GENTRY — Council members failed to come to agreement on the key box issue Monday night, leaving the existing ordinance in place, at least until next month’s meeting.
With six of the eight-member council present - Janice Arnold, Michael Crawford, James Furgason, Warren Norman, Janie Parks and Todd Wagner present and Jason Barrett and Kyle Jordan absent - the council again took up the key box issue in an attempt to resolve concerns over the existing ordinance, adopted in 2006, which would require all commercial structures in Gentry to install approved key boxes by May 1.
Three draft ordinances were included in the council packet: one repealing the existing ordinance (06-587); another new ordinance requiring key boxes only on commercial buildings with sprinkler or fire alarm systems; and a third draft ordinance which would have amended the existing ordinance to only require key boxes on commercial buildings with sprinkler or fire alarm systems.
After failing to achieve the super-majority necessary to suspend the rules and read the third draft ordinance by heading only, a motion to place the ordinance on its first reading was voted down, with Crawford, Furgason, Norman and Wagner opposing it.
A motion to place a draft ordinance to repeal the existing law on its second reading failed for lack of a second.
“I am a fireman,” Crawford said, “and I’d like to see all businesses have key boxes. But I am willing to compromise and just have commercial buildings with sprinkler systems or fire alarms and all new construction have key boxes ... I couldn’t sleep at night if firemen died because I voted for an ordinance not requiring the boxes,” he said, citing an example from another city in which firemen were killed because they delayed entering a building with an alarm because smoke and flames were not visible fromoutside the building and the building did not have a key box.
“I’m voting for what is safe and what is needed,” Furgason said, suggesting more input be gained from the safety committee.
“We have beat this horse to death,” Parks said, mentioning discussion in previous committee and council meetings.
The matter will be brought back to the council in February, allowing new council members Norman and Wagner to study the matter. A fourth option will be prepared for consideration, amending the existing ordinance to remove the requirement for key boxes on existing commercial buildings and structures but still requiring them on commercial structures with sprinkler or alarm systems and all new construction.
In other business, the council accepted by ordinance a plat for Spavinaw Square, a new commercial subdivision located just north of Spavinaw Stove along Arkansas Highway 59. The ordinance was passed with rules suspended and on three readings with a single vote. An emergency clause also passed. Construction is expected to begin on the site within six weeks.
A sign ordinance recommended by the city’s planning and zoning commission was tabled until February to allow new council members time to review it.
Further action to pursue a grant for funds to convert city land along Flint Creek and Arkansas Highway 59 into a park with fishing ponds, a bridge over theponds and walkways was referred to the parks commission for additional feasibility study before money is allocated for a grant writer or other professional services.
According to Gentry Chamber of Commerce director Bev Saunders, a number of grants are available to the city to pay for the new park. Some money may even be available in grant form to purchase adjacent land to the city-owned property. She said the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission would be willing to work together with the city by stocking the fishing ponds.
A meeting with a AGFC biologist is being set up to further plan a general design and purpose for the new park.
News, Pages 1 on 01/05/2011