Earle mayor issues ‘State of the City’ report

Earle mayor issues ‘State of the City’ report

Despite tough year, Smith sees city ‘ headed in the right direction’

news@theeveningtimes.com

The year 2017 was a trying one for the city of Earle with the recall of Carolyn Jones and all the uncertainties that followed.

2018, however, promises to be a great year as the city moves forward with a positive attitude and faith in the future.

Mayor Sherman Smith told the city council in his state of the city address that the city is moving on from the negativity and division that marked the last few years and is working hard to rebuild the city’s image.

“In my opinion, I see the city of Earle headed in the right direction,” Smith said. Smith was elected mayor in a special election in April 2017 after voters recalled Jones. Jones’s two years in office were marked by controversy and rancor.

The city was sued when Jones fired the police chief and three white officers and replaced them with black officers. Another police chief who was later fired by Jones also sued the city for wrongful termination.

Jones also got the city banned from applying for Justice Assistance Grants because she drove a car intended to be used as a patrol car as the mayor’s personal vehicle.

The city was also sued by a resident for its mishandling of the budget.

Smith was left to clean up the messes and spent the rest of the year settling the lawsuits and repairing the damage.

Despite the controversies, Smith said the city made a lot of progress in 2017.

“In 2017 we began to work on things that would improve communications and work relations between both elected officials and the citizenry as a whole,” Smith said.

Smith said the city formed new committees and groups to tackle various issues that will help the city grow and increase the quality of life of is residents.

The city also saw increased use of the community center in 2017 after it made some repairs and committed resources to its upkeep.

“This is not only a benefit to the maintenance of the facility, but also a social benefit to the community,” Smith said.

Looking ahead to 2018, Smith said he will continue to work with the committees and groups who have pledged their time to help implement the city’s strategic plan, and to continue to bring affordable housing to Earle.

Smith said another top priority is to attract another much needed supermarket to the city. The city’s lone supermarket, the Mad Butcher, closed its doors in 2016.

“We are pursuing the professional help of East Arkansas Planning and Development District and other economic and community development professionals to help with acquiring a feasibility study and a plan to aggressively bring a food supermarket to the city,” Smith said. “This will assist in providing much needed fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables to the community, as well as making them more affordable to obtain, thereby creating a healthier community to provide for a healthier work force.”

Smith said the city will also continue to work with the Crittenden County Library Board to build a new library in Earle.

The city has donated a building lot for the project and has already been awarded a $50,000 USDA grant toward construction.

They will also be reapplying for a $200,000 AEDC grant.

The city will also be spending $300,000 on street overlays and repairs in 2018 and will be applying for more state street aid.

Smith urged continuing cooperation to help the city meet its goals in 2018.

“In spite of the fact that this is an election year, I am hopeful that we will not let political differences distract us from the unity needed to push our community forward,” Smith said.

By Mark Randall