Council tables vote on five-year landfill uniform contract until July

The Helena-West Helena City Council on Tuesday voted to table consideration of a five-year uniform contract for landfill staff until the first meeting in July (cited at the meeting as July 7). Council members said they preferred to wait until revenue from a pending contaminated-soil project begins.

Director Wilson described the proposed vendor, identified in the discussion as "Universe" of Jonesboro, and said the vendor would pick up, launder and return uniforms weekly. He said the landfill needs high-visibility uniforms and that the water and street-sanitation departments might have different uniform needs and providers.

The exact contract figure in the meeting record is unclear in the transcript; the packet and the clerk’s reading listed a total amount that appears in the record as "$21,76.80." Meeting discussion described the contract as a five-year agreement and that the annual cost would fall under the mayor’s spending budget, but council authorization is required because it is a formal contract.

Some members said they were willing to authorize uniforms after the contaminated-soil project begins and payments start. A motion to table the uniform contract until the July meeting was made and seconded and passed by roll call.

The council directed staff to return the uniform contract to the agenda in July after the project revenue is under way so members can consider contract details and departmental funding arrangements.