Gravette council approves grant application, budget increase

Photo by Patrick Hall New Gravette planning commission members were sworn in by the mayor at the city council meeting last Monday. Planning commission members, shown here, are Dean Edmondson, left, Jeff Davis, Patti Bertschy, Ashley Harris and Shannon Mitchell.
Photo by Patrick Hall New Gravette planning commission members were sworn in by the mayor at the city council meeting last Monday. Planning commission members, shown here, are Dean Edmondson, left, Jeff Davis, Patti Bertschy, Ashley Harris and Shannon Mitchell.

GRAVETTE -- Members of the Gravette city council, in their meeting last Thursday, passed a resolution authorizing the mayor to make application to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism for a 50/50 matching grant from the Outdoor Recreation Grant Program. The grant, if approved, will be used to develop recreational facilities in Pop Allum Park. A second resolution was passed approving an amendment to the 2016 city budget. The amendment authorizes an increase of $2,612 in the water and sewer fund budget.

In other business, council members passed an ordinance approving a lot split for property owned by Michael and Mandy Perry on North Mt. Pleasant Road in the Hiwasse community.

An ordinance was also passed repealing all previous planning commission ordinances and establishing a nomination procedure for new planning commission members. Five members applying for planning commission membership were present and introduced themselves. The council voted to approve these five applicants; and Kurt Maddox, mayor, issued the oath of office to Patti Bertschy, Ashley Harris and Shannon Mitchell of Hiwasse and Jeff Davis and Dean Edmondson of Gravette. Tina Crose has expressed interest in being an alternate.

Council members approved allowing Joe Ellis, owner of the old Downing building on Main Street, to sell advertising sign space on the west side of his building. Persons purchasing the sign space must go to city hall and apply for a sign permit.

A vote to approve a conditional use permit for JoAnne Manovsky to operate a day care center on Bradford Street in Patriot Park was tabled.

Council members voted to move the July committee of the whole meeting from July 14 to Tuesday, July 12.

A public meeting was held preceding the council meeting to help identify citizens' outdoor park and recreation needs and priorities. Cassie Elliott, grant writer with Visionary Milestones at Centerton, was present and summarized citizen comments she had received regarding such priorities. Comments were submitted by a broad range of citizens, from youth to senior citizens. Elliott said there was great interest in developing sidewalks and walking trails. Young responders were also interested in building more basketball courts, baseball fields and soccer fields. Some showed interest in a veterans' memorial park, and senior citizens were mainly interested in restaurants and department stores, she said.

Applications for the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism Outdoor Recreation Grants are due in August and citizens may still submit comment cards until August 1. A hearing on the applications will be held in October.

Elliott also discussed grant funds available through the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program. ACEDP funds are administered by the Economic Development Commission. Elliott said Gravette and Highfill are the only towns in Benton County eligible for such funds and encouraged the city to make application for funds to use for a new fire truck which is needed.

Following the meeting, Mayor Maddox welcomed the new planning commission members and said it was important to have good long-range planning, especially for zoning regulations and roads.

General News on 06/29/2016