GRAVETTE — Members of the Gravette City Council, at their meeting Thursday night, voted to surplus four city vehicles and a lawn mower and have them sold at the county auction June 11. These include three retired police vehicles, a water department pickup truck and a water department lawn tractor.
In other action, they passed an ordinance which will place the question of changing council members' terms from two years to four years, thus staggering terms, on the ballot for the Nov. 6, 2018, general election.
The decision of whether to grant a variance for a 6-foot fence in the front yard of a residence on Sixth Avenue, S.W., was tabled until council members receive a requested copy of the homeowner's response to the city's letter informing him of noncompliance. City attorney David Bailey said he had done some research on variances and feels a variance is not proper in this case. He feels that variances are for the purpose of dealing with situations where the property is so unique that obeying the current regulations would create a hardship. He says the property in question is not unique.
Council member Melissa Smith asked about the status of the former nursing home property on Dallas Street. Kurt Maddox, Gravette mayor, said the owners had been given 90 days to make some progress on cleaning up and improving the property but, so far, no action had been taken and the grounds need mowing again. When asked what could be done, Maddox said if no action is taken by the deadline date the city could condemn the property and put a lien against it. If that is not paid, the property could eventually revert back to the city.
Richard Carver, another council member, suggested the city consider purchasing its own road grader. He feels that option should be explored because of the large area recently annexed. Maddox said the county has said their crews might be able to help the city with paving but grading crews are backed up with work. He agreed to investigate the possibility of a city-owned grader.
Maddox said the city has plans to do paving on Gordon Hollow Road, South Mt. Pleasant Road and part of Cash Springs Road. Council member Rod Clardy suggested unfinished projects should be completed before starting new jobs. He recommended focusing on a project until completion rather than jumping from one to another.
General News on 06/01/2016