GENTRY — A vacancy was declared on the Gentry City Council at its Nov. 6 meeting following the resignation of Kyle Jordan from his Ward 2 post on Nov. 3. Jordan resigned because he moved from Ward 2 to a different ward in the city.
With the vacancy declared, the mayor will accept letters of interest and applications from residents of Ward 2, with the council appointing a replacement member of the board at its regular December meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4.
Ward 2 lies north of Third Street between Rust Avenue and Smith Avenue and extends to the northwest corner of the city, between Collins and west of Pine Avenue. A city ward map can be viewed on the city's website at www.gentryarkansas.us/maps.
Kevin Johnston, Gentry's mayor, also notified the council that the Arkansas Department of Transportation had declined the city's request to lower the speed limit on Arkansas Highway 59 (also Gentry Blvd.) to 45 mph from the north edge of the city to just north of Main Street and to 40 mph through the business district along the highway. The letter from the state agency cited a study of motorists speeds within the specified length of highway and the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and said: "based on this study, the speed limit will not be lowered at this time...."
The city had requested the change because of the hazards caused by an increase in traffic on the highway and the number of vehicles attempting to enter and exit the road from side streets and business locations. Also noted was an anomaly in which a section of the highway had different posted speed limits for northbound traffic than for southbound. As traffic increases, the issue is likely to again be brought to the state because of safety issues and the number of accidents on the highway through the city.
The council rejected two bids for work to build a public works maintenance building. One bid, for foundation work, was rejected because the bidder did not include the required bid bond. Other bids for foundation work and building construction were rejected because they exceeded the city's appropriation for the project.
The council passed a resolution to charge set fees for water meters attached to hydrants for special water needs in addition to fees charged for the water. The meter fees are based on the length of use.
A proposed budget for 2018 was submitted to the council by the mayor at the Nov. 3 meeting (mayors are required to submit them by Dec. 1 of each year). The council will hold special meetings to consider the proposed budget and make any changes it deems necessary before it adopts the annual budget. Special budget meetings at city hall were set for Wednesday, Nov. 15, and Monday, Nov. 20, both beginning at 5 p.m.
General News on 11/15/2017