GRAVETTE -- Kurt Maddox, mayor of Gravette, presented his 2021 State of the City address at the regular meeting of the city council Thursday evening,
Jan. 14. He highlighted accomplishments during 2020 in several areas including finances, bond and grant financed projects, residential and commercial development, public safety, water, sewer and streets and the public library.
All council members were present except Rod Clardy, who joined the meeting remotely. Also in attendance were city attorney David Bailey and city clerk Mike von Ree.
In new business conducted at the meeting, council members heard the second reading of the city's proposed Unified Development Code. Two ordinances were passed for property owned by Billy McClendon on Stidham Lane in Hiwasse. The first rezoned 3.16 acres at 13356 Stidham Lane property from A-1, agricultural, to R-4, mobile home housing, and the second approved a lot split for another parcel on Stidham Lane.
Another ordinance was passed approving the preliminary plat for Teri's Place subdivision, owned by RLP Developments, at 1108 Dallas Street S.W.
A resolution was passed authorizing the mayor to apply for a fire department grant through the Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program, with funds to be used for the purchase of new turnout gear. The council set aside a sum of $15,000 as local match money for the project.
An ordinance was passed repealing a 2007 resolution that set fees for ambulance drivers and medical personnel for service calls. Compensation for these employees will now be established annually in the city budget.
The police department has received a grant through the Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program to install computers in all police cars. Council members voted to approve the expenditure for a software license and five-year service agreement with CentralSquare Technologies for these computers.
Copies of the December financial statements were distributed. Mayor Maddox explained that they had not been reconciled since financial director Carl Rabey has been in the hospital. He has been released from the hospital and was expected to return to work Friday, Maddox said.
Mayor Maddox announced that city hall offices and the police department would be moving to their new locations over the weekend. Both offices will reopen for business Tuesday, Jan. 19, city hall at 110 Second Ave. S.E. and the police department at 1512 Highway 72. Both the city hall and the police department will operate from these locations until the remodeling of the Main Street property is complete. Remodeling will be led by BiLD Architects of Fayetteville and is expected to take about nine months.