Highfill looks to Centerton for water and sewer needs

HIGHFILL -- The city council, at its April 9 meeting, opted to pursue a partnership with the city of Centerton to help meet Highfill's water and sewer needs.

The council rejected bids to extend the city's water system with a loop along Hutchens Road because it had a greater need to increase sewer capacities to facilitate growth. Four bids were received, ranging from $309,000 to $422,000 for the project. The city will have to return unused funds for water lines back to the state after all bills related to the waterline extensions are paid.

Frank Holzkamper, Centerton Utilities director, addressed the council with a proposal for Centerton to take over the management of Highfill's water system. Holzkamper estimated the city would have close to a 50 percent return on its system under the plan with income at about $82,000 and expenses at about $42,000.

Under the proposed plan, Centerton would handle hookups, meter reading and billing for the city and do the maintenance work on Highfill's system. He said there would be a one-time setup fee to put Highfill's accounts -- 800 to 850 of them -- into Centerton's accounting system.

Holzkamper said Highfill would still be responsible for purchasing meters, line extensions, trash service and mowing the current drip field at the wastewater plant. He suggested a monthly meter-replacement fee as a way to offset the cost of meters. He suggested a contract of 3 to 5 years as a minimum because of the time and expense to take over the water system.

The council voted to pursue a contract with Centerton for its services.

Also brought to the council by Tim Mays, of Engineering Services Inc., was a proposal to connect the city's sewer system to Centerton's system by modifying a lift station in the system to pump wastewater north to Centerton rather than south. He estimated the cost for the modifications at $775,000 for upgrades to the Hutchens Road lift station and a 10-inch main to Centerton's system. The modifications include a pump upgrade from 40 horsepower to 60 horsepower, electrical control upgrades, a 60 horsepower add-a-phase unit, generator upgrades and flood control improvements.

The council had been seeking funding and approval of an option to extend a sewer main to Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority at an estimated cost of $3.8 million.

Due to the urgent need, Mays recommended the city seek state or private funding options rather than federal because federal funding would take 20-24 months to obtain and housing developments are being planned and waiting for adequate sewer service.

Mays said the sewer connection to Centerton could handle 1.044 million gallons per day. The city currently has a capacity of 300,000 gallons per day, and it may be possible to use both systems if need be in the future.

The council voted unanimously to pursue the option to extend sewer lines to Centerton and to seek funding for the project. The city currently has a $200,000 grant application submitted to the Arkansas Department of Natural Resources for upgrades to the Hutchens Road lift station. If the grant is received, the city may be able to use that funding toward the $775,000 project.

Dan Mitchell of Shuber Mitchell Homes addressed the council and expressed his thanks for the council's cooperation with the Shuber Mitchell Homes subdivisions and said he was open to working with the city on ways to expand its water and sewer services so that planned developments can move forward.

An ordinance lowering the speed limit on Vaughn Road at the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter to 25 mph was passed on its first reading. Not enough council members were present early in the meeting to pass an emergency clause, so the proposed ordinance will be brought back for subsequent readings at the May council meeting.

Council members Ryan Evans, Jayme Thompson, Chris Holland and Wesley Evans were present. David Williamson arrived after the vote. Toby Lester was absent.

The council passed an ordinance on three readings and with an emergency clause to change the zoning of land owned by Charles Bookout from C1-Commercial to R1-Residential to allow the sale of the land as a homesite to proceed.

Michelle Rieff, Highfill's mayor, announced that Jeffrey "JC" Brenaman was hired to fill the city's new public works maintenance post.

General News on 04/17/2019