Mayor calls upon Okla. State Rep. Sally Kern to apologize at council meeting

Mayor Dani Joy

EUREKA SPRINGS -- The use of Eureka Springs as an example of a town "taken over by the militant homosexual agenda" brought a sharp rebuke from Mayor Dani Joy.

  On Monday night, Joy focussed her mayor's comments at the end of the Eureka Springs City Council meeting's on Oklahoma State Representative Sally Kern (R), whose comments, made to a private meeting of Republican supporters, secretly recorded, then released on YouTube March 7, have elicited national attention.

  Many consider the remarks, which refer to homosexuality as "the biggest threat that our nation has, even more so than terrorism or Islam," have brought wide criticism from gay rights advocacy groups, among many others, and caused controversy locally.

  Joy's statement, released earlier in the week on Geekfest, an electronic community bulletin board, describes Eureka Springs as "welcoming to all visitors and residents without regard to their race, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. It is our hope that all people would aspire to this ideal."

  Joy added, in her opinion, it was appalling that Kern use Eureka Springs and its citizens to further a private agenda.

  She said elected officials were put into office "for other reasons," and added, "We will continue doing our jobs without prejudice. I feel she owes this city an apology."

Water bond re-finance snafu

  Developments have hit a snag for the re-funding of the 2002 water-sewer bond.

  Dennis Hunt of Stephens, Inc., the company providing the bond service, explained to city council that the income-expense ratio for the city had shrunk between 2006 and 2007 to such a degree that his firm would not be able to follow through on the re-financing at this time.

  Asked by Alderman Eric Scheunemann for his advice, Hunt said there has been too much reliance by the city on investment income, and either city revenues must be increased or expenditures lessened if the bonds are to be re-financed.

  Joy pointed out the city hasn't raised water rates since 2003, and suggested a plan should have been put in place five years ago for raising water rates gradually, rather than being forced to do so all at once.

HDC procedures wording questioned

  Alderman Rae Hahn expressed concern over the wording in recently revised Historic District Commission procedures She felt there was a disparity between the current city code and the updated version.

  City Attorney Tim Weaver asked how the two were in conflict and said he didn't know of any conflicts.

  Hahn asked how they would know if the two were in conflict.

  Weaver replied, "You should be able to read them and see if they are in conflict."

  Hahn said she was not comfortable with acting on the issue without further research.

  The council agreed with Alderman Patrick Brammer's suggestion Glenna Booth be invited to the next meeting for questions.

Scheunemann motion ignored

  A motion by Scheunemann to discuss the controversial empty council chair for Ward 2 Position 1 failed for lack of ayes.

Planer Hill not public square

  Eureka Springs Public Transit Director Lamont Richie addressed council regarding requests to relocate the Farmers' Market to the new Planer Hill park-and-ride lot.

  Richie said this was the third time the request had been brought before him, but federal regulations specifically prohibited federally funded property being used in ways incompatible with its intended use, except in "incidental" cases.

  Richie said the Farmers' Market, which would occupy the space at least once and possibly twice a week during the season, "far exceeds, in my opinion, incidental use."

  Hahn asked whether council could request the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) look into the issue.

  Richie replied he could make the request, but he would recommend the market as inappropriate for the site.

  Hahn asked whether the lot couldn't be used during lax periods.

  Richie replied the Planer Hill lot, unlike the city-owned lots, is federally funded, therefore ineligible for such an arrangement.

  Joy said during a meeting with market organizer Patrice Gros, emphasis by Gros had been on using the Planer Hill site, rather than city-owned lots, although Pine Mountain Village, a previous site, continued to offer its parking lot rent-free.

  Hahn suggested council ask Gros to speak to them next meeting so she could make an informed decision.

  Richie said he respectfully disagreed that the council was "uninformed," pointing out the issue had come before them repeatedly.

  Despite Richie's request that council vote on the issue immediately, it decided instead to ask Gros to attend the next meeting for questions.

Scheunemann responds to King

  During council comments, Scheunemann addressed the request he'd sent to State Representative Bryan King asking for clarification of wording in state code regarding the mayor's authority to veto the election of a member of council. This refers to the Dec. 10, 2007, vetoing of the election of Pat Matsukis to council.

  Scheunemann first read his original letter into the record, then the response from King, who essentially said given all the statutes, taken in context, the mayor did indeed have the authority to veto.

  Scheunemann then read a lengthy prepared response to King, saying "an expert's opinion of another expert is insufficient."

  "If the mayor can choose the representatives of the people, then they are the mayor's representatives, not the people's representatives," he added.

  As she had in the past, Alderman Joyce Zeller suggested, given that council had belabored the subject "for months and months," that the matter be taken off the table until any legal action is taken.