Gravette council members hear department reports

GRAVETTE -- Gravette City Council members heard reports from several city department heads at their monthly committee of the whole meeting Thursday, Dec. 7.

Chuck Skaggs, police chief, reported the police department had responded to 2,662 calls year-to-date. He said collections during No Shave November had allowed the department to feed nine needy families at Thanksgiving. He noted that Gravette had moved up from the 13th safest city in the state last year to eighth this year and reported that the department raised $115.92 at its recent chili cook-off. This will be added to contributions from the fire department and will allow five youngsters to Shop with a Cop.

Council members discussed establishing a policy for recording council meetings and to determine how long to retain those recorded minutes. City attorney David Bailey said he was concerned such a policy might create an unnecessary burden for the city since it was not required to record meetings. Councilman Richard Carver recommended setting up a certain procedure rather than establishing a policy. Most members expressed support for Bailey's recommendation to have city clerk Mike von Ree record the meetings to have recorded comments for his minutes, then destroy the tapes after von Ree's written minutes are approved at subsequent meetings.

Council members considered the 2018 holiday schedule and the 2018 schedule of committee meetings and council meetings. The March council meeting was changed from March 22 to March 15 to avoid its falling during spring break. Mallory Weaver, executive assistant to the mayor, will check dates of upcoming Municipal League meetings and a vote on the holiday schedules and meeting schedules will be on the Dec. 12 council meeting agenda.

Two proposed ordinances prohibiting smoking and tobacco use in city parks were considered. Councilman Ron Theis said he felt the proposed ordinances were too overreaching and expressed concern that the city would spend much time and money improving parks and recreation areas and then effectively ban about 25 percent of citizens because of their smoking. Councilman Carver said he supported an ordinance but was unsure about the wording, noting that the rights of smokers and nonsmokers need to be balanced. Mayor Kurt Maddox suggested setting up certain designated smoking areas and posting signs, leading to a discussion about the effectiveness of signs. Investigation of ordinances prohibiting tobacco use will continue.

Tim Dewitt, the parks department supervisor, presented two bids for materials and labor for replacing fences at five city ballfields. Thomas Fence Company submitted a bid of $34,068, and Center Point Contractors of Bentonville submitted a bid of $28,911.

Carl Rabey, finance director, presented a proposal to close the library commission bank account since, after the reorganization, there is no library commission but a library advisory board instead. Most of the money in the account has been spent so that it is almost depleted, he said. Other budget adjustments requested by Rabey included increasing the repairs and maintenance budget in the water department by $25,000 and decreasing its contract labor budget by $15,000 and its professional services budget by $10,000; merging the water revenue account into the water operating account; and establishing a separate payroll clearing account for all payroll activity. If approved, changes would be effective Jan. 1, 2018.

Rabey gave an update on city bond finances and presented figures for the proposed 2018 budget. He noted only a few minor changes from the proposed budget submitted in November. Mayor Maddox reported expenses were considerably higher for the parks department because of installation of splash park equipment and improvements at the pool but he noted 2018 pool revenue is expected to be up considerably because of the improvements, probably even more than estimates. He also reported money for a full-time code enforcement officer has been included in the 2018 budget and said he expected building permit revenue would more than offset his salary. A vote on the 2018 budget will be on the Dec. 12 council meeting agenda.

Councilwoman Melissa Burnett asked if anyone had spoken with Boys and Girls Club officials about the need for them to seek an alternate meeting place when renovation work begins on the civic center, probably in April. Mayor Maddox said he would make sure they were contacted.

Community on 12/13/2017