Committee of the Whole hears reports

GRAVETTE - Carmen Moore and Roy Perrine were sworn in as new library commission members at the beginning of the Oct. 10 Committee of the Whole meeting City recorder Mike von Ree presided in the absence of the mayor.

Blair Johanson of the Johanson Group made a presentation proposing the city adopt a job classifi cation system. Employee compensation would be based on a point system which considers 15 factors, including education and years of experience. Good job descriptions are key, it was noted. The Johanson Group has worked with the Bella Vista P.O.A.

Springdale and Washington County. They would compare the wage scale with towns of similar size and evaluate it against the current system.

Tracy Sewell, Gravette’s business manager, recommended accepting the Johanson Group’s proposal because it is much more objective than the present method.

Morgan Black, of Ozarks Community Hospital, gave a brief presentation on the health insurance marketplace. She said OCH wants to help people eligible for health insurance and be a resource in the community for health insurance information. They have recently hired Amanda Gillein as a full-time employee to be a case manager to assist in this service.

Kim Schneider, library manager, reported the library gala Tuesday night was very successful. Checks are still coming in, but she anticipates the profit will be $8,000 to $10,000. She announced that GED classesbegan Oct. 7, with classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m.

Fire Chief David Smith gave his monthly report showing 11 fire calls and 50 EMS runs, including three public service calls. Councilman James Denver asked whether the $85 county tax would now cover ambulance service in unincorporated areas or whether an ambulance membership would still be charged. Chief Smith explained that the ambulance membership usually covered the portion of the charge for which the patient was responsible. If the patient had no ambulance membership, he would have to pay for the call out of his own pocket.

Police Chief Andrew Bower reported that the Gravette Police Department began to keep its own statistics Aug. 1 The department had covered 7,500 miles, according to the September report. The new Leads Online program should help prevent thefts Bower said. Soffit and fascia have been replaced on the police station. An audit of the evidence room is being conducted, and some state police policies and paperwork are being adopted.

A wrecker company rotation has been established Companies on the rotation must offer 24-hour service have a 30-minute response time and hold the proper permits. The Gravette P.D has been awarded a drug take-back box, and chief Bower has secured volunteer labor and materials to install it in front of the police station. Several vests which could no longer be used because of changing regulations have been donated to the fi re department.

The department recently canceled a large ammunitionorder and placed the money back in the training budget to fi nish the fi ring range. Chief Bower has secured bids on a new server for case fi les, and cost is approximately $5,000 He has reviewed the sally port plans and determined a free-standing unit about fi ve feet from the police station would be most practical. Cost will be about $116,000. The department has received a $4,300 JAG grant which can be used for materials other than weapons.

A mutual aid agreement is being worked out with the county to ensure that local officers assisting on county calls will have backup. The new SRO (School Resource Officer) agreement was presented, adding the condition that one SRO will be on school grounds at all times from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It will be voted on at the Oct. 24 council meeting.

Tim Dewitt, head of the street department, reported that the AT&T line on Bluebird Road would be moved at no cost to the city. He said crews had been mowing at the cemetery this week and work was continuing to clean around stop signs and clear brush in roads.

Corey Reardon reported that the water tower on Shady Grove was on line and the water line on Ridge Road is in. Work on the lift station should wrap up soon. Leaks on the Number 2 Lagoon at the sewer plant have been repaired, and it is being refi lled Reardon said he would like for the city to purchase their own camera to check sewer lines. Cost would be about $8,000. By the middle of next month, he should have the laptop, software and training program for meter replacement to begin.

Mike von Ree, planning commission chair, reported he had acted as agent for fi ve property owners near Hiwasse seeking annexation to the city. Rezoning of Hiwasse annexed property is continuing. Council members noted condemnation proceedings needed to be started on some Hiwasse properties, also on the old nursing home property in Gravette. Representatives from Heritage Baptist Church reported they had purchased the two vacant houses south of their church and planned to tear them down within the next year.

Business manager, Tracy Sewell, reported the accounting manual had been completed and a letter of commendation received from the municipal league.

She reported a complete FEMA team had met with the city to help them recover every dollar possible for road repair. Their objective is to make conditions better than the original if possible, not just fix them. Sewell completed the meeting by presenting the city’s September fi nancial report and announced that she, Mayor Byron Warren and assistant fi nance director, Lori Leonard, would be attending a meeting in Little Rock Nov. 7.

An ordinance designating the Benton County West District Court clerk as the official responsible for the collection of fines assessed in the district court for the city of Gravette will be voted on at the Oct. 24 council meeting.

von Ree noted that there was an opening on the council following the resignation of Larry Stidham. Interested applicants should report to city hall.

News, Pages 6 on 10/16/2013