ORD NO 11-2015 CITY OF VAN BUREN,ARKANSAS
ORDINANCE NO. ‘, - 2015
BE IT ENACTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, FOR THE CITY OF VAN BUREN,
ARKANSAS, AN ORDINANCE TO BE ENTITLED:
AN ORDINANCE MAKING AN ELECTION TO ALLOW
SURVIVOR BENEFITS FOR SPOUSES WHO REMARRY
UNDER THE LOCAL FIRE PENSION FUND; DECLARING
AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEREAS, Arkansas Code Annotated §24-11-105 authorizes municipalities to elect to
allow spouses who remarry after they begin receiving benefits under the Local
Firemen's Relief and Pension Fund to continue receiving survivor benefits; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires that spouses who remarry after they begin receiving
benefits to continue receiving survivor benefits.
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF VAN BUREN,ARKANSAS, THAT:
SECTION 1: The City Council hereby authorizes the election pursuant to A.C.A. Section 24-11-
105 to allow surviving spouses who remarry after they begin receiving retirement
benefits to continue to receive survivor benefits. This election is intended to
ensure an eligible surviving spouse of a retired member of the Local Fire Pension
Fund will continue to receive the monthly retirement benefit the surviving spouse
was otherwise entitled to after remarriage.
SECTION 2: The City Council recognizes that the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement
System (LOPFI) is the administrator of the Local Fire Pension Fund (Local Plan).
Therefore, the Chief Administrative Officer is hereby authorized to provide
LOPFI an approved copy of the Ordinance approving the election for this Local
Plan. To ensure equity for all eligible participants of the Local Plan, the effective
date for this election shall be January 1, 2015.
SECTION 3: It is the intent of the City Council and it is hereby ordained that the provisions of
this Ordinance be codified into the Code of Ordinances of Van Buren, Arkansas
and the sections thereof may be re-numbered and re-lettered as necessary to
accomplish such intention.
SECTION 4: Due to the need to promptly implement this election for the Local Plan, an
emergency is hereby declared to exist and this Ordinance shall be in full force
from and after the date of its passage and approval.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the City of Van Buren, Arkansas, by its City Council, did
pass, approve, and adopt, by a vote of (f)for and Q against, the foregoing Ordinance at its
regular meeting held on the 17th day of August 2015.
Robert D. Freeman
Mayor
ATTESTED: APPR A1 A TO FORM:
.6/ CCIATG;;_i, pi%
Barbie Curtis Candice A. Settle
City Clerk/Treasurer City Attorney