GRAVETTE — During reports at the Oct. 12 meeting of the committee of the whole, Corey Reardon, water and sewer department supervisor, said the water department is hurting for revenue. He said many meters have been set recently for new building sites at no cost to the customer. Other towns charge for setting the meter, and Reardon proposed that the developer pay a $260 fee. Reardon said the city is being charged an increase of 10 cents per 1,000 gallons by the Benton-Washington Regional Public Water Authority. This increase and an earlier increase of 15 cents per 1,000 gallons were absorbed by the city. Reardon proposed the increases be passed on to the customer.
Reardon also said the city is being charged an increase of 10 cents per 1,000 gallons by the Benton-Washington Regional Public Water Authority. This increase and an earlier increase of 15 cents per 1,000 gallons were absorbed by the city. Reardon proposed the increases be passed on to the customer.
Reardon reported that a pump is down at the Walnut Creek lift station. It has been sent in for possible repair, but it may be impossible to repair, he said. A new pump would cost $10,000 to $16,000.
Kurt Maddox, Gravette mayor, explained that part of the water department's revenue problem is that it lost about $30,000 when the billing code was adjusted. He also noted that the city needs to purchase an additional 50 to 100 meters now just to meet the need for ongoing projects.
Tim Dewitt, street and parks department supervisor, reported that bids had been received for electrical work at Hiwasse. Bids ranged from $74,000 to $138,000, with Electrical Resources being the lowest bidder. Electrical Resources did all the electrical work for the new lighting on Main Street. Dewitt recommended the council accept the low bid. A vote to accept the bid will be on the agenda for the Oct. 26 council meeting.
Dewitt said the pavilion at Hiwasse is going up and the old house on the property has been torn down. Concrete for the bathrooms is scheduled to be poured this week.
Dewitt reported that he had received a bid of $71,550 to completely remodel the Gravette pool house. This remodel will bring the bathrooms up to code and make them handicap accessible. Council members agreed to advertise the project for competitive bidding.
Dewitt said that the city's New Holland tractor has had numerous problems ever since it was purchased. He has been investigating the purchase of a Bobcat with a snow plow, brush hog and side boom that will cut up to three-inch brush. Cost, after the discount for cities, will be $65,538. A vote on the purchase of the Bobcat will be on the agenda for the Oct. 26 council meeting.
Dewitt said one of his workers had gotten a mower entangled in Wayne Dirck's fence adjoining Pop Allum Park. About eight feet of fence was torn out. Consideration of a bid for eight feet of fence will be on the agenda for the Oct. 26 council meeting, as well.
Karen Benson, library supervisor, reported a profit of $3,000 from the recent library gala. She also reported a $1,000 grant has been received from Walmart DC #6051 for Teen MakerSpace. She said she attended the Arkansas Library Association annual conference. What she learned there led her to believe that the Gravette Public Library is headed in the right direction, offering programs that involve learning by doing.
Lonnie Mullen, fire chief, reported the department has made 801 calls, year-to-date. All career personnel are back to full-time duty, he said.
Mullen said the fire department now has very little policy. He said it would cost $200,000 to be compliant with the respiratory protection program. The grooming standard is the only program that could be implemented at no cost, so he has put it into force. He reported that the AFG and SAFER grants were not approved because they were poorly written. These grants may not exist next year, so he is pursuing other grants, including Firehouse Subs, State Farm and Blue and You.
Mullen reported two pumper trucks are out of service. One ambulance is out of service and another, the major medical unit, has an oil leak. He said he is working to prevent recurring problems.
Chief Mullen said the fire department now has more volunteers and the part-timers are more engaged. Equipment is being maintained better and training is better, but there are still several problems to address. "This will be a marathon, not a sprint," he said.
Chuck Skaggs, police chief, said his department has been very busy, with more than 3,000 calls, year-to-date. He reported that GTEC is participating in a business fair Oct. 30 in Bentonville and has asked to use one of the Gravette police cars to demonstrate its system.
Skaggs reported the department has a new sergeant, Chris Kelly. Kelly has worked for Benton County for more than nine years and is very well qualified, he said. He hopes to fill the detective position this week from in-house. He said the way the county is growing, he anticipates the need for a local dispatch center within 10 years.
In new business, council members talked about what action to take with the old Presbyterian Church. Mike von Ree, city clerk, reported all the paperwork had been done for the application for listing on the National Register but it needed to be resubmitted. The siding on the building has been pulled off and the roof needs to be redone soon. For inclusion on the National Register, the side-entry porch must be removed since it is not original.
Council members approved paying the annual Arkansas City Attorneys Association dues.
Council members reviewed the rezoning of five lots on Dallas Street S.W., in the old Dan Leaf Subdivision, reviewed a conditional use permit for Pups and Pals Grooming to do dog grooming in the garage; and reviewed a conditional use permit for the Gravette Station since there is nothing in the ordinance permitting rental of U-Haul vehicles.
City clerk von Ree said that a tract split for Coughlin property, in the Hiwasse area, will be on the agenda for the Oct. 26 council meeting.
Carl Rabey, the city finance director, gave an update on bond finances with statements of revenue and expenses in the bond funds. He reported capital improvement funds have been included in the general fund but, since it has been approved as a separate fund, it will be transferred out.
Rabey said the legislative audit is complete and water department auditors should be here soon. When asked about a projected end-of-year surplus, he said he would not speculate since it would depend on when FEMA funds are received. Fourth quarter ambulance billing will be done soon and November is usually the big month for property tax income, he said.
General News on 10/25/2017