City takes steps to condemn

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

— The Gravette City Council Thursday night declared structures on two properties in the city as public nuisances, which will result in a public hearing early next month. One property is located at 411 Fourth Ave., SE, the other at 403 Birmingham, S.W.

According to resolutions the council approved, owners of the properties have been notified of pending condemnation and have failed to respond. A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m., preceding the Council Committee of the Whole meeting on Sept. 13, according to city recorder/treasurer Mike von Ree.

In other action, the council:

◊Approved, on first reading, re-establishing a Gravette Planning Commission;

◊Passed an ordinance approving a lot split on a property on Mt. Pleasant Road;

◊Okayed absorbing a 15-cent per month surcharge on customer water meters for water provided the city by the Two-Ton system - the estimated $2,000 annual charge will not be passed on to consumers;

◊Refused all bids for a stormdraining project - bids ranged from $156,800 to $199,850, and the city has received a $95,000 grant for the project;

◊Accepted a bid of $9,000 from Rodden Landscaping for a highway beautification project at the intersection of Highways 59 and 72,at Centennial Park;

◊Approved closure of the city 2011 budget;

◊Tabled action on an ordinance governing rules and regulations at Hillcrest Cemetery, an ordinance setting water billing and payment dates and a budget adjustment of the Gravette Public Library - the council also tabled approval of a contract for a water/sewer project east on Highway 72 to Stagecoach Road;

◊ Gave tacit agreement to take no action on rezoning properties in the newly-annexed Hiwasse area until after the new city council is convened after January 1 - the council at that time will have two representatives from the Hiwasse area.

The council approved the appointment of Corey Reardon and Larry Buffer to represent the city on the Two-Ton governing board.

News, Pages 1 on 08/29/2012