GRAVETTE -- Members of the Gravette city council, at a special council meeting Thursday night, passed an ordinance creating a municipal library for the city of Gravette and establishing a municipal library advisory board. The ordinance is patterned after one used by the Bentonville library, Gravette mayor Kurt Maddox explained.
In the comment period prior to the meeting, Rhonda Baerwald and Artemis Edmondson, two former library employees, spoke and outlined the circumstances of their dismissal. Dodie Evans, one of the city's first library commissioners, also spoke in support of the library. All three were opposed to the creation of an independent library board not under the auspices of the city. Evans said he believed the ordinance was contrary to regulations set forth in the public library laws of the state of Arkansas. He suggested the council delete the emergency clause at the end of the ordinance and consider it over a period of three readings before taking the final vote.
Roy Perrine, chairman of the library commission, addressed the council briefly and said the current commission was already a board of trustees, according to a source at the state library commission, and said, "I just ask you to recognize us and let us do our duties."
David Bailey, city attorney, said he had always been a supporter of the library and gave his interpretation of the Arkansas library laws. He said that after extensive research, he found no problem with the ordinance presented. The ordinance passed unanimously, with council member Margo Thomas abstaining.
During the special council meeting, council members also voted to approve one of the Morrison-Shipley concept plans for Main Street improvements. The plan approved will make sidewalks two feet wider than current ones, allow for about 11 more parking spaces than the other plans and continue the current two-way traffic flow. Now that a plan has been chosen, engineers will soon go to work on that plan.
The regular monthly committee of the whole meeting preceded the special council meeting. During the COW meeting, council members reviewed the city's ambulance service agreement. Fire chief Rob Douthit explained the agreement was a continuation of the current service and would extend the service another three years. David Bailey, city attorney, asked if Section 14, "Governing Law and Jurisdiction," could be changed. Section 14 specifies, "This agreement shall be interpreted and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky." Since Bailey is not licensed to practice in Kentucky courts, he requested a change to have jurisdiction in Arkansas courts. Douthit said he would see about getting that done. The agreement will be on the agenda for the Sept. 22 council meeting.
Corey Reardon, water and sewer department manager, reported an alternate was needed for the Two-Ton board. Since no council member volunteered for the position, mayor Maddox asked Tim Dewitt to serve. Reardon also reported that a compaction test on the north end of the sewer lagoons and an ADEQ inspection were scheduled in the next few days. He said the company putting in the new water meters was making progress but replacement of the larger meters would have to be scheduled after 4 p.m. since service would have to be shut down to customers such as the school and the concrete plant.
Tim Dewitt, streets and parks department manager, reported he had received paperwork back from FEMA on storm damage in late 2015 in Hiwasse. Bids are now being taken on street work, both small projects and large ones involving installation of culverts. He said FEMA repairs approved didn't cover red dirt and the city would have to spend $15,000 to $20,000 for red dirt. Chris Speights, finance director, said a budget adjustment would have to be done.
Rob Douthit, fire chief, reported the fire department would be making another push in October to sign up people for smoke detectors. This will probably be coordinated with the Hiwasse fall festival with signup also possible on Facebook. Douthit said a service was planned at the fire station Sunday morning in commemoration of the September 11 anniversary and fire department training would be held at a house on Fort Smith, S.E., Sunday afternoon in preparation for burning it later.
Sergeant Chuck Skaggs submitted the police department report and noted that it was now categorized by the officer working the incident.
Chris Speights said no financial report was submitted because complete reconciliation was not possible due to the Monday holiday. She said interviews for police chief would be held Thursday, Sept. 22, with a panel of seven interviewers.
A resolution of intent regarding capital improvements will also be on the September council meeting agenda. The city attorney recommends passage of the resolution to ensure that city funds expended on street improvements, park and recreational improvements, sewer improvements and sidewalk improvements covered by the recently-passed bond issue can be reimbursed from proceeds of the bonds when they are issued.
A short executive session was held just before the end of the COW meeting. When council members returned to regular session, mayor Kurt Maddox reported that no official action was taken.
General News on 09/14/2016