HIGHFILL — With three council members present, the Highfill council passed an ordinance rezoning property and, on its first reading, a budget for 2013 at its Nov. 13 meeting.

Ryan Evans, Paula Pautsky and Michelle Rieff, along with Mayor Stacy Digby’s vote when needed, approved an ordinance on three reading with a single vote rezoning a parcel of property owned by First Federal Bank, at 13433 W. Highway 264, from C-2Commercial to R-1 Residential.

Approved on its first reading was a budget proposed by the mayor, but additional budget meetings are planned and adjustments may be made before a final reading of the ordinance.

Fire Chief Gary Holland told council members that the fire department had received the pumper truck it purchased from the city of Bentonville and was now in the process of getting it ready for service.

Digby announced that it was time for the council toappoint a a person to hold the seat currently held by Stacie Williamson on the Highfill Planning Commission. Williamson has requested to be reappointed, but Digby said others too could apply by notifying him of their interest by calling city hall and leaving him a message or emailing him at stacy.[email protected].

James “Butch” Wiand, the city’s water and sewer supervisor, told the council that General Construction Solutions of Springdale was the low bidder in a project to extend the city sewerline across Arkansas Highway 12 along Main Street to provide sewer service for the Baptist Church. The bid of $39,834 is to bore under the highway and extend the city’s sewer service. One or more manholes are included in the project.

According to a letter from the General Construction Solutions, if the city eliminates 237 line feet of 8 inch sewer pipe and one man hole, the job would cost the city $32,234 - something the city is considering to save money and yet provide service to the church.

News, Pages 8 on 11/21/2012