County road yard coming to Decatur

Purchase of the land is complete and the bidding process will begin soon

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

— The purchase of the land for the new Benton County satellite road yard is complete and the county could be ready to take construction bids as soon as July 1, according to Benton County Judge Bob Clinard.

The county purchased 10 acres from Peterson Farms for the project. The new road yard will house machinery and serve as a base for employees servicing the west side of the county. It will be located on Spavinaw Street near Arkansas Highway 102 West, within the city limits of Decatur and in a controlled speed zone.

Engineering plans for the project are 90 percent complete, Clinard said. Once the plans are completed, they will be presented to Decatur's planning and zoning committee, Mayor Charles Linam said.

City employees have already begun clearing trees and brush away from the area where the water and sewer lines will be laid. Once the county presents the city with the final plans, work on laying the utility lines will begin, Linam said.

Construction of the road yard will begin shortly after a bid is accepted and should be complete by the first of December, Clinard said.

"We're thrilled to be moving out there," he said, pointing out that the county will be saving fuel and time by having their equipment closer to where it will be used.

"Everything about it is positive," he said.

News, Pages 10 on 06/08/2011