GENTRY — City council members, at their regular July 2 meeting, passed an ordinance to rezone property and a resolution to apply for a trails grant.

Passed on its second reading was an ordinance rezoning property along Gentry Blvd. owned by Cam and Jane Klassen from R-1 residential to C-2 commercial. The land, located just south of the Wooden Spoon Restaurant, will be used for additional parking with thepossibility of someday adding a small flower shop, Klassen told the council at its June meeting. The ordinance will be brought back to the council for its third and final reading in August.

The council passed a resolution supporting application for a Trails for Life Grant offered through the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism to finish sidewalks planned in Gentry City Park. The city can apply for as much as $70,000 under the custom grant application, with no matching funds required of the city.

Related to the grant application, the council selected a professional to prepare and submit plans for the grant application. After reviewing information from numerous architectural firms, the council selected three and designated a priority order for Gentry Mayor Kevin Johnston to follow in negotiating a contract for services. Selected were: 1. Architects, Inc., of Gentry; 2. Civil Engineering of Siloam Springs; and 3. Engineering Services, Inc., of Springdale. Jim Kooistra, of Architects, Inc., had already prepared plans for the park trails in preparation for previous park projects.

The council also approved sending Gentry’s part-time police officer to police academy to better train him for the type of calls he handles on a regular basis. Though the city will not have to pay for the academy training, it will have to pay the officer for his training hours while he attends the academy. Discussion was held on whether or not a policy should be prepared and adopted regarding circumstances under which a part-time officer could be sent to the full-time ArkansasLaw Enforcement Training Academy.

Mayor Johnston advised the council that property located at 401 West Main Street was available for purchase if the city desired to do so. The city owns property adjacent to it. No decision was made on whether or not to pursue purchasing the property. Local business owner and former mayor Wes Hogue told the council that a portion of the building located there was already on the city right of way. A listing shared with the council showed $38,000 as the initial asking price for the property.

Jackie Bader, manager of the Gentry Senior Activity Center, reported that the center would be opened as a cooling center should any area seniors need it. She said the center had raised $604 with a Walmart-donated laptop computer offered by raffle. Kathy James was the raffle winner, Bader said.

Gentry Chamber of Commerce director Bev Saunders told the council that the new chamber directory had been published and was now available. She also shared information on an upcoming visit of the Arkansas Rural Development conference and training by Winrock International.The two-day conference, to be held on July 17 and 18, will be hosted by the city of Gentry, Winrock International, the USDA and the Gentry Chamber of Commerce. About 35 visitors from across the stateof Arkansas will be in town for tours and workshops. They will join the council for dinner and a presentation by Rick Parker on local history on July 17 at the Wooden Spoon Restaurant.

Saunders also updated the council on plans for a nature area along Flint Creek and for a weekend garage sale called Pickin’ Time on 59 being planned for the weekend of Oct. 12-14.

The council also gave its nod of approval for Gentry Public Schools to pursue plans to place a sign near the intersection of Arkansas Highways 12 and 59 - possibly an informational sign with community announcements - to direct visitors to Gentry to the schools. Final plans would be subject to reviewby the city. Councilman James Furgason asked that the mayor advise the school district of pending city ordinance changes so that the school district sign would be in compliance with city code.

Council member Jason Barett asked that the mayor check into the possibility of spraying for mosquitoes in a few trouble spots in the city. Councilwoman Janie Parks suggested that any spraying be done in the nighttime hours so as not to harm the bee population.

Mayor Johnston told council members that the surplus Jeep Cherokee had been sold at auction for $3,015. The Crown Victoria police cruiser auction deadline had not yet arrived at the July 2 meeting date.

News, Pages 1 on 07/11/2012