GRAVETTE — Gravette city council members, in their regular meeting June 22, voted to approve contracts with BiLD Architects for improvements at Pop Allum Park and improvements in the Hiwasse community. Both projects will be paid for with bond money approved by voters in the March, 2016, capital improvements fund bond measure.
The $27,750 contract for parking improvements and soccer fields at Pop Allum Park includes a $21,000 architectural contract, a $4,750 contract for surveying and a $2,000 contract for geotechnical services. The work to be done includes 1) asphalt improvements to the north parking lot, 2) three soccer fields on the south side of the park, 3) ADA compliant sidewalks connecting the parking area to the soccer fields with the main north-south sidewalks for future connection to the city trail system and 4) master planning of a future baseball field north of the proposed soccer fields.
The $5,200 contract for improvements at the Hiwasse Community Building will cover design work for remodeling the interior of the building.
Council members also approved accepting a $20,000 bid from Lunsford, Ltd., of Acworth, Ga., for maintenance on the Air Force plane in Kindley Park, which includes a $2,000 bid to repair torn metal on the left and right rear of the fuselage and to repair the dent on the leading edge of the right tail fin. Half of the cost, $10,000, will be paid by insurance money already received by the city. A resolution was passed for a budget adjustment to finance the maintenance.
A vote on a motion to offer $10,000 for purchase of property at Fort Smith Street, S.W., and Third Avenue, S.W., was tabled until the July council meeting.
Ordinances were passed rezoning property owned by Kim and Marylea Hendren at 209 Second Avenue, S.W., from I-1 (industrial) to C-2 (highway commercial), rezoning property owned by Vernon Schmiegelow on Second Avenue, S.W., from I-1 (industrial) to C-2 (highway commercial) and adjusting a lot line for property owned by Bob and Beverly Blocker at 209 Redbud Lane, N.E. Another ordinance was passed closing Fifth Avenue between Birmingham Street, S.E., and Charlotte Street, S.E., since the street has not been used for more than five years.
Council members voted to accept a bid of $64,075 from Morrison-Shipley Engineers for sanitary sewer improvements on El Paso Street and Birmingham Street. Work on El Paso Street is to be done by Aug. 14.
They also approved a request from Dave Macewan, who owns property at 302 Fourth Avenue, S.W., to remove a damaged sidewalk at his residence on Fourth Avenue. Mayor Kurt Maddox said the city would likely be building new sidewalks there in the future.
Carl Rabey, city finance director, presented figures on the budget year to date. Maddox said a new law requires a monthly report be presented.
Board members adjourned and went into a short executive session. When they reconvened in regular session, Mayor Maddox reported no action was taken.
At the end of the meeting, city attorney David Bailey said the training sessions he attended at the Arkansas Municipal League in Little Rock the previous week were valuable and he learned a lot.
Maddox reminded those present about the city's Independence Day celebration from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 1, at Pop Allum Park with a DJ and fireworks show planned.
In response to a question about work at Hiwasse, he said a new roof and painting at the Community Building are to be completed within the next two weeks and two bids have been received for work on the pavilion, bathrooms and sidewalks.
Maddox also reported roadwork on Gordon Hollow Road was complete, street lights and flower plantings were being installed on Gravette Main Street, and the last two inches of paving on Main Street would be put down Thursday, June 29.
General News on 06/28/2017