New council members take oaths of office

GRAVETTE -- Gravette City Council members were sworn in prior to the Jan. 8 Committee of the Whole meeting. Richard Carver, Melissa Burnett, Bob Robinson, Melissa Smith, Ron Theis and Margo Thomas were sworn in by new mayor Kurt Maddox. Members voted to approve Melissa Smith continuing as chair of the COW meetings.

A special council meeting was held prior to the COW meeting to approve changing signatories on the city's checking accounts. Council members gave unanimous approval to changing signatories to Mayor Maddox, interim finance director Patrick Hall, assistant finance director Cindy Pembleton, city recorder Mike von Ree and council member Margo Thomas.

All department heads submitted written reports. Library manager Kim Schneider reported that she and Mayor Maddox had met with Mark Clinard of Clinard Construction. He had examined the old city hall building and submitted a bit of $30,000 for making the repairs needed to allow the library to move into that space. This would give the library 1,000 square feet more than the current location and provide an interim home for library materials until funds can be raised for a new building.

Starr Butler, representing the fire department, presented a proposal to apply for a FEMA grant to help offset the cost of one or two additional fire department personnel. The grant, if received, would provide funding for salaries for the first two years; then the city would take over paying them. Butler said she would provide more information before the January council meeting.

Water department manager Corey Reardon reported that the sewer plant repair had been completed and the plant would begin discharging effluent from one side on Friday. He said the new water line would be in service the next week. The water has been chlorinated and will be tested prior to initial use of the line.

Police chief Andy Bower reported the police department has implemented the new policy manual. Body cameras are on order. Officers served two search warrants last month.

Council members made a final review of the city zoning maps and voted to keep the current zoning regulations. They voted to change one piece of property on Dickson Road in Hiwasse to C-3 and also change the warehouse across the street from C-2 to C-3. Mike von Ree reminded council members there still was no regulation in place specifying a minimum building size and he agreed to talk with nearby towns and report on their regulations. Final approval of the zoning map will be on the agenda for the Jan. 22 council meeting.

Members reviewed the Gravette planning area jurisdiction map. Some areas on the border with Bella Vista are being claimed by both towns and von Ree reported that such contested areas should legally be split between the two towns. Bob Robinson requested that von Ree check to make sure this would not split property where owners would have land in two different jurisdictions.

Mayor Maddox reported that the city was being audited. The audit began on Tuesday and will cover the years 2013 and 204. Auditors are expected to be in town for about two months.

Maddox also reported there was no ordinance on the books to allow von Ree to serve as city recorder and also work as a city planner. von Ree said he has checked with an attorney from the municipal league, who confirmed the legality of this arrangement. Council member Margo Thomas has worked at city hall when employees were gone to meetings or to help with routine collection and filing duties and this too has not been authorized by ordinance. Council members agreed to drawing up an ordinance approving these arrangements, making sure all procedures are legal and making job descriptions clear.

Maddox noted that changing the date for assessing late fees on water bills has resulted in city employees having a full day's work reversing late fee payments because of the lack of time before the shut-off date. After discussion, council members recommended changing the shut-off date to the 10th of the month. This change will be on the agenda for the January council meeting. Maddox suggested the city may want to also change the cost of water deposits and the late fee penalty. An investigation of rates from surrounding cities will be made.

A review of the 2015 budget was begun. The proposed budget is lower than the 2014 budget and projects a surplus of $153,394. Patrick Hall explained some of the changes from the previous budget and recommended passing the proposed conservative budget and then making needed revisions in the first quarter of 2015. Mayor Maddox said he would work with whatever budget council members approved and suggested passing the proposed budget and reconsidering it in June or July.

Since some department heads had not seen the proposed budget, a special meeting was set for Tuesday, Jan. 13, for considering city finances and the proposed budget. The 2015 budget must be approved by Jan. 31.

General News on 01/14/2015