GRAVETTE -- Gravette city council members convened a public hearing preceding their regular meeting May 24 to consider rezoning property owned by Lewis Ryan at 405 Second Ave. S.W. and splitting a lot and adjusting a lot line for property owned by David and Ann Steele and George and Marianne Robinson at 2001 Limekiln Road.
Lewis Ryan was present at the meeting and expressed his desire to have his property rezoned from residential to commercial so he could build a metal building for storage of materials used in his business. He said he felt the area would eventually attract other businesses and his business will be good for the city. He intends to build an attractive building and will decorate it however the city instructs him. He said there would be no signage and no traffic in and out as customers would not be served on site. No one was present to comment pro or con on the Robinson lot split.
Tina Crose spoke in the comment period at the beginning of the meeting and praised Gravette fire chief Lonnie Mullen for working with her son Taylor. Taylor is a special-needs child who had a fear of firefighters, and Mullen has invited him for several visits to the fire station to inspect the trucks and equipment and eat with the firefighters in order to help alleviate that fear. Crose thanked Mullen for his special efforts and said it could help save Taylor's life in an emergency.
Dale Ayres also addressed the council during the comment period and asked the members for further clarification on the costs of ambulance service.
Council members passed an ordinance approving the Robinson lot split and lot-line adjustment. A vote on rezoning the Ryan property was tabled after some discussion. Mayor Kurt Maddox reported the planning commission had voted to deny the rezoning request.
Commission member Bill Mattler was present and explained the reason was that they felt it would be disruptive to the residential neighborhood.
City clerk Mike von Ree said letters had been sent to households in the neighborhood and no negative responses to the action were received. The only response was favorable.
Council member Ron Theis asked if the issue could be referred back to the planning commission for reconsideration or consideration of an alternative zoning.
Mattler said the commission members would be happy to look at the issue again and Mayor Maddox asked Ryan to attend the next commission meeting and work toward coming to an agreement.
An ordinance setting new fees for ambulance service was tabled. Both council member Melissa Burnett and Mayor Maddox said the fees in the ordinance were not correct. Burnett reminded council members that she had recommended using national averages as fees to be charged. Council member Jeff Davis said he had researched figures for other locations in Arkansas and he felt the figures in the ordinance were in line with other Arkansas services.
An ordinance setting requirements for private developers to bear the cost of water and sewer improvements for large developments and subdivisions was tabled until city attorney David Bailey can meet with officials in Centerton to make sure regulations are consistent with their policies.
Council members voted to approve the recommendation of water and sewer department manager Corey Reardon to trade in the city's 2012 John Deere tractor toward the purchase of a John Deere 35G compact excavator. Purchase price with the trade-in is $19,876.
Council members discussed the purchase of property at the corner of Highways 279 and 72 in Hiwasse. The property will be auctioned at a tax sale June 14, and Mayor Maddox suggested it might be a good location for building a Hiwasse fire station. City clerk Mike von Ree reported the assessed value of the two lots is $90,000, and council member Rod Clardy said it was "the best location in Hiwasse." Council member Ron Theis said the purchase was worth investigating and recommended it be discussed further at a special council meeting to be held June 5.
A vote on the purchase of a new ambulance was tabled until more is known about whether towns Gravette now serves plan to contract with the county for ambulance service. Mayor Maddox speculated that decision would probably be made in the next 90 days. He commented that Gravette is currently in a good position even if neighboring towns choose to contract with the county. Council member Theis said he was convinced the city is on the right track in keeping its own service and noted that buying into a county system can be done at any time and it is not necessary to jump in immediately.
Council members voted to approve budget adjustments of $25,000 to increase professional services for the water department and $19,876 for the purchase of equipment. An adjustment was made to add the $50,000 Care and Share donation to the museum budget for renovation of the old home economics building for use as a community center.
Mayor Maddox reminded those present of the grand opening ceremony and open house at the Hiwasse park and community building Thursday, May 31. He reported that work on the Gravette pool and splash pad is slightly behind schedule but completion is expected soon and projected an opening date of June 15.
General News on 05/30/2018