Council members hear reports, set agenda

GRAVETTE -- City Council members heard reports from several department heads at their committee of the whole meeting Thursday, Aug. 10, at city hall.

Tim Dewitt, streets and parks department manager, reported that Cassville Sealing and Striping would be in town soon to do striping on parking lots across from the In Zone and in Kindley Park. He said the basketball court in Kindley Park had been resurfaced and new concrete poured under the pavilion and around the airplane. Mayor Kurt Maddox had made arrangements with Gordon Ponsford, of Ponsford, Ltd., to make an annual visit to do maintenance on the airplane.

Corey Reardon, water and sewer department manager, reported that the sewer project on El Paso Street was not going to be completed by its Aug. 14 deadline. The contractor had asked for two additional weeks. The decision was made to open the street Aug. 14 to 16 for the first three days of school and then close it again for construction to be completed.

Karen Benson, library manager, reported that the children's reading program had ended. Children in the program had recorded over 310 hours of reading and average attendance was 75.

Chuck Skaggs, police chief, reported two new police officers had been added to the department. Brian McKenzie was to begin work Aug. 14 and Bradley McNelly is in a training program. Camera systems have been installed in the police cars.

Skaggs reported for the fire department that Care and Share was making a donation for two new life packs. Mayor Maddox said candidates for fire chief had been interviewed and a recommendation made for hiring one. If the applicant accepts, he will begin work Sept. 1.

Council member Melissa Barnett asked about the issue of carbon monoxide buildup in police cars which has recently been in the news. Skaggs said there had been no indication of problems in any of Gravette's vehicles. He has ordered four carbon monoxide monitors to be installed in police vehicles. If levels get too high, an alarm will sound, he said, and the vehicle will be taken in for service.

Mayor Maddox reported that all materials for the splash park had been ordered and both it and the projects in Hiwasse should be completed by spring.

Jeff Davis and Tim Horten, Gravette Lions Club members, presented a proposal to build a human foosball court for the youth of Gravette. Plans for the court and several proposed sites were presented. Davis reported that Gravette businessman Danny White agreed to pay for materials and Lions Club members would build the court. The Lions also plan to apply for a grant of up to $1,000 to help finance the project. No council member had any objections, so a vote on the project will be on the agenda for the Aug. 24 city council meeting. Tim Dewitt and Mayor Maddox will consider locations.

Representatives of Heritage Baptist Church were present and asked for a variance to build an addition on the west side of the church. Church members had constructed a parking lot recently on the south side of the church and said the addition will be phase two of their building project. A vote on the variance will be on the agenda for the Aug. 24 council meeting.

Drawings were presented for a proposed mural on the east wall of the Junkin Sailor building for Les Wingo. Mayor Maddox suggested that council members might want to set some guidelines regarding what type of designs would be allowed. He said some cities restrict colors of paint to be used on signs but a mural is not actually a sign. David Bailey, city attorney, agreed to take a look at the city's sign ordinance before further consideration of the mural proposal.

Council members discussed EMS charges for ambulance runs to the city of Decatur. Mayor Maddox said the Decatur mayor had requested a figure by August. The current charge is $30,000 a year but, after some discussion, it was decided to raise that to $35,000 in 2018 and $40,000 in 2019. EMS charges to Sulphur Springs are $2,400 annually, but very few ambulance runs are made to Sulphur Springs so that figure will remain the same.

Carl Rabey, city finance director, gave an update on the city's bond financials, with a report of each bond-financed project, money already spent, money obligated but still unspent and money remaining for each project.

Rabey also presented the monthly financial reports for July. He said the general fund showed a $20,000 surplus for the month and the city was "right on track" with the budget. Rabey also reported that Jennifer Hanners has been hired as the new water clerk and front desk receptionist and will begin work on Aug. 21.

General News on 08/16/2017