Friends, 

One of the most rewarding responsibilities as Mayor is leading a talented team of public servants dedicated to making Little Rock a better place to live, work and play. Our 2,500 City of Little Rock team members serve this City's residents with pride, commitment and a spirit of excellence every day. Whether they are on our public safety front lines in our police and fire departments, or ensuring effective operations behind the scenes in finance or IT, every City employee is critical to the mission of delivering better results for our residents.

Every May, we honor our team members with an Employee Appreciation Week. We also give special recognition to City of Little Rock employees who have made a significant and meaningful difference with our Employee of the Year awards. 

Every team member plays a valuable and crucial role in delivering exceptional service to our residents and guests, but this year's Employee of the Year winner, finalists and nominees exemplify our core values such as professionalism, accountability, and a people-centered focus.

The 2024 Mahlon A. Martin City of Little Rock Employee of the Year is April Prewitt, a system administrator in our IT Department. April oversees the functionality and operations of the networks that power our 911 and 311 divisions. Their operations are critical from an emergency response standpoint and as a way for residents to connect to city services. In her job, April is a problem solver who has earned the respect of City leaders and her co-workers. 

Most recently, April led a City-wide implementation of Microsoft 365, which IT Director Abdoul Kabauo called a "mammoth undertaking" that was a huge success "as a result of April's versatility and willingness to be a team player, and in some instances, the coach."

April has been employed by the City of Little Rock for 19 years and she has served in several roles within the IT Department. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she has a degree in management information systems from Arkansas State University and an MBA from Webster University. She's a member of the Junior League of Little Rock and of the National Association of Parliamentarians. 

April was among three finalists for the Employee of the Year award. Other finalists were Arnuard Crump of the Department of Housing and Neighborhood Programs, and Dwight Pridgeon of the Department of Community Programs. 

Arnuard has been employed with the City for 31 years. In his current position in the Homeless Service Division, he is responsible for making sure our unsheltered residents have resources and support. He was nominated by his colleagues for his willingness to work on nights and weekends to help finding housing for residents who need it, and for demonstrating compassion and professionalism to all.

Dwight, our re-entry coordinator, has worked for the City for about 17 years. A former felon, Dwight experienced first-hand the challenges of re-integration into the community after incarceration. That journey makes him more empathetic and supportive of others who are facing obstacles to re-entry. As DCP Director Dana Dossett noted, it "adds depth to his advocacy, making him a powerful force for positive change in the City of Little Rock."

We are especially proud of April, Arnuard, Dwight and team members who model our core values. We appreciate our employees this week and every week, and we were glad for the opportunity to honor their service with Employee Appreciation Week. The week featured employee recognition events at City Hall and worksites across Little Rock, as well as a family-friendly picnic at Southwest Community Center. 

Thank you to our team members!
 

On Wednesday, we will officially re-name a portion of Arch Street from Fourth Street south past City Hall to "Bruce T. Moore Way" in honor and memory of the legacy of longtime City Manager Bruce T. Moore, who passed away last October.

Bruce loved the City he served with all of his heart and soul. He is sorely missed in City Hall and throughout the community. He was a champion for Arkansas's capital city -- where he was the longest-serving city manager in Little Rock history -- and led our City through sustained periods of growth and transformation. Because he reminded us to put our residents first, it is fitting that Bruce T. Moore Way will be the name of the street leading to the City Hall employee parking lot. All our team members will have the opportunity to reflect on Bruce's life of service and commitment to Little Rock every time they come to work.

I hope you can join us at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday (June 5) as we unveil the street signs and remember Bruce along with his family, friends and co-workers. The ceremony will take place just outside City Hall, at the intersection of West Markham Street and the new Bruce T. Moore Way.

I appreciate the Board of Directors for their decision last fall to rename the street in Bruce's honor.

In the month of May, we visited all seven Little Rock wards to discuss our proposal to transform Little Rock and bring better results to our residents through investing in a one-percent sales tax for safer streets and stronger communities. We value your feedback and are grateful for the enthusiasm we have seen for the proposal.

We will use your input from these discussions to help us finalize the proposal we take to the Board of Directors for its consideration. The Board is responsible for approving the final tax plan and calling for an election, which would take place in November of this year. 

In order to continue our growth and attract new residents, we must make this new investment in our community. The tax, which would generate an estimated $650 million over a decade, will go to fund projects and priorities in public safety, public infrastructure, parks and recreation, and the Port and economic development. 

Your investment in our City would mean additional vehicles for our police and fire departments to modernize our aging fleets, upgrades in advanced technology within LRPD to help us fight crime, the creation of a Central Park-style green space at War Memorial Park, in the heart of Little Rock, an indoor youth sports complex Downtown and an outdoor sports complex in West Little Rock. We have set aside funding to repave streets and build sidewalks and to make improvements and upgrades across our system of 63 city parks. 

We will continue our conversation about the importance of this historic and transformational investment throughout the summer. And, if you missed any of the meetings, you can find all the materials we presented on the City's website, www.LittleRock.gov

Please visit the website or follow the City of Little Rock on Facebook, Instagram, or X  to learn more or get updates over the next few months and learn how you can be a part of Results for The Rock.

• The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock's Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda for Tuesday's meeting, click here. 
• The City's Public Works Department will host an open-forum public meeting today (Monday, June 3) at 5:30 p.m. at Southwest Community Center, 6401 Baseline Road. The purpose of the meeting is to present plans for bridge improvements on Hilaro Springs Road in Ward 2.
• Little Rock's Historic District Commission will hold its regular monthly public hearing on Thursday, June 6. The meeting is at 4 p.m. at the Willie L. Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th St.
• Thursday, June 6, is the deadline to provide comments on the draft Downtown Master Plan. This first-ever planning document for the future of Downtown has been a collaborative work involving Downtown business owners, merchants, residents and stakeholders over the past few months. Please be sure to share your thoughts on the document by the Thursday deadline!