Representative Bob Ballinger

Meeting — March 19, 2013 (1:50:03)

or a very vague definition for light trespass and makes it illegal, which I see as a significant burden to cities as far as having to defend themselves against light trespass from 25,000 streetlights and on with something that's very vaguely said to be illegal so though we would ask her we think that that is a concern also that open the

Meeting — March 19, 2013 (1:49:31)

There's also language in there about limiting streetlights to locations where there are two or more intersecting streets, which are limiting new streetlights to that. And we see that as a public safety issue. A lot of the street lights in Little Rock are there at the request of the residents and the people who live in the community because of the safety issues they see, and it's a quality of life issue for them to have lighted streets. The final thing that we see in the bill is that there's a definition for light trespass

Meeting — March 19, 2013 (1:48:58)

I don't know. The highway department doesn't really have any control over streetlights now, other than on state highways. They give permission for them to be there, but they don't pay for them. In Little Rock, Little Rock pays for and maintains the streetlights on I-30, 630, the interstate highways and state highway systems, as well as all the city streets in Little Rock. So we're essentially putting somebody in control of something that they don't want to have any input with and would take that control away from the cities.

Meeting — March 19, 2013 (1:48:24)

that we pay a monthly bill over, so that's $25,000 a month in the range of $300,000 a year. That would be a mandated increase for Little Rock. That is one issue, is cost. The other issues that we see are with the amendment, I'm not sure what the exact amendment changes were, but there were some issues in there with the highway department being in control of when streetlights go in and where they go in on all streets, roadways in the state.

Meeting — March 19, 2013 (1:47:53)

difference you know cost increase for shielded fixtures in the current tariff structure when this was first introduced years ago that cost difference was almost double and and at that time CDs were exempted out because of the significant cost increase that there isn't there is the cost of those fixtures has come down with recent tariff changes through the PSC however there still is a dollar something difference per light fixture and in In Little Rock alone, there's over 25,000 light fixtures out there

Meeting — March 19, 2013 (1:47:22)

chairman I'm Ronnie low I'm with the city of Little Rock I'm here to speak against the bill. We understand what Representative Meeks is trying to get to with this, and we appreciate that, but from the perspective of the city and streetlights, we don't see this as a cost savings or conserving energy. The way streetlights are done, at least for Little Rock in most cities, is they're under a tariff structure with energy, and you're paying for a wattage through that tariff structure, and as you saw, there is a cost

Meeting — March 18, 2013 (36:42)

you mind just clarifying exactly what the amendment is going to be that

Meeting — March 18, 2013 (26:23)

to appoint an employee. I mean, it currently could still end up being a member of the board, or it can be the Secretary of State, or allow them to actually appoint an employee, a director, somebody from that office who can actually chair that board. So it just basically makes it be in line with some of the other boards that the Secretary of State actually chairs. And I'd be happy to take any questions.

Meeting — March 18, 2013 (26:14)

you, Mr. Speaker. What this bill does is this allows the Secretary of State, who is the chairman of the State Board of Election Commissioners,

Meeting — March 15, 2013 (1:22:23)

me it seems like it kind of puts the thing in perspective what we're

Meeting — March 15, 2013 (1:22:18)

like I'm trying to be rude or anything but it just to

Meeting — March 15, 2013 (1:21:35)

with that. So if that's the case, would it be better for the state to regulate something like the size of soda pops or, you know, Twinkies or something like that? I mean, would you say those things are probably worse health damage than raw milk?

Meeting — March 15, 2013 (1:20:57)

it, but according to CDC, and this may be, Representative Alexander may have stated this, from 1998 to 2011, there's been two deaths caused by raw milk products, so I don't know if that also includes cheese and other things, and this is just from your area of expertise, what would you say is the number of deaths maybe caused by too much consumption of soda pop?

Meeting — March 15, 2013 (1:20:46)

Representative Ballinger. Thank you, Chair. I appreciate you guys coming and testifying. I just did some quick research, and I'm, you know, I'm no expert on

Meeting — March 15, 2013 (33:53)

I mean, I would do that. And Representative Thompson mentioned the many farmers, and I've been contacted by them at all, or also from all over the state who would like to be able to do this. So really what we're talking about is probably, you know, farmers who would just

Meeting — March 15, 2013 (33:23)

In this issue, isn't that kind of what we're allowing, that we're just basically permitting individuals to buy it from, because they have to go right to the farm, correct, in order to purchase it? So it's going to be somebody that they know or they'll actually be able to, if the individual's purchasing and want to walk around the farm or whatever, and they have that right between them to discuss that. Oh, absolutely.

Meeting — March 15, 2013 (33:17)

Douglas mentioned, he said that he would be happy to buy milk from his neighbor's containers.

Meeting — March 15, 2013 (33:12)

you, Mr. Chairman. Representative Ballinger, you're recognized for a question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Representative Alexander, as Representative

Meeting — March 15, 2013 (7:07)

Mr. Speaker. This is a real simple amendment. Just added the Senate co-sponsor on it. I appreciate a good vote. Does

Meeting — Feb. 4, 2013 (57:44)

and everybody's invited. I'd love to have you. And then anybody who's interested in a great passion play, there'll be a breakfast tomorrow and