Committee holds busy two-hour session Thursday

— Two ordinances that were tabled at the last Gravette City Council meeting were given “go-ahead” nods at the all-council committee meeting Thursday night.

One, which is required by law, involves flood damage prevention; the other abolishes the Hillcrest Cemetery Commission. They had been tabled pending additional information and will be considered at the regular council meeting Feb. 23 when legal votes can be taken.

Jim Parsons, representing the Bella Vista Patriot organization, spoke briefly to the council concerning the Hiwasse annexation question. He urged the council to take quick action in supporting the Hiwasse request to annex into Gravette.

A resolution of support will be considered during the Feb. 23 regular meeting.

A project to extend Eighth Avenue S.W. and another to upsize a two-inch water line to six inches on Detroit Street S.E. to Eighth Avenue are progressing on schedule, the council was told. When work will begin has not been determined.

Donna Lee Jacques appeared before the council concerning her request for a conditional use permit to operate a home computer business. It was determined no permit is required and her application deposit will be refunded.

Reports from various city departments were received, including a report by fire chief David Smith. His report showed the department responded to 16 calls during January, which included two calls to assist other departments. Four responses were to vegetation fires, two responded to automatic fire alarms, three were EMT assistance calls and one was listed as miscellaneous.

A certificate of occupancy was issued to the new KBVA radio station studio after it passed fire department inspection.

The EMS division of the fire department showed response to 13 trauma calls, 29 medical calls and 1 public service. Eleven of the calls did not require transfers, with 23 transfers to Ozarks Community Hospital being completed.

Detailed reports for the police department were handed out for police chief Trent Morrison. During the month of December, 283 responses were recorded by the Benton County Office of Emergency Communications and 271 during the month of January. Most involved traffic stops, civil calls, animal calls, suspicious circumstances and reckless drivers.

Mayor Byron Warren reported the Street and Parks Department has been busy with general maintenance and cleanup, including clearing ditches and culverts in preparation for spring rains. Park and street cleanup are maintained on a routine schedule.

A report by library director Kim Schneider showed that 1,846 patrons used the library during January, which included 297 uses of library computers. Sixty-four new library patrons were added during the month.

Director of communications Allyson Ransom reported that the newly formed group of “Volunteers for Hillcrest Cemetery” is very active. She noted that additional volunteers who are interested in the cemetery are being encouraged to join the group. For information, she can be reached at 787-5368.

Ransom also reported the city will receive a $15,000non-matching grant for additional work at the municipal pool, which includes filtration equipment replacement.

She reported work on the walking trail in Pop Allum park is expected to begin about March 15, that the Farmer’s Market is scheduled to open April 7, and the Highway 59 beautification grant project in the Centennial Park area is being developed.

The council was informed the Summer Ball Program organization has installed concrete slabsunder bleachers in the park and a new post/cable barrier system has been installed to help control parking.

Mayor Warren reported on his trip to Little Rock with Alderman Jimmy Denver earlier in the week to visit with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality concerning the sewer plant project.

Warren said the ADEQ seems impressed with the progress Gravette is making but more detailed schedules of work and progress are required. He said oneADEQ comment characterized Gravette’s system as a “miracle plant” since it is meeting and greatly exceeding effluent requirements.

Other work, including installation of additional equipment and leaks in the lagoon system, are among items to be addressed, it was noted.

Warren also reported the state is about to begin replacement of a sewer line south of the Shop and Go station. This line was involved when gasoline contaminated it about two years ago.

News, Pages 1 on 02/15/2012