Grant hearings held

Highfill Town Council passes emergency resolution to pay bills until budget is passed

— With only three of the five council members present, the town council held two hearings on grant funding, adopted one ordinance and approved an emergency resolution authorizing continued payment of utilities and wages until a budget is adopted for the 2011 fiscal year.

With Sandy Evans, Toby Lester and Michelle Rieff present - Richard Boles and Keven Varner were absent for the second meeting in a row - public hearings were conducted regarding grant funds from the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program. The first was to start the process of prioritizing community needs for the 2011 grant cycle.

The city could apply for as much as $75,000 next year, more than the usual $50,000 because of federal stimulus money, according to grant coordinator Cassie Elliott. If received, the town would be required to match the grant amount with an additional 10 percent in local funding or in-kind labor (calculated at about $18 per hour), Elliott said. If a building project were chosen and additional funding was left over, it could be used for equipment needs, she said. She also said a project could be done in two phases or spread over two years, with an application for additional grant money in 2012.

Two suggestions were put forth for a community project. The first, suggested by outgoing mayor Chris Holland, was a training room for the fire department. The room, according to Holland, would be an addition to the existing fire station and would provide seating and media equipment used for ongoing training of fire department personnel - a room similar to the council meeting room which was designed to serve as a training room as well. If the project was adopted, Holland said he expected the firefighters would provide the needed 10 percent of in-kind labor to complete the project.

A second suggestion by councilwoman Sandy Evans was to build a community center in the park.

“I'm campaigning for a community center of some sort,” Evans said.“I'd like to spread it (the benefit of the grant funding) around.”

With the fire department receiving the benefit of the grant funding for the past several years, Evans suggested it's time the town did something to benefit the entire community by building a community center that all could use. She said a center in the park could also improve the complaints she hears about restrooms in the park.

Discussion followed on moving the existing community building and the problems the town would face if the building were moved to the park.

“If we moved it, I think we would have to bring it up to code,” said James Wiand, the town's new public works director, explaining that would meanreplacing all the building's electrical wiring and plumbing fixtures.

Wiand also said the utility bills for the historic building were higher than any other city facility because the building had no insulation. Of additional concern is the possibility of asbestos in the building which would likely have to be removed if the building were relocated.

A third option, suggested by Stacy Digby, the town's current recorder/ treasurer and mayor elect, was to combine the two ideas and build a facility which could be used for fire department training and for a community center, possibly located in the park.

Holland said that he was almost certain fire department personnel would contribute in-kind labor for the addition of a training room at the fire station, but he didn't know if they would do the same if the building were at the park or some other location.

Holland suggested Digby obtain some cost estimates and bring the matter back up for a decision at the January council meeting on Jan. 11. Elliott asked for as much information as possible before the meeting so she could have everything ready to be delivered to the state by Jan. 14.

The second hearing was to gain public comment on the use of ACEDP grant funds received in 2010. The money was used to purchase new turnout gear for the Highfill Fire Department. No comments were made, except that Fire Chief Jeremy Jackson said the gear hadarrived and was in use by his department.

With rules suspended, the council passed an ordinance on its third and final reading designating locations for the posting of ordinances adopted by the council. An emergency clause was also adopted, placing the ordinance into effect immediately. The locations for postings are the Highfill Town Hall, Highfill Community Building, Highfill Volunteer Fire Department, Highfill Park and Village Market & Grill Inc.

The council approved a resolution authorizing the continued payment of utility bills and wages in 2011 until the council adopts a budget for the new year.

“What if I have a fire truck break down?” asked Jackson.

“We'll just have to call a special meeting if that happens,” Digby said.

A question was raised by incoming councilwoman Paula Pautsky regarding trash pickup since another trash service has discontinued picking up trash for Highfill residents following the city awarding a contract for citywide residential trash service to Roll Off Service Inc.

Holland said a 30-yard dumpster had been placed at city hall and residents who are no longer being served by their old contractor can put their trash in the dumpster until the new service begins in January.

The new citywide contract will give the city the power to resolve trash pickup issues for residents, something which the city has not been able to do in the past.

News, Pages 16 on 12/22/2010