WYNNE — Wynne Economic Development president and CEO Bevin Hunter addressed members of the Wynne City Council regarding Issue 3 during their monthly meeting Tuesday.
The issue will be one of three to appear on the November general election ballot.
“It’s all related to economic development and all states with the exception of Arkansas and Arizona have some kind of mechanism where they can offer tax abatements or tax rebates and things like that to businesses and developers as an incentive to come to your state and your town to make that an investment,” said Wynne Mayor Jennifer Hobbs. “It’s not a new tax. It’s generated off of the new business that those companies make and invest into the community.”
Hunter said the issue, which would allow for the creation of economic development districts, would help the state be more competitive with its neighbors, including Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee. Currently, Arkansas only allows for tax credits for business and industry and historical tax credits, the latter of which Hunter said are nearly impossible to achieve.
In other news, Hobbs recognized Capt. Gerald Britton for 40 years of service to the city and the Wynne Fire Department.
Hobbs presented a Capital Citation to Britton, who recently reached that milestone with the fire department. Britton said he does not have any current plans to retire as the Wynne Fire Department is currently seeking two full-time firefighters.
Wynne Fire Chief Kory Ward addressed the openings during his monthly report to the council. Ward said the department always has part-time positions available, but also currently has two full-time slots open. Interested candidates must complete a physical agility test and an application process.
The department has been busy this year, marking its 600th emergency call Tuesday. While more than half of those calls are first responder or EMS calls, there have been a number of grass fires lately as the entire state remains under a high level of wildfire danger.
The Wynne City Council also approved resolutions to condemn property at 403 W. Union, 420 K Street and 410 Bruce Street. The resolution is part of the process of getting those properties cleaned up.
Two of those properties are abandoned while the third has a tenant despite not having running water or electricity. City Attorney Kevin Watts said the city isn’t trying to evict anyone but all three properties must be addressed as they have been public nuisances for some time.
