Council approves money for street alley position

Council to study annexation issues involving requests and squaring up city boundaries.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

— The agenda was brief at Monday’s city council meeting in Gentry, with one ordinance passed on its final reading and a number of other issues approved by resolution.

A re-zoning ordinance was read by title only, with rules suspended, and passed on its third reading by the council. The ordinance changes the zoning on a 1.2 acre tract of land along Gentry Blvd. belonging to Kirby Hebert, Sr., and Audrey Hebert from R1 (which is limited to residential use) to RO (which allows for residential or office use).

The council, by resolution, approved the moving of the Curran Monument from its present location near where the American Legion Hall once stood to the Veterans’ Memorial in the city park.

Gentry Mayor Kevin Johnston told the council the cost to move the monument and place it on a new base would be $585. He suggested the flag pole at the old monument site be taken down and stored until a new location was chosen since there are already flags at the Veterans’ Memorial.

The council received an update from Gentry’s public works supervisor David McNair on the street project indicating that the quantities needed for the slurry seal were verified and accurate, meaning the proposed project could be completed within the bid amount for the project. The only additional cost to the project, McNair said, would be approximately $3,500 for some striping which was not included in the original cost estimates.

McNair said the project was set to begin in a few weeks.

At Mayor Johnston’s suggestion, the council gave the go ahead to form an annexation study group to look at requests to be annexed into the city and squaring up borders.

According to Johnston, there are a number of property owners along Gentry’s borders who have expressed interest in being annexed into the city.

Alderman James Furgason suggested Johnston head up such a committee and leave it open for all the council members to be a part of it.

The council approved adding an entry-level position back into thestreet and alley department budget which was left unfilled when it became vacant a number of years ago. McNair said he would be hiring one employee in the water and sewer department and one in the street and alley department to bring the two departments back up to full staff.

Councilwoman Janice Arnold said she wanted to see the good work the city employees were doing continue through the summer months even while some employees take vacation time.

The council voted to change the starting time for the June 4 meeting to 7:30 p.m. to allow council members to attend a dinner with visiting representatives from across the state who will be touring Gentry on June 4 and 5 and viewing the many projects the city has completed with money from grants.

Furgason urged the mayor and council to revisit the sign ordinance proposals which have been before the city and the city’s planning commission, get answers to questions and approve a sign ordinance before the city has numerous signs in place which it can donothing about.

Mayor Johnston suggested having council members attend the May 17 planning commission meeting to resume work on a new sign ordinance.

News, Pages 5 on 05/09/2012