Teddy bears donated to Gravette PD

Submitted Photo Darrell Kepler (left), Sydni and Jerry Pipkin, Andy Bower (Gravette police chief), and Bob Robinson (Gravette city council member), show the city council teddy bears which will be given out by Gravette police officers, at their discretion, to children involved in domestic violence calls, accidents or traffic stops. Jerry and Sydni Pipkin, of Gravette, in cooperation with Heritage Baptist Church, have donated 15 teddy bears to the Gravette Police Department. The bears were presented at the April 23 city council meeting. Darrell Kepler, senior pastor at Heritage Baptist, said, “Our hope is that these bears will be a tool for our local enforcers to use in the spirit of kindness and in circumstances where a friendly gesture may help set young minds at ease.” These first 15 bears will travel along with officers in the police cruisers. The Pipkins and Heritage Baptist have generously offered to help the city maintain the inventory and replenish them as needed.
Submitted Photo Darrell Kepler (left), Sydni and Jerry Pipkin, Andy Bower (Gravette police chief), and Bob Robinson (Gravette city council member), show the city council teddy bears which will be given out by Gravette police officers, at their discretion, to children involved in domestic violence calls, accidents or traffic stops. Jerry and Sydni Pipkin, of Gravette, in cooperation with Heritage Baptist Church, have donated 15 teddy bears to the Gravette Police Department. The bears were presented at the April 23 city council meeting. Darrell Kepler, senior pastor at Heritage Baptist, said, “Our hope is that these bears will be a tool for our local enforcers to use in the spirit of kindness and in circumstances where a friendly gesture may help set young minds at ease.” These first 15 bears will travel along with officers in the police cruisers. The Pipkins and Heritage Baptist have generously offered to help the city maintain the inventory and replenish them as needed.

GRAVETTE -- A public hearing was held preceding last Thursday's Gravette city council meeting to discuss the Northwest Arkansas Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. No comments were made during the hearing and, when the council meeting convened, members passed a resolution to adopt the plan.

In the comment period preceding the meeting, Susan Reeves addressed the council about a $1,786 water bill she had received. She said there was a leak she didn't know about until the water came to the surface in her yard and she could only afford to pay an additional $50 a month on the bill. A suggestion was made to amend the water billing ordinance to allow for catastrophic events. The city would collect what it pays for water wholesale and adjust for overhead costs. Reeves will continue to pay the extra $50 until an amendment is created.

Jerry and Sydni Pipkin and representatives from Heritage Baptist Church presented teddy bears to the police department to be given to children when they are involved in domestic violence calls, accidents or traffic stops.

City attorney David Bailey read a proclamation designating May as Arkansas Preservation Month.

Council members voted unanimously to pass an ordinance for collection of fees when city workers clean up or mow private property within the Gravette city limits. Cleanup costs will be added to the landowner's property tax bill and collected when the tax bill is due.

In other action, council members unanimously approved both a resolution authorizing the advancement of Gravette from a second class city to a first class city and an ordinance establishing a record retentions policy for the police department. They also voted to approve paying off the house on the Hillcrest Cemetery property. A cemetery certificate of deposit will mature in June and proceeds from the CD will be used to pay off the house. The balance is $13,080.

The building permit fee for the Empire District Electric Company substation upgrade was waived as no city inspections of the building are needed. Construction is governed by state and federal regulations.

A budget adjustment and a resolution for an emergency services agreement which were on the agenda were tabled.

Melissa Smith read a letter she had received from the Arkansas Ethics Commission regarding an ethics complaint filed against her by James Denver. The letter indicated that the commission found no grounds for a violation and the case was dismissed. Margo Thomas read parts of a letter she had received from the commission and Mike von Ree commented on a letter he had received, all with the same results. No grounds for the complaints were found; all cases were dismissed.

Richard Carver suggested that the city buy iPads or tablets for council members to eliminate much of the paper documentation presently required for meetings.

General News on 04/29/2015