GRAVETTE — During a short special meeting last Thursday night, the Gravette City Council approved several items which required action before the regular meeting in late June.

The Council approved purchase of a John Deere tractor from Countryside Farm and Lawn in Springdale, subject to negotiations. Approved was an amount up to $37,000,plus tax, from general funds and including those expected from a surplus auction. The tractor and its heavy-duty loader will replace one that is being sold.

The Council okayed testpurchase of a new SCATA communications system which controls water levels in the two city tanks and the one on Highway 72 west, which is part of the rural system.

The antenna system, which had been located on the Eighth Street tank,failed because of interference from a cell tower near the tank located in northeast Gravette. The antenna move was made in preparation for refurbishing the Eighth Street 200,000 gallon tank. The system links the three tanks and the shop with the main Two-Ton valve located on Bethlehem Road.

The system water levels are being checked manually until a new system, expected to cost more than $12,000, is installed.

An ordinance which corrects lot configuration on Sixth Avenue SW property owned by Max and Shirley Wallace was approved. It had been tabled at the May meeting until plats/legal paperwork was provided.

All Council members were present at the halfhour meeting presided over by Mayor Byron Warren. All actions were unanimous.

Warren told the Eagle Observer that equipment is ready to begin spraying the city to control mosquitoes. The spraying will be done at night, he added.

News, Pages 7 on 06/06/2012