Citizens who use their front yards to display vehicles for sale have to obey a new law in Trumann.

Trumann City Council members approved an ordinance to limit the number of vehicles displayed on residential property for sale or trade to two vehicles annually at last week's regular monthly council meeting.

Trumann Code Enforcement Officer Gary Anderson said citizens who suggested the ordinance "considered the vehicles to be unsightly." Anderson also said people selling the vehicles were breaking the law by operating businesses out of their homes.

The new Ordinance No. 531 came about because of complaints from city residents who said that vehicles displayed in local neighborhoods detracted from the attractiveness of the area. Vehicles are described as any two or four wheeled motorized objects: cars, trucks, SUV's, Jeeps, motorcycles, golf carts, scooters or mules.

Before a vehicle can be displayed for sale at a residence, a permit must be obtained at Trumann City Hall from the mayor's office. The permits are issued at no cost. Citizens who do not have a permit will be fined $50.

Only cars in good working order can be offered for sale. Vehicles must also be cosmetically sound and all parts must be on the vehicle.

Citizens who are selling a vehicle also must meet other criteria:

* The vehicle can only set on the property for 60 days and cannot obstruct the view of any street, intersection or neighbor's driveway.

* All grass and weeds must be maintained around and under the vehicle.

Residential location exceeding the two car a year limit will be given a $100 ticket and fined an additional $100 a day for each day the vehicle is advertised for sale or remains in a location suggesting that the vehicle is for sale.

New Employee Insurance Approved

The council also took up some old business concerning providing medical insurance for city employees. City employee health insurance had been provided for some time by the Municipal League. The city was notified in early summer that the premiums for Municipal League coverage would rise significantly.

The city's part of employee benefits coverage rose $5,000 a month. The city pays 85% of an individual plan for insurance and 50% of a family plan. Mayor Walters and the council were concerned because that increase was not feasible in the city's current budget.

Two months ago, the council asked City Clerk Marlene Hancock to research coverage with other providers. Last month United Health Care representative Dana Bertrand made a presentation to the councilmen at last month's council meeting. The council also met in a special meeting to vote on accepting the United Health Care plan. At the special meeting, councilmen voted against the plan.

Bertrand appeared before the council again this month and asked them to approve the plan. "United Health Care is the largest health care company in the country," she told them. "And it is the second largest insurance provider in the state of Arkansas."

The sticking point last month was the premium for employees that buy family plan coverage. Employees on the family plan were looking at an $8 a month increase on their premium for the new coverage.

Bertrand said her company restructured the family rate and single rate premiums so that both were lower than the current rates city employees were paying.

Councilman Rick Atkins said some employees were not in favor of the plan. "Mainly those employees who mail order their prescriptions are not pleased," Atkins said. "They will be paying more for prescriptions."

"It looks like to me, we have a win-win situation," Councilman Herb Maxwell said. "It looks like individuals are saving money and the city is saving a substantial amount of money. And our employees have better health coverage."

On the subject of the higher mail order prescriptions, Maxwell said, "We're letting six or seven people decide for the others."

Sixty-three city employees purchase health insurance.

The council approved a motion by Larry Henderson and seconded by "Shorty" Hargrove to accept the new insurance plan. The plan was approved and will begin Sept. 1.

Parks and Recreation Controversy

The council voted against reappointing Jay Paul Woods to the Trumann Parks and Recreation Committee. Woods has served as chairman of the committee for the last year.

A report in the council packet by Cecilia Parker stated that the Parks and Recreation Committee had spent $11,451.11 over the amount of money it brought in. The committee spent $77,136.50 and earned $65,685.39.

Parker's report said that expenses for the fall soccer season had not been paid. The committee still must buy soccer uniforms, insurance and pay for labor for the season.

Woods spoke to the council after the vote. "I want to thank the aldermen who had faith in me," he said. "I don't know what I've done to have the others against me."

"I just don't know why you voted me off. I'm bumfuzzled that you voted me off without anyone asking me any questions."

Woods said Trumann had the same number of baseball teams it had fielded in the 2007 season. He insisted that the baseball program did not lose money. He said the softball program did lose money because there were fewer teams.

"Was I voted off because of the money we lost?" Woods asked.

Councilman Maxwell said he had received complaints on the change from Little League to USSSA Baseball this year. "People tell me less games were played," he said.

Councilman Henderson responded to Woods' question. "As chairman, when things go wrong, people look to the leadership," he said. "We've heard from citizens who have been upset. There are problems with the committee and the council is going to get more involved with the Parks and Recreation Committee."

Woods continued to ask if he was voted off the committee because the sports programs lost money.

"Nobody doubts your sincerity, your integrity or your character," Henderson said.

In other business, the council:

* voted to condemn three buildings in town. Council members voted to condemn a house owned by Goldie R. Fugate located at 423 Douglas Street. They also voted to condemn a house and store building owned by the Jaynes Family Living Trust and overseen by Karen Soward. Fred Jaynes appeared before the council and asked for additional time to improve the properties. The council agreed that if improvements were made in the next 30 days they would consider giving extra time for the repairs.

* voted unanimously to reappoint Tim Collins to the Trumann Parks and Recreation Committee for a three year term.