GRAVETTE — Business was dispatched rather quickly at the September meeting of the Gravette City Council. All members were present except councilman Larry Stidham. City attorney Tom Smith offered the opening prayer.

Minutes of the July and August regular meetings and a special council meeting/Committee of the Whole meeting Sept. 13 were approved unanimously.

Most of the meeting was spent reading and voting on ordinances and resolutions. Five ordinances were passed by unanimous vote:

◊Ordinance No. 12-17 establishes the criteria for replacement of street signswithin the city. Signs will be replaced according to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation guidelines. Any signs determined to be difficult to read at night will be replaced.

◊Ordinance No. 12-18 changes the water meter reading cycle from the 10th of each month to the 30th of each month to coordinate with reading by Two-Ton, the city’s water supplier. It also sets late fees and reconnect fees, provides for customer appeals and establishes deposits for meters and other services.

◊Ordinance No. 12-19 repeals previous ordinances governing operation of Hillcrest Cemetery and establishes rules and regulations for the care and maintenance of Hillcrest Cemetery.

◊ Ordinance No. 12-20 establishes a nomination procedure for new members of the Gravette Planning Commission. Mayor Byron Warren noted that vacancies exist on the planning commission and encouraged citizens to apply, particularly residents of the recently annexed Hiwasse area.

◊Ordinance No. 12-21 rezones the Senior Housing Complex property on Irving Street S.W. from R-1 (single family) to R-3 (multi-family residential). This corrects improper zoning established when the complex was constructed.

In other action, council members voted to spend $20,100 to purchase new Christmas lights from “Get Lit.” All members voted in favor except councilman Jimmy Denver, who saidhe felt the money would be better spent for street repairs and other needs. A recent $7,000 donation from the centennial book committee was spent to repair present lights and purchase 10 more. Mayor Warren indicated the main lighting focus will be on the parks, but consideration is also being given to outlining buildings on Main Street.

A motion was passed to provide incremental wage increases for city water and sewer employees. Employees are reimbursed for classes they attend to maintain or upgrade their licenses up to Level II.

Two resolutions were passed to condemn property at 403 Birmingham Street SW and 411 4th Avenue SE. Both owners were notified of pending condemnationand did not respond in the allotted time. Plans are to burn structures on the properties as a fire department training exercise and place liens on the properties to cover the cost of demolition. Willie Henson, owner of the Birmingham property, arrived just at the end of the meeting and asked about demolition costs. He said he wished to remove items stored on the property. Mayor Warren assured him nothing would be done without first contacting him.

Council members voted to table the discussion of purchasing the Duffield’s building until the October Committee of the Whole meeting. Glenn A. Duffy said his offer was good until Dec. 1.

Mayor Warren announced that representatives from Deffenbaugh, the city’s trash service, would be at next month’s Committee of the Whole meeting to discuss their contract for service. The city is contracted with Deffenbaugh for the next 2 1/2 years.

The city is also investigating the possibilities of expanding Cox Communications services in the city, especially in Ward 3, the newly annexed Hiwasse area.

Mayor Warren told those present that a special trailer for TVs and electronics was being provided by the Benton County Solid Waste District and would be set up beside the regular recycling trailers north of the Gravette Police Department for the city cleanup Oct. 16.

The meeting was adjourned shortly after 7 p.m.

News, Pages 3 on 10/10/2012