BOARD TO APPROVE GRANT REQUEST

Police Asking For Money Over Such Things As Personnel And Travel

The Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors tonight will approve a grant
application prepared by the Police Department that will continue federal
funding for the Bi-State Narcotics Violent Crime and Fugitive Task Force.

The task force, which as been in operation since 1990, is funded through the
Edward Byrne State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Formula Grant.

The total amount that the department is requesting is $205,210, with $88,749
coming from local matching funds.

"Ten thousand of the local matching funds will come from the program's
income," said Lt. Shawn M. Vaughn.

The grant, which will be available in July of this year if awarded, will
provide the salary and fringe benefits for four investigators, a supervisor,
maintenance and operating funds, travel and training, and confidential
informant funds.

The task force is a joint operation with both the Texarkana, Texas, Police
Department and the Bowie County District Attorney's Office.

In other business the board will:

* Adopt a resolution to make the following appointments: Charles Jackson to
the Board of Adjustment; Chesley Walker, Randy Pressnell and Assistant Mayor
Horace Shipp to the Electrical Board of Review.

* Adopt a resolution to set a public hearing date for April 15 to receive
comments regarding a petition to abandon the dedicated, unimproved Chapel
Lane right of way in the 6000 block of Trinity Drive in the Trinity Heights
Addition. City Planner Eston McGee said the two property owners on both
sides of Chapel Lane have petitioned the city to abandon the dedicated right
of way. Since negotiations failed between the developers of Trinity Heights
Subdivision and the adjacent property owners east of the subdivision, there
is no longer any need to retain the small piece of right of way, McGee wrote
in a memo to the Board.

* Adopt a resolution awarding and authorizing the city manager to execute a
contract with J.R. Pope Construction, Inc. in the amount of $14,074.80 for
the construction of 951 feet of a curb and gutter section at the Farmer's
Market.

* Adopt a resolution declaring seven police department vehicles surplus and
authorizing disposal of them in accordance with Arkansas law.

* Adopt a resolution approving a request by the Texarkana Museums System for
the 21st annual Quadrangle Festival on Sept. 7-8. Already approved by the
chief of police, the fire chief and the director of Public Works, Executive
Director of the Museums System Guy C. Vanderpool is requesting that the
board approve the following streets be barricaded for the event: State Line
Avenue at the north side of Broad Street, Olive Street at the north side of
Broad Street, East Third Street at the west side of Wood Street, Olive
Street at the south side of Fourth Street and the alley between Wood Street
and State Line Avenue.

* Adopt an ordinance amending the Texarkana, Ark., Public Employees
Retirement Systems (TAPERS) Plan to allow certain employees to purchase
service credits in the plan.

The board will meet at 7 p.m. at City Hall at East Third and Walnut streets.