Highfill to make road repairs

HIGHFILL -- Council members approved the expenditure of up to $40,000, to be added to two General Improvement Fund grants totalling $30,000 the city expected to receive from local state lawmakers, in order to make repairs to approximately 4 1/2 miles of Digby and Peterson Roads and apply a chip and seal surface.

According to Vernon Reams, Highfill street and road department supervisor, it would cost approximately $280,000 to pave the bad sections of the two roads and approximately $60,860 to repair and chip and seal the roads with the help of the county.

Benton County supplies the equipment and labor and the city of Highfill pays for the materials, Reams said.

Councilman Chris Holland said he thought it would be better to fix and chip and seal the roads rather than pave them, at least until the base is in better condition and does not give way and deteriorate so quickly.

Repairs to approximately 2 1/2 miles of Digby Road and 2 miles of Peterson Road are expected to be made as soon as it fits into the county's schedule.

Also approved by the council was payment to Janie Parks to come out and plant roses at city hall and then prune them in the fall. Estimated cost was $200 to plant the roses and $100 for pruning and upkeep.

The council urged Reams to purchase a sprayer as soon as possible at an approximate cost of $3,000 to be used for weed control.

It was also announced to the council that the fire department had been approved to receive a $75,000 Community Block Grant for an addition to the Highfill Fire Station in Highfill.

With rules suspended, the council passed on three readings an ordinance to amend the city's sewer regulations and establish charges for the hauling of liquid waste to the city's sewer treatment plant. Also passed was an ordinance establishing the territorial jurisdiction for the planning commission to area extending to one mile outside of city limits. The change was to comply with new state law which reduced that area from five miles to one.

The change to sewer regulations to set fees for liquid waste hauled to the city's treatment plant was in preparation for future completion on the amphitheater in the Logan Community.

A resolution was also approved to re-appoint Melissa Holland to the city's parks commission for a 3-year term extending to June 30, 2017.