GRAVETTE -- Jodi Moore, president of the Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce, addressed city council members at the Oct. 8 committee of the whole meeting and presented a proposed contract between the Chamber and the city of Gravette. She outlined several activities the Chamber is planning to help promote existing businesses and recruit new businesses.
These included an annual business expo and job fair, five or six "First Saturday" events a year, events to bring local businesses together and providing assistance to the city in pursuing grants for community improvement. Rickie Stark also spoke briefly and emphasized the importance of having strong leadership in the Chamber.
Police chief Andy Bower reported he had again submitted an application for a GIF (general improvement fund) rural community grant. He also said he was working with mayor Kurt Maddox to help find a more acceptable patrol vehicle as the current vehicles are not holding up well when patrolling dirt roads. They are investigating some vehicles for sale in Missouri and Kansas.
A brief discussion was held on the proposed donation of the Presbyterian Church, the oldest church building in Gravette. Church officials have offered to donate it to the city and the museum commission has offered $5,000 to help in its renovation and also offered assistance in pursuing grants for its maintenance.
Council member Ron Theis said he was not opposed to accepting the donation, but he urged caution in taking on a project which might have hidden costs. He advised getting an estimate on needed repairs, particularly restoration of the steeple, redoing electrical wiring and replacement of windows.
Council member Margo Thomas said she was in favor of accepting the donation if money for restoration could be raised from other sources, but she did not feel the city should take on that expense with all the other projects in which it was involved.
Mayor Maddox said city attorney David Bailey had looked over the city's current contract with Waste Management. Bailey felt there were sufficient grounds for nullifying the contract, not only because of work left undone but because the company has not paid franchise fees for several months. Maddox said the city needed to secure another trash pickup service before it terminated the current one. Finance director Chris Speights reported she was expecting to receive a proposal from Inland within the next week.
Maddox reported he was working on getting refinancing of the bond issue on the March ballot. He is planning citywide meetings in January and February before the primary in March.
Staggered terms for council members are now required because of the city's first-class status. Mayor Maddox said he would consult with the city attorney to determine whether a vote was needed on the issue and, if it was, he would ask Bailey to take steps to get it on the ballot in March.
Finance director Chris Speights presented the monthly financial reports and said most city departments were well within projected range of about 75 percent of budget. She reported she is working on refining the budget, including moving some separate funds into the general fund. She said some of these funds should have just been a line item in the administration budget.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Maddox presented a letter of resignation from council member Bob Robinson. Robinson, who has served on the council three years, is resigning because he is moving to Bella Vista. Maddox suggested presenting him a plaque, honoring him for his service.
Margo Thomas reported receiving emails from the owners of the old Gravette Manor Home property saying they had tried to do what they could to clean up the property and they didn't appreciate the certified letter they received from the city. Thomas explained that the city was simply following procedure established by city ordinance and said she advised the property owners they were welcome to attend city council meetings at any time.
Ron Theis asked about the status of the library renovation. Mayor Maddox reported initial demolition work was complete and bids were being secured for additional work.
General News on 10/14/2015