GENTRY — Burnouts will no longer be a part of cruise nights in Gentry, following a unanimous resolution of the city council on April 2 to disallow the tire spinning because of health and safety issues and street damage.
The matter was brought to the council by Gentry chief of police Keith Smith, seeking guidance in regard to future cruise nights being planned within the city.
Issues of concern involved safety of the many spectators who line the streets for the events, the possibility of an accident with another vehicle on the street and damage to the city’s streets.
While it was acknowledged that many enjoy the burnouts, safety issues won out.
Discussion included finding another location for the burnouts which would be safer and cause less street damage, but no good locations were found.
With upcoming street repairs planned for Main Street, council members also wished to prevent damage to the street’s surface.
Street project
The council approved an aggressive street repair plan for later this spring and summer which includes slurry seal for many streets in the northwest quadrant of the city, West Main Street and Pioneer Lane. Also included is striping on Main Street, Pioneer Lane, North Collins, McKee Ave. and Smith Street.
The bid total for this year’s street project is $193,538, plus the cost of additional striping on Pioneer Lane to the railroad. So that the amount does not exceed the $193,538, the contractor will certify the amounts before work begins.
The streets receiving slurry seal will have an approximate life expectancy of eight or more years. The striping is expected to last for seven years.
Ordinances passed
In other action, the council approved on third and final readings ordinances regulating the placement of the new poly-cart trash receptacles and amending a flood plain ordinance.
The trash receptacle ordinance makes it illegal to leave the poly-carts curbside or beyond the streetside front line of a home for more than 24 hours before or after scheduled trash pickup.
The flood plain ordinance updates the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Flood Insurance Rate Map which goes into effect June 5. The ordinance keeps the city in compliance with the federal changes.
Passed on its second reading was an ordinance which would rezone land along Arkansas 59 Highway belonging to Kirby and Audrey Hebert, Sr., from residential to residential-office. The ordinance is scheduled to be brought back for its third and final reading at the council’s May meeting.
News, Pages 5 on 04/11/2012