Council approves appointments, accepts poolhouse bid

Photo by Susan Holland Gravette mayor Kurt Maddox (left) swore in Jeff Davis and Bill Mattler as members of the planning commission at the Nov. 16 city council meeting. Davis has served a short term on the commission in 2017 and was reapproved for membership. Mattler was approved as a new member of the commission.

Photo by Susan Holland Gravette mayor Kurt Maddox (left) swore in Jeff Davis and Bill Mattler as members of the planning commission at the Nov. 16 city council meeting. Davis has served a short term on the commission in 2017 and was reapproved for membership. Mattler was approved as a new member of the commission.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

— Jeff Davis and Bill Mattler were approved as members of the planning commission and were sworn in by Mayor Kurt Maddox at the Nov. 16 meeting of the Gravette City Council. Davis served a short term in 2017 and is being reappointed, and Mattler is a new member of the commission.

Council members approved changing the date of the December committee of the whole meeting to Thursday, Dec. 7, and the December city council meeting to Tuesday, Dec. 12, both at 6 p.m.

An ordinance was passed approving the annexation of 14.07 acres at 18169 Ridge Road, owned by Tony Steele and William M. Duncan, into the city. This is the former Lonnie and Vicki Ash property.

Mayor Maddox reported two bids had been received for renovation of the Gravette poolhouse. A bid of $64,673 from Heartland Construction was the lowest. Maddox recommended accepting the Heartland bid. Council members approved his recommendation and voted to accept the low bid. Heartland is the group currently doing the work at the Gravette pool and the Hiwasse playground.

Council members voted to accept a proposal by Sand Creek Engineering to provide a preliminary engineering report for sewer service to the Hiwasse area. Another voted was held to approve a budget adjustment of $35,200 to fund the report, to be paid from the water reserve account.

A vote on an ordinance to rezone five lots on Dallas Street S.W. in the Dugan and Leaf Subdivision was tabled until December to allow more time for citizen input.

Council members discussed whether to keep recorded minutes of city meetings after the minutes have been approved. Members agreed to continue to keep recorded minutes of the committee of the whole and the city council meetings. Council member Richard Carver recommended the council create a policy and approve it. Planning commission, museum commission, and library board meetings will be recorded only at their direction.

Carl Rabey, financial director, distributed copies of 2017 budget figures, 2017 actual expenses and 2018 budget figures. Mayor Maddox asked council members to study the figures and be prepared to go over them in detail at the December 7 committee of the whole meeting.

Community on 11/22/2017