departments. In January our part time code officer will become full time. This will be a great asset to our city.
District Court: We issued the following citations: 292 criminal, 100 DWI, 87 ordinances, 1097 traffic, and 56 juvenile traffic for a total of 1,632. Warrants issued: 3,254. Fees collected: $7,437 for court automation fees, $1,396 probation fees, for a total of $8,833.
Fire Dept.: Took delivery of 2010 HME (Ferrara) Fire Engine. Animal shelter is 99% complete. Began remodel of Moore Street property (Old City Hall) for a training facility for all departments. Invited and was accepted by SAU Tech-Camden Fire Academy to have an offsite office for Instructor, Gary Meadows at the Moore Street property. Converted the bay lights for Fire Stations 1 and 2 to environment green. Fireworks for 2010 July 4thCelebration at the new ball field. Participated in Austin fest, Ward July 4thCelebration and Christmas Parades. Fire prevention program for Ward Central Elementary and Sister‘s Care Daycare.
Police Dept.: Hosted five (5) training classes that were open to other agencies and conducted 545 man hours of training for the year. We received a JAG Recovery Grant that was used to purchase a 2006 Crown Victoria.
A Jag mini grant was used to purchase two (2) cameras, one for the Patrol Division and one for the Criminal Investigation Division and other miscellaneous equipment was also purchased for CID. We received a $1,000.00 donation from Wal-Mart that was used to purchase used reconditioned radar and other miscellaneous equipment. We applied for weapons through a Federal Government Program and received four (4) rifles and approval for six (6) M-16 rifles and we should receive them in 2011. We purchased a 2006 Chevrolet truck for our Chief of Police. A 1998 Ford truck was also seized and turned over to our department. We made 80 felony arrests, 1,088 misdemeanor arrests, and 25 DWI/DUI arrests. We wrote 432 traffic citations, conducted 179 traffic stops, 442 agency assists, and responded to 115 alarm calls. We received 320 suspicious activity/prowler calls, 108 burglaries/breaking and/or entering calls. We had 111 thefts of property calls, 70 narcotics complaints, 15 welfare checks, 33 sex crimes/child abuse, 2 disorderly conducts, 3 public intoxication, 14 runaway/missing persons and 389 animal complaints. We handled 355 disturbances, 92 MVA’s, had 1,180 investigations, 30 K-9 searches, 67 vehicle searches, conducted 17 search warrants and 12 consents to search. Our officers conducted 7,872 extra patrols/house watches and business checks. We had 117 fire department/ambulance assists, 285 special assignments, and 197 public relations. Our officers had
a total of 1,041 written reports. Our dispatcher received 10,974 miscellaneous/civil calls and assists.
Our officers provided traffic control for the 4thof July Picnic & Parade and Christmas Parade. We also provided escort and traffic control for funerals in our city. In 2011 we hope to obtain more grants to assist us in the purchasing of better police vehicles and more needed equipment. Our city continues to have a low crime rate. As our city grows; we will continue to provide the best services possible to our citizens.
Street Dept.: New City Ballpark: Remodeled building to be used as concession stand, installed fence around the field, installed lighting, and installed the new score board. Events: Set up the ball field for the 4thof July events. City Christmas lighting. City Streets: Paved Markham from Brewer south to the city limits, chipped sealed Cook Street, replaced culverts at: Heather & Pintar, on Pintar west of Heather, 367 east of North Street, Wilson Loop north of Sally, 3rdand Scott. Installed new culvert and widened the intersection at 3rd. & Moore, overlay the approach at Winston & Spring St.; overlay the approach at Bayles and Brewer. Projects: Assisted with the construction of the new Animal Shelter, upgraded the lighting in the Court/Council building.
Ward Utilities & Water Dept. Office: 99.9% of Ward South Sewer project is completed and 99.9% of contract at Stagecoach extension. Utilities Dept. assisted with the Fishing Derby and 4thof July Celebration. A I & I study on wastewater was completed. Water department produced 228,243,000 m/gals of portable drinking water and treated 179.308,000 m/gals of wastewater with no Health Dept. write-ups. Outstanding! We assisted in the construction of the Animal Shelter. We assisted in the construction of the new ball fields and installed utilities. We are assisting in the sidewalk project. We built a float for the Christmas Parade. We purchased a used ¾ ton Dodge truck. Training procedures were improved for the Water Dept. We had 731 hours water & wastewater training. The website was improved. The archive room was remodeled and reorganized. The Water Dept. organized the Fishing Derby, the 4thof July Celebration and had a booth with “Back Alley” at the 4thof July Celebration which included a car show. Water Office: Reorganized personnel responsibilities, implemented new trainingprocedure, added 1 PC workstation to Patrol Room-machine was donated by Criminal Justice Institute, replaced PC for General Manager, Water Dept.-machine was donated by Criminal Justice Institute, added 1 new PC workstation in Court Clerk’s office, added 1 PC workstation to probation office-machine was donated by Criminal Justice Institute, created website for Parks & Recreation, purchased 3 new cash registers for water office, organized city annual events, Fishing Derby, 4thof July Picnic and Chili Cook . Off. The Chili Cook off benefits the Ward Animal Shelter. Attended the Supervisors Training Class provided by the ASU. Replaced 2 computer workstations and copy/fax machine in the Water Office. Assisted 456 new water customers, and had a total of 100 new meter installations.
There are many other areas that your city oversees to make a better quality place to live: The planning Commission is very active to make sure we get the very best product for our citizens, they meet monthly and are all voluntary service. The Parks and Recreation Commission work hard to provide recreation for you and are all volunteers and need more personnel to help and become commissioners. Your support is needed and appreciated.
There are many activities for all to enjoy: Fishing Derby, 4thof July, Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting.
Senior Citizens meet every Tuesday at 12:00 here at Ward Municipal Complex.
There are several support organizations which are partnered with our city:
Central Arkansas Development Council
Ward Chamber of Commerce
Central Arkansas Planning Development District
Central Arkansas Solid Waste Management District
The Lonoke County Library System (Ward Library is located here in the Municipal Complex)
Mid Ark Water Alliance
Metro-Planning
Municipal League
Ward Lions Club
LRAFB Community Council
Lonoke/White Public Water Authority
Local Churches
Local Banks
Ward Central Elementary School
These are just a few that support our city to make a better quality of life for all.
This year we will focus on repairs and maintenance of streets, some paving of intersections at railroad crossing need to be resurfaced, two (2) streets to be considered for surfacing, one (1) street to be widened pending cost est. many ditches to be cleaned for proper surface run-off rain water, this will help prevent flooding. Sidewalks are master planned for the city and must be selected as to where to place due to major construction in the city. Currently, phase II, III are being evaluated. Safe sidewalk routes to school grant has been awarded to Ward and will be in place 2011.
The Water Dept. focuses on construction providing the very best quality water to our customers. We will continue protecting all our water sources and continue electronic surveillance of these most important locations. We will continue seeking long term water for our customers. Our project with Lonoke/White Public Water Authority is proceeding to secure water from Greer’s Ferry Reservoir at Cove Creek and several water companies have joined the Public Water Authority. The wastewater system is being upgraded to meet the necessary treatment requirements IAW, Federal, State, Local laws, (as required).
Allied Ambulance Service continues to provide outstanding service to the city. They are highly trained and certified in all areas of responsibility.
“Team Ward” is serving you at their best. Our employee’s are multi-skilled in every department
The City of Ward has been ranked and is currently number nine (9) in the state in growth. Our new population for Ward is 4,067. Great! Ward growth rate for the last ten (10) years exceeded 43%.
I give all the Thanks and praise to our Lord for what he has done for all.
Art Brooke, Mayor City of Ward
