Council OKs ambulance purchase

— Gravette city council members passed a resolution at their meeting Thursday night authorizing the purchase of an ambulance for the city. The purchase price of the vehicle, a 2013 Dodge type 1-UM Road Rescue ambulance, is $165,880. It is being fi - nanced through the Bank of Gravett.

Passage of the ambulance resolution was theonly business conducted at the 30-minute meeting held at the Civic Center.

City attorney David Bailey reported, after research he had done on called meetings, that three or more council members may call a special meeting. As long as the purpose of the called meeting is simply stated, with no discussion of the issue involved, this does not violate FOI laws.

Mayor Byron Warren addressed questions about upkeep of Russell Cemetery west of town. He reported that, when a township is dissolved, oversight of cemeteries reverts to the county rather than a city. He will make contact with the county about work needed there.

Three citizens were allowed to comment before the meeting. One homeowner on Bluebird Road reported damage after a clogged culvert allowed rainwater to back up onto his property. He requested restoration of the property to its original state and thecity crew is working with him on that project.

Another property owner on Bluebird Road is desiring to have his road paved, but Mayor Warren said the cost was prohibitive. Warren said most people in the area told him they preferred their roads to remain dirt.

A third homeowner, on Ridge Road, questioned why her property had not been cleaned up after work to upgrade the water line to a larger size was completed.

Community News, Pages 6 on 08/28/2013