GRAVETTE -- Members of the Gravette City Council heard updates from the Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce and the Gravette Historical Museum at their committee of the whole meeting Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Alaina Carlton, representing the chamber, reported on gaining new members in the fourth quarter of 2022. She said there were over 6,000 posts on the chamber website, mainly because of the city's Christmas events, and almost 1,000 downloads on the chamber app. She reported the chamber heard from the writer and directors of the "Wonderland Cave" movie at its November meeting and held 19 in-person and online events during the quarter.
Carlton reported she attended a small business development class at the University of Arkansas so she could better assist small business owners. She said results of the chamber survey have been compiled and will be published soon. She said the chamber is working on getting Main Street occupancy rates up and one new business, Pittman Electric, has recently come to Main Street. The chamber is now live streaming its monthly meetings, and three new members have joined in January.
Steve Mitchael, chairman of the museum commission, reported the museum had been closed for the last several weeks after the resignation of the museum curator, who married and moved out of state. He said a new curator, Beth Johnson, has been hired, and she has been busy cleaning and organizing at the museum. Mitchael said she has already proved to be a valuable employee and, with her help, the commission hopes to bring back several events it sponsored before the covid pandemic, including a quilt show, "My Collection" exhibits, and the Dutch oven cookoff.
Mitchael said the museum will likely be open only on Fridays and Saturdays, with Thursdays being devoted to developing exhibits. He invited all present to visit the museum, which focuses on Gravette and area history and is open to the public, with no admission fee. He explained that the city pays the curator's salary and pays utilities but said the museum is a "wonderful asset" that operates at very little cost to the city.
Reports were heard from several department heads. Police chief Chuck Skaggs was absent but had submitted a written report.
Shannon Higgins, building inspector and code enforcement officer, reported 181 businesses are now operating in Gravette and more than 50 have already renewed business licenses in 2023, so all should be renewed earlier than usual this year.
Richard Sutherland, water and sewer department supervisor, reported December was a pretty quiet month, except some of his crew were out on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day thawing meters for customers after a few days of below-freezing temperatures. He said 2023 is going well so far.
Karen Benson, library director, reported there had been 2,000-plus more checkouts from the Gravette Public Library in 2022 than any year since she has been director. She said this was due in part to an increase in inventory since many new books were purchased using a $30,000 grant received from the American Library Association, but the number of checkouts each patron is allowed had also been increased. Benson reported on a "Grow It, Cook It, Save It" program the library will be hosting, with gardening, cooking and food preservation classes being planned. A seed swap will also be held in March.
Fire chief David Orr said the fire department ended 2022 with 963 calls. Fire losses amounted to about $460,000, but the estimated value of the property saved was over $15 million, so the department's quick responses resulted in great savings for property owners. Orr reported the emergency crews are using a backup ambulance because a heating component is out in the main ambulance, but he expects it to be repaired soon. He said several in-house training sessions are being planned.
Tim DeWitt, streets and parks department supervisor, reported his crew has been busy using the city's skid steer, cutting brush and clearing rural roadsides.
During new business, a brief discussion was held about the school resource officer contract. Mayor Kurt Maddox said the city is continuing to operate under the old memorandum of understanding, although the SRO program is now short one officer.
Final numbers have been determined for 2022 and a resolution closing out the 2022 budget will be on the agenda for the Jan. 24 council meeting. Also on the agenda for that meeting will be a resolution approving 2022 budget adjustments and a tract split and rezoning for property owned by Patricia Boling at 15182 Cash Springs Road. Boling desires to split off a 2.51-acre lot from the 24.11-acre property, build a house on it and rezone that portion from A-1, agricultural, to R-1, residential. Shannon Higgins said that none of the neighbors reported having an objection to that plan.
The December financial report showed a $145,000 shortfall in the general fund, due mainly to the inflation bonus, Christmas, and longevity bonuses. The general fund ended the year with a net surplus of approximately $112,000. The water and sewer fund also showed a shortfall of approximately $25,000 in December because of an equipment purchase and the inflation bonus but has an end-of-year surplus of $160,000.
Finance director Carl Rabey was unable to attend but submitted a written report noting that revenue in the bond fund has outpaced expectations, which indicates the city will be able to pay off the bonds sooner than expected.
"All things considered, it has been a very solid year for the city of Gravette from a fiscal standpoint," Rabey concluded.
Submitted photo Gravette mayor Kurt Maddox swears in city council member Margo Thomas for the 2023 term prior to the council committee of the whole meeting Tuesday, Jan. 10.
Submitted photo
Gravette mayor Kurt Maddox swears in council member Richard Carver for the 2023 term prior to the council committee of the whole meeting Tuesday, Jan. 10.