Citizens seek information about OPED

— Residents took advantage of audience participation during the Camden City Council meeting Tuesday night and raised questions about a hemp plant that had expressed interest in moving to Camden and about the Ouachita Technology and Business Center.

Rashel Williams approached the aldermen and had questions about the lack of bi-annual reports from municipal commissions as well as the Ouachita Partnership for Economic Developments role in a failed proposal of a hemp extraction facility.

“I have three children who also live in Camden, so I am very invested in this community and its future… if nothing changes in Camden then nothing will change in Camden,” Williams said.

Williams scolded the adlermen for not being more active in the community.

“As far as our elected officials and city employees I see a lot of people blaming a lot of other and not taking responsibilites for their jobs,” she added. “I, personally, as a tax paying citizen think that city hall needs to clean house and hire people that will do job that they are hired for. As far as elected officials, it’s about time for the people of Camden to realize that we have elected some people that are just here for a paycheck.”

James Lee Silliman, cxecutive director of OPED told the Camden News that he was contacted by plant in question and that he relayed the information to Highland Industrial Park President Gene Hill, who is in control of the former General Dynamics site that was the proposed location of the plant.

“We have no local control over that building because we don’t own it,” Silliman said. “Any time there’s a contact to me regarding that building I immediately pass the information on to Highland management, because they own the building and it’s their decision. So, that’s the way it has always worked. They are handling overflow for their current tenants and business clients in that building.”

Silliman also spoke to the council and gave an update on OPED.

“I’d like to express our thanks and appreciation to the Camden City Council and the Mayor for your continued support of a professional economic development office here in Camden,” he said.

Silliman pointed to Lockheed Martin’s continued expansion and addition of a 326 jobs as one of the successes, as well as the opening of the Cath Lab at Ouachita County Medical Center.

OPED was also the subject of discussion when Kenneth Forrest approached for audience participation and asked about the vacancy of the the Ouachita Technology and Business Center, the building in which OPED was formally located.

Forrest asked why the group took property that was paid for with grant money.

City Attorney Michael Frey noted that the property OPED’s and was not paid for with grant money.

Forrest also asked about the condition of the building, saying several wires were ripped out.

Aldermen Chris Aregood disputed this and said it was “propaganda.”

City Clerk Donna Stewart, who was running the meeting in Mayor Julian Lott’s absence, then said she had no authority to answer the questions and they would be relayed to the mayor.

The Board of Alderman also unanimously approved:

  1. Resolution No. 43-19, a resolution awarding the bid for towing for both regular and large sized city vehicles for the year 2020

  2. Resolution No. 44-19, a resolution awarding the bid for batteries for the year 2020.

  3. Resolution No. 45-19, a resolution awarding the bid for oils and lubricants for the year 2020.

  4. Resolution No. 46-19, a resolution awarding the bid for tires and tubes for the year 2020.

Upcoming Events