GRAVETTE -- The Gravette City Council held its Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday, July 10, with only councilman Richard Carver absent. Mayor Byron Warren asked for a moment of silence preceding the meeting to honor Angela Scott, Gravette teacher killed July 8 in a car accident.
Written reports were submitted by all department heads. Invitations were delivered to all council members to attend the library gala Oct. 16 at Cedaridge Event Center.
Corey Reardon, water/sewer department manager, asked the council for a budget adjustment of $238,067 to replace the worst sewer line in the city system. The line runs from the intersection of S.W. Second and Charlotte Street up Highway 59 to the lower end of the new line at Akron Street. It has been badly damaged from heavy truck traffic. The budget adjustment will be on the agenda for the July 24 council meeting.
Tim Dewitt, street department manager, reported a large culvert was scheduled to be delivered Friday for use in the Main Street repair project. Work will begin soon and take about two weeks before completion. Dewitt and Mayor Warren attended a pre-construction meeting Tuesday with the Arkansas Highway Department for scheduled highway improvements.
Penny Berry, police department administrative assistant, presented information about the COPS grant for which the police department has applied. She said school superintendent Richard Page had written a letter of support for the grant. If received, it will pay for 75 percent of salary and benefits for a third school resource officer for three years. The city would be required to keep the officer on a fourth year with pay split between the city and the school. Berry said chances of receiving the grant are slim because Gravette's crime rate is not as high and its fiscal need not as great as other applicants but she would continue the application process.
Drawings of the final plat for Lynchburg Estates were reviewed. Lots of five and 10 acres will be available between 8th Ave. and Spanish Treasure Rd. when water lines are extended and power lines are built. Approval of the plat will be on the agenda at the July 24 council meeting.
Mayor Warren said he had talked with the fire department personnel who were on duty at the Scott accident site and they were receiving counseling for stress management.
Business manager Tracy Sewell reviewed the city financial reports. She said the police department had promoted Scott Gillming to corporal, so there would be an increase of $4,319.40 in payroll for the remainder of the year. Cameras in the police station are up and working well and surveillance cameras are being considered for the parks, basketball courts and Main Street to help prevent vandalism.
Sewell encouraged department heads to go through their budgets and make midyear adjustments to help bring expenses in line with revenues. She reported the water department and street/parks department were doing well and the cemetery fund and capital improvements fund both had surpluses. An upcoming expense from the capital improvements fund is replacement of the roof on the museum. Bids for that project should be available at the next council meeting.
The main financial concern is expenses for the fire department because ambulance runs are down. Since the city has switched billing companies, it is collecting a higher percentage of ambulance fees. Mayor Warren said the city might consider offering transfers of patients to other locations. That would mean more hours the ambulance is out of the city but it would provide another source of income for the department. It would, however, require more vehicle maintenance.
Sewell reported that the city has all the documents in place to get expenses of clearing abandoned properties placed on the owners' property tax bills. Mayor Warren said he would like to see condemnation proceedings on the old nursing home property and removal of the building by next year.
Councilwoman Margo Thomas complimented the city employees for the good condition of the restrooms in the city park and commended Corey Reardon and his water department employees for the early hours they put in repairing water leaks. Councilwoman Amy Rambadt said the appearance of the community garden was much improved and the sign was more attractive but asked if the empty wooden pallets could be removed to further enhance the garden's looks.
Mayor Warren said he felt there was a good attendance for the town hall meeting and said they were considering another meeting, possibly in September. The Fourth of July celebration was also successful, with a good fireworks display and band and over 180 hot dogs served. Warren thanked all the council members who helped serve. He said the next city event would be a "Spittin' and Pickin'" event in the park with free watermelon and bluegrass music.
Councilman Ron Theis reported the city had a volunteer to do a Facebook page for the city and update it. Councilman Bob Robinson said there was also a good resource at the Arkansas Municipal League to help with that.
Warren reported that a team from Legacy Consulting, a community development consulting firm, will be coming to Gravette to survey the city, assess its needs and recommend grants for which to apply. There is no cost to the city unless the firm actually writes the grants. Expenses are paid by the Arkansas Municipal League. He will try to schedule the visit on a Thursday so the team can report at the Committee of the Whole meeting.
General News on 07/16/2014