Pulaski County notebook

Recycling district rolls over $493,546

The Regional Recycling and Waste Reduction District reported almost $500,000 in carryover funds from fiscal 2014 on Tuesday.

Its budget for fiscal 2014 was $1.3 million.

The carryover was higher than the district projected, and most of it is already marked for future expenditures, district comptroller Desi Ledbetter said.

The district -- also known as the Pulaski County Regional Recycling and Waste Reduction District -- is a state agency that operates only within Pulaski County.

Of the $493,546.64 in surplus funds, $311,170.46 will be used for electronics recycling initiatives, $75,135.98 will be used for general recycling initiatives, and $107,240.20 in administrative funds is unrestricted and could be appropriated by the district for other activities.

The district's board, which was informed of the surplus Tuesday, has not decided whether or how to use the money.

District Executive Director John Roberts told Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, a board member, that a large carryover was typical after Stodola asked and suggested that the district look into needs not being addressed for the spending the surplus.

Architect appointee gets preliminary OK

The Pulaski County Quorum Court gave preliminary approval Tuesday night to an architect's appointment to the Bridge Facilities Board.

Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines appointed Gary Dean to the post, which the Quorum Court must approve. The Quorum Court voted 11-0 to move Dean's appointment to its Aug. 24 agenda for final approval.

District 5 Justice of the Peace Lillie McMullen, D-Little Rock, District 9 Justice of the Peace Wilma Walker, D-College Station, District 10 Justice of the Peace Robert Green, D-McAlmont, and District 11 Justice of the Peace Bob Johnson, D-Jacksonville, were absent for the vote. McMullen arrived at the meeting after the vote took place.

Dean is a partner at Williams & Dean Associated Architects in Little Rock and founded his first architectural firm 43 years ago. He received a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1967.

Dean attended Tuesday night's meeting, where he said he believed his architectural experience would help him address issues related to the bridge and activities on it.

Dean, whose term would be five years, would replace Eddie Armstrong III, the board's chair who stepped down in June.

Tax-incentive nods for 2 firms advance

The Pulaski County Quorum Court gave preliminary approval Tuesday night to endorse two different companies' participation in state tax incentives.

Ben E. Keith Co., a distributor of food and alcoholic beverages, plans to add $60 million in facilities and equipment in North Little Rock, hiring 74 employees at an average hourly wage of $30 within five years of completing the project. The expected annual payroll for the new hires is $4.44 million.

Davis Rubber Co. at 1800 E. 14th St. in Little Rock is improving its facilities and adding equipment at a cost of $1.2 million. It expects to increase its workforce from nine to 13 as a result of the project, paying the new employees an average of $11 per hour. The expected annual payroll for the new hires is $125,000.

The company expects to increase the volume of tires it recycles.

Both companies' endorsements were moved with 11-0 votes to the Quorum Court's Aug. 24 agenda for final approval.

Local governments must endorse companies that wish to participate in the Arkansas Economic Development Commission's tax incentives program.

Metro on 08/13/2014

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