GRAVETTE -- In a short council meeting Thursday night, Gravette City Council voted to approve an agreement between the city and Vybranz, a Prosper, Texas, firm. According to the agreement, Vybranz will furnish "expense management, cost reduction, billing auditing, billing review and recovery, procurement, consulting services and advice" as requested by the city.
The firm will provide these services in matters relating to the city's telecommunication systems, energy and utilities, credit card processing, information technology, administrative services, EMS billing and related services. The agreement will be for three years unless one of the parties chooses to terminate, which they may do with 30 days written notice.
In other business, the council approved an expenditure of $10,000 to be used for cleanup on the old Gravette Manor Home property on Dallas Street, S.W. A fund in that amount will be established and the money used to clean up the property and secure it against intrusion. Some tree removal is planned, a large roof leak must be repaired, and openings where air conditioners have been removed must be filled. The mayor reported he had met this week with a firm that will clear the trees.
Business director Patrick Hall reported he had spoken with the property owners several times and their attitude seemed to be one of complacency. Cleanup costs will be charged to the property owners.The ultimate fate of the property is "just a matter of how aggressive we want to be in pursuing payment," Hall said. He had noted at an earlier meeting that, if the cleanup bill became too large, he anticipated the owners might just refuse to pay and the city could gain the land by foreclosure.
Council member Bob Robinson noted he was glad to see the cleanup operation begin.
"People need to be responsible for the upkeep of their property," he said. "I take it as a personal insult when people won't maintain their property, and I hope this administration will take a strong stand and stick by it."
Robinson said he was happy to see that most people who have property that needs cleanup are being cooperative and concluded, "It"s just good common sense to keep your property up."
Council members also voted to approve a resolution to authorize a $5,000 match for a fire department grant for an addition to the Gravette fire station. A $5,000 match is needed for the $35,000 grant for which the department has applied. The grant money will be used to provide bigger training rooms for the department since staff size has grown and, when the full staff is in training classes, the current space is just too small. Training equipment currently stored in downstairs sleeping rooms can be moved to the new training space and free up more sleeping space when additional staff members can be hired.
Preceding the business session, Nicole Morrow was sworn in as a new member of the Gravette Library Commission.
A brief executive session was held regarding a personnel matter, but no followup action was taken.
Council member Richard Carver inquired about the status of the trash pickup contract, and Mayor Kurt Maddox said the city had checked into the trash pickup situation.
"We do have some options," Maddox said, "and these will be discussed at the October committee of the whole meeting."
Maddox reported that handrails had been installed and the new sidewalk project adjacent Highway 59 was now complete.
General News on 09/30/2015