GRAVETTE — An open public hearing was held preceding last Thursday's Gravette city council meeting to discuss an alley abandonment for Care and Share. No one spoke for or against the proposal, so the hearing was closed and an ordinance was passed to vacate the alley. Also passed was a resolution permitting Erin McVittie to serve as part-time museum employee for the city. McVittie is also a museum commissioner but it was determined there was no conflict in serving in both positions.
In the comment period at the beginning of the meeting, James Denver questioned how the mayor could veto actions voted by the council at a special meeting Aug. 19. Mayor Kurt Maddox said that the only action not implemented was granting retroactive pay to library employees. He explained this was not recommended by the attorney from the Arkansas Municipal League.
Frankie Valdez spoke and again asked for a public apology or written apology from the mayor for his conversation in a meeting with the state fire marshal. He said he felt the meeting was not handled in an ethical or professional manner and expressed his concern as manager of a Main Street business and as a citizen. Mayor Maddox said he was only asking questions and he felt there was nothing for which to apologize.
Tina Crose spoke and praised Tim Dewitt, head of the street department, for his work in repainting crosswalks and moving a stop sign to make crossing the street safer for Imagine day care students. She said when Dewitt was presented with the problem he addressed it quickly and professionally and did a great job.
Council members approved unanimously an agreement with Arkansas Tax Associates, Inc., for a post-audit review of state and local excise taxes. Arkansas Tax Associates will review the tax records to see where the city might have paid unnecessary taxes and will be paid 35 percent of any refunds, credits and benefits received.
Council members voted to approve an engineering contract with Morrison Shipley engineers to do a hydraulic study and analysis of the Gravette water distribution system, both the current system and the newly expanded Hiwasse service area. Bids were received from CEI and Morrison Shipley but Corey Reardon, water and sewer department manager, recommended Morrison Shipley based on past experience with the company.
Mayor Maddox reported that the county would stop doing any inspections for cities on Sept. 1. He asked council members whether they preferred to pay individual contractors for inspections or to hire an employee who could do inspections and also serve as a code enforcer. Margo Thomas, council member, asked if there was money in the budget for a new employee. Richard Carver, council member, recommended contracting out inspection services for the remainder of the year and building funds into next year's budget for hiring a city inspector.
Selection of a final design for the proposed Main Street renovation project was tabled until the Sept. 8 committee of the whole meeting.
Council members went into a short executive session to discuss personnel matters. When they returned to regular session, Mayor Maddox announced that no official action was taken.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Maddox read a letter received from Tom Canta, one of the instructors in the recent active shooter training at Gravette middle school. Canta expressed his appreciation for the hospitality extended to him and his fellow instructors.
"We train all over the state of Arkansas and I can say we were treated best by far by the people of Gravette," he wrote.
Canta also praised the professionalism of all the officers involved in the training, mentioning in particular Sgt. Chuck Skaggs and officer Todd Shannon.
General News on 08/31/2016