Council to regulate trash carts

Reports tell of plans to build new animal shelter, set up city-wide website

— City council, on March 5, with rules suspended and read by title only, passed two ordinances on their second readings, one governing the placement of the new polycart trash receptacles provided by Allied Waste Services and the second an amendment to city code updating flood plain information to comply with a new flood insurance map to take effect this spring.

The proposed ordinance regarding flood plains and flood damage simply changes dates to comply with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's "Flood Insurance Study for Benton County, Arkansas, and incorporated areas," which includes an effective Flood Insurance Rate Map dated June 5, 2012.

The proposed ordinance regulating the use and placement of the poly-carts now in use for the city-contracted trash service would require residentsto use only the approved carts provided by the trash service, to put them within two feet of the curb, street or alley line by 6 a.m. on trash service days and require the carts be kept behind any street-side front line (or sideline on corner lots) of a house except during a period of 24 hours before and after trash pickup. It also includes a provision for residents to apply for variances to the ordinance under special circumstances. According to the proposed ordinance, each day of violationwould be counted as a separate offense, meaning that fines could add up in cases where the trash receptacles are left curbside for a number of days.

The council approved on its first reading an ordinance which would rezone property along Arkansas Highway 59 belonging to Kirby Hebert, Sr., and Audrey Hebert from R-1 (residential) to R-O (residential/office).

The council recently deniedan appeal of the city's planning and zoning commission recommendation not to rezone the property for commercial use made by the Heberts. The change to R-O was recommended by the planning commission.

The zoning ordinance will be brought back to the council for second and third readings before the change can take effect.

Reported to the full council at its March 5 meeting were the following:

◊The Economic Development Committee is looking into the cost to build and maintain a city website to replace the current site. The city has received grant money to pay for the upgrade.

◊The Police Committee is looking into costs and a design to build a new animal shelter closer to town to replace the current temporary shelter at the waste-water treatment plant.

◊Two city positions areopen. One is for the city's animal control/code enforcement position, with applications being accepted until 5 p.m. March 13, and the background checks and interview process beginning after that. Police Chief Keith Smith anticipated having a new person in that position within the first few days of April. A second open position is with the water and sewer department. After a job description is refined, the advertising and application process will begin for that position.

◊David McNair, city public works supervisor, announced an aggressive 2012 street and alley project for this year with sealing and resurfacing projects in the northwest quadrant of the city and on Pioneer Lane.

◊Gentry Mayor Kevin Johnston reported that the city was within state guidelines and proceeding with plans to build sidewalks on the west side of Collins, going as far south of Collins as grant money will cover. He said the eventual goal is for sidewalks to connect Main Street to Arkansas Highway 59 along Collins but that the project is going to be built in stages as funding is available. He said he is in discussion with Kansas City Southern regarding crossings on Main Street and on Collins.

◊Bev Saunders, director of the Gentry Chamber of Commerce, told council members she is still waiting for word on the city's application for a grant to begin work on a nature area along Flint Creek on city-owned property there. She also reported the planting of new trees in the park with grant money and the posting on a state website of the old grocery store building as available for commercial use. She said fireworks have been purchased for the July 4 celebration, with a 50 percent increase in fireworks over last year's display. She also said the Easter Egg Hunt was set for April 7.

◊Gentry Senior Activity Center manager Jackie Bader said the center would soon have a new generator, making the location a full-time shelter in the event of power outages.

News, Pages 1 on 03/14/2012