GRAVETTE -- Gravette city council members, at their regular meeting Thursday night, passed an ordinance approving a lot split for Chris Kelley on Jenkins Corner Road and passed three resolutions and a residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan.
One resolution was passed adopting amendments to the 2016 city budget in the amount of $6,000 to pay for rental of Benton County Solid Waster dumpsters on the city shop grounds. The second resolution establishes a policy prohibiting excessive force by Gravette law-enforcement agencies. This resolution was a requirement of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 since the city is applying for Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program funding.
The third resolution passed authorizes the mayor to apply for a Gravette Fire Department grant under the Rural Services Block Grant Program. It also appropriates $7,500 to complete the local match-money requirement. The grant, if received, will be used to purchase a firetruck.
The residential anti-displacement and relocation assistance plan provides that the city will replace any low or moderate income housing torn down or converted to other uses as a result of activities funded under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. It stipulates that all replacement housing will be provided within three years of beginning of demolition or conversion and every effort will be made to minimize the displacement of people from their homes.
A brief discussion was held addressing concerns that have come up regarding the new library building. Kurt Maddox, Gravette mayor, said a picture had been found showing the iron lintel installed over the door in the center of the building and it meets current code. He believes buckling in the floor is due to plywood not being secured properly and can be corrected easily. A plumbing inspection was done but no electrical inspection was done.
Council member Ron Theis said he believed that, if it had been shown that mistakes had been made, the council should do all it could to fix the situation. He recommended that an independent contractor be hired to do an electrical inspection. Former mayor Byron Warren said that the state fire marshal would do such inspections at no charge, and Mayor Maddox instructed fire captain David Orr to contact him and arrange for an inspection.
Mayor Maddox reported that the bathrooms in Old Town Park would be completed by Gravette Day, and the old block building across the street was being torn down to improve the looks of the area.
Council member Melissa Smith spoke regarding the number of police officers on the force. She had found a copy of an ordinance which authorizes the police chief to hire nine full-time and six part-time officers. She also said she has research from the former police chief showing how these numbers were determined.
General News on 08/03/2016