GRAVETTE -- Rod Clardy, of Hiwasse, was appointed as the new member of the Gravette city council at the Dec. 8 regular meeting of the council. He was sworn in by Mayor Kurt Maddox and took his position on the council at the beginning of the meeting. Clardy was appointed to fill the vacancy which occurred when Bob Robinson moved to Bella Vista. Clardy is a former mayor of Avoca.
Three ordinances were passed during the meeting. The first calls for a special election, to be held March 1, 2016, to vote on the issuance of bonds to finance capital improvements, including street improvements, parks and recreational improvements, sewer improvements and sidewalk improvements. If approved, the bond issue would result in a continuation of the current three-quarter cent sales tax.
Ryan Bowman, with Friday, Eldredge and Clark, was present and explained that the current three-quarter cent tax will expire when the 2013 bonds have been paid which will be April 1, 2016 or, at the latest, July 1. The tax to pay off the bond would not begin until July 1 so it would simply continue the current tax.
The other two ordinances assigned recently annexed land in Hiwasse to Ward 3 for the city and approved the final plat of Lynchburg Estates subdivision.
In other business, council members approved an agreement to contract with Benton County to provide emergency medical services and passed a resolution authorizing the council to allow nonprofit civic organizations to place their signs on the city's "Welcome to Gravette" signs.
Council members voted to approve the proposed 2016 city budget and to make payment to Soldiers of the Cross for the city's part of Old Town Park improvements, not to exceed $100,000. Body cameras for the police department were also approved, at a cost of $1,151.92, on a three-year lease to own plan.
January 14 and February 9 were approved as dates for public forums to discuss the proposed issuance of city bonds. These are also the dates of the regular committee of the whole meetings. The forums will precede the meetings.
City attorney David Bailey said that his three year anniversary with the city was approaching. He thanked the council members for placing their trust in him and said he looked forward to continued interaction with the city.
Mayor Maddox announced that a $5,000 donation had been received for renovation of the Presbyterian Church building. The funds were a grant disbursement from the now-closed Foundation for the Preservation of Gravette History, Inc. The city has made a commitment to match the $5,000 for preservation of the church property.
General News on 12/16/2015