Gravette city council approves annexation, authorizes mayor to buy land

GRAVETTE -- Gravette city council members, in their regular meeting on Thursday, voted to annex land on the south side of the city and authorized the mayor to make an offer on land adjacent the Hillcrest Cemetery. An ordinance was passed approving the annexation of the property that formerly housed Gibson Gardens, the house across the street from it and four lots south of the house on Arkansas Highway 59. Approval was also given for mayor Kurt Maddox to make an offer of $1,300 an acre for 2.8 acres adjoining Hillcrest Cemetery and pay all fees involved in the sale. Total cost of the purchase would be about $6,000.

In other business, the council passed an ordinance rezoning property in the Hiwasse community, known as the old Holloway house property, from residential to commercial. The property is slated to become the site of a nursery warehouse.

A conditional use permit was granted for property owned by Beckett and Trentham Law Partners, waiving requirements for a grease trap. The south half of the building housing their law firm, on Highway 59 South, is being leased for a Simple Simon's restaurant. No fryers will be used and no grease produced, so no grease trap is needed.

Council members voted to table considering the sale of the Russell-Pierce Cemetery to the Alexander family until the Feb. 9 committee of the whole meeting. David Bailey, city attorney, wants to prepare a presentation outlining other possibilities. A discussion of use of the former bus barn property will also be on the agenda for the committee of the whole meeting.

A resolution was passed authorizing a budget adjustment to carry over money for library improvements that was not spent last year. The adjustment also allows for purchase of a police car that was approved but not purchased in 2015 and allows for an expenditure up to $6,000 for the proposed purchase of land.

In comments at the conclusion of the meeting, council member Ron Theis said the loss of the city's Walmart was unfortunate but he felt there was no reason to slash suggested improvements. He noted the city had a surplus last year and had budgeted for a surplus in 2016.

"We need to be fiscally conservative," Theis said, "but there is no reason to panic."

Council member Melissa Smith said a backup person was needed to send out council packets if the city clerk had email problems. Melissa Burnett, another council member, relayed some citizen concerns about the new playground opened Thursday in Old Town Park. Mayor Maddox said that additional fencing would be added and noted that the playground had several users on its opening day.

Richard Carver suggested that each council member be provided an end-of-the-year recap of all ordinances and resolutions passed during the year.

Mayor Maddox announced that representatives of G & W Foods had been in town Thursday and had been given a walk-through of the former Marvin's building. He said they were "fairly interested" in occupying the building. He noted that traffic counts in town have gone up each year for the last several years and he felt confident the city would attract another grocer. He reported that the Walmart building was up for sale but the company had not yet released a price.

General News on 02/03/2016