The Hope City Board in its Tuesday night first March regular meeting approved an ordinance forbidding parking in bicycle lanes that will go into effect in 90 days, June 3, 2025. It also continued to consider locations for the new fire department headquarters.  

The meeting in its entirety can be seen on the city’s Facebook page. 

The ordinance, drafted by Hope Police Chief Kim Tomlin and placed below this story, says, “It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, park or leave standing any vehicle, motor vehicle or motorcycle upon property designated as a city bicycle lane. Electric bicycles and electric motorized scooters, as defined by Arkansas law, are exempt from this prohibition to the extent permitted by Arkansas Electric Bicycle Act and the Arkansas Electric Motorized Scooter Act; however no electric bicycle or electric motorized scooter shall be operated in a designated bicycle lane at a speed greater than 15 miles per hour.”  Bicycles, electric or motorized bicycles, wheelchairs or any other conveyance are also not allowed to be parked or left in a bicycle lane, the ordinance says.

Law enforcement or code enforcement officers can tow vehicles that violate the ordinance “after tagging said vehicle … and 24 hour notice.”

The ordinance also contains several exceptions including those using wheelchairs in the lane, emergency vehicles, city vehicles, utility company vehicles, those entering and exiting roadways (after yielding to bicyclists), vehicles dropping off school children in areas designated for the purpose.

Upon conviction for a violation, a fine will be applied of “not less than $25 or more than $200 for each offense.”

In presenting the ordinance, Tomlin said the ordinance was based on what was standard for other cities.  

Mayor Don Still asked if another ordinance would need to be written to prohibit parking in other Hope streets like South Hervey south of Sixth Street or the 500 block of Edgewood. City Manager J.R. Wilson recommended a committee work on the issue. Director Mark Ross asked if this would fall under the standing Street Committee’s responsibility.  

Tomlin suggested the committee include a city code enforcement officer so it could take into account those residents currently parking in the street to avoid code violations. Wilson said residents could be allowed to use a cheaper material to create driveways in their yards. In the meantime, as long as streets don’t have no parking signs, parking is allowed. Tomlin said this is true as long as the vehicles do not block trash trucks, school buses or ambulances.

Wilson said the ordinance going into effect in 91 days gives time for residents to come to meetings or speak with directors to voice their concerns. In that time, signs may be placed but the ordinance would not be enforced until the 91 days expire.

City Attorney Randal Wright said the ordinance provides bicyclists with rights that will increase their safety. 

The ordinance was adopted by unanimous vote after a suspension of the rules that require three full readings instead of just one by City Attorney Randal Wright. 

Next, board members were shown three maps of places in Hope with the placement of the proposed fire department building superimposed.  Discussion included advantages and disadvantages for each site.  

The first site shown (which can also be seen above) was at the former Village Shopping Center on East Third.  Assistant City Director Daniel Shelman and City Engineer Jeremy Stone showed maps of the locations projected onto a screen in the meeting room.  The Village Shopping Center location would cost the city $250,000. It currently has businesses operating there. 

The buildings would be demolished, a job Shelman said city workers could do. The former service station now being used as a car sales business would not be included in the purchase. It is the largest location and would have the most parking. Stone said it would have the space for training.  Shelman said a minimum of 13 parking spaces would be needed. Stone said they would all fit. The location would have 2.5 acres of spare room.

The disadvantages discussed during the meeting for this purchase would be the sheer amount of material that would have to be disposed of at the Hope landfill and the potential need for asbestos abatement measures. No testing has occurred yet to determine the asbestos content in the structures. 

Hope-Hempstead County Economic Development Executive Director Anna Powell spoke in favor of choosing this location, however, because of it having the greatest potential to recruit businesses and to become attractive for those wishing to use vacant lots there to build homes.

The next location (shown in the above map) is on the west side of South Main across from Brazzel-Oakcrest Funeral Home and between West 10th and West 11th Streets. It would cost $350,000 and include the demolition of one building, an insurance business. Wilson said the location would be more likely to allow the city to preserve its ISO insurance rating as it annexes locations south of current city limits.

Shelman and Stone showed a map (which can be seen above) of another location nearer Sixth Street which is also between South Main and South Elm which once had a building that was formerly used as a floral shop. It includes a house and a duplex (which could be moved for $50,000) the city would have to buy.  The price for the property would total $395,000 (though the owner said this could be negotiated) and, as Stone said, would be the smallest of the three shown. It would present difficulties for vehicles pulling in and leaving.

Other properties are being considered, too.  Dennis Watson spoke of a 1.3 acre location he owns next to Dairy Freeze on East Third. A metal building and a canopy would need to be removed. Watson proposed charging the city $150,000 property if he could be given the old fire station for use as a possible family reunion and multipurpose venue. 

Wilson said with the exception of Watson’s property the others on the list were judged not to provide a good fit for the new fire station. A strip of land adjacent to the railroad tracks from Sixth to Eighth Street available for $25,000 is also available but the train noise might be prohibitive since firefighters would be sleeping in the new station.

Fire Chief Todd Clark said he liked the Village Shopping Center location because of the room it provides for a training facility.  Wilson said the location might not be as advantageous for Hope maintaining its favorable insurance rating if it annexes toward the south. Vice-mayor Kiffinea Talley said she favored the Village Center location, also referred during the meeting as the S-curve, because it is lower priced and allows for more room.

Mayor Still said the board should be narrowing its choices over the next few weeks. Jeremy Stone said funding would become available for the station by May.

In other business, the board approved applying for a 50/50 grant from the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics to, in the words of the agenda information “replace the remainder of the flat roof on the southside of the main hanger building and all the flat roof on the northside,” which could cost $54,000 total.

It also was briefed on the publication of a 2024 financial statement in a paper of record before April 1.  That statement is provided below the ordinance. 

The board also voted in favor of annexation of the property that is the residence of Assistant Director Shelman. State law requires officers who can succeed the city manager to live within the city limits in which they manage.  

An appointment to replace Cynthia Ford who resigned from the Planning and Zoning Commission was tabled.

The board voted in favor accepting the bid of Houston Poly for garbage bags. Though its cost came in third place at $45,540 for a year’s supply, behind Central Poly’s $44,775 and Unipack’s $38,587.50, Houston Poly’s bags were judged to be of higher quality.

In City Manager’s Report, Wilson said appraisal of a building at 405 West 16th owned jointly by the city and Hempstead County is being sought for potential listing as on sale.  He also briefed the board on the possibility of the EPA taking action against landfill owners for not abating certain levels of PFAs. A law firm in Alabama will be contacted to see how the city can proceed, perhaps by seeking compensation from companies that use PFAs.

After a brief executive session for which no action was reported taken, the meeting adjourned.

CITY OF HOPE
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 2024

GENERAL FUND
Balance January 1, 2024
$2,215,983
City Sales Tax
2,864,705
County Sales Tax
1,168,910
State Turnback
184,755
Court Fines & Fees
249,361
Property Tax
467,296
Franchise Fee
134,016
Occupation/Inspect Fee
11,696
Other Revenue
1,253,151
Total Receipts
6,333,890
Total Available
8,549,873
Board of Directors
21,901
Admin & Finance
437,375
City Attorney & Legal
48,179
General Gov't Buildings
138,385
Police Dept.
2,279,382
District Court
132,998
Fire Dept.
1,006,217
Parks & Recreation 
710,855 
Code Enforce/Inspection 
154,400 
Cemetery 
24,680 
Capital Expenditures 
439,184 
Non-Departmental 
65,568 
Total Expenditures 
Balance December 31, 2024 
5,459,124 
$3,090,749 

STREET FUND
Balance January 1, 2024
$269,325
State Turnback 
736,130 
County Sales Tax 
575,000 
Property Tax 
129,061 
Other 
608,688 
Total Receipts 
2,048,879 
Total Available 
2,318,204 
Streets & Drainage 
1,628,447 
Capital Expenditures 
24,757 
Debt Service 
117,044 
Total Expenditures 
Balance December 31, 2024 
1,770,247 
$547,956 

AIRPORT
Balance January 1, 2024
$659,093
Fuel Sales
Grants
57,687
1,351,329
Rail Spur
84,240
Other Revenue
658,991
Total Receipts
$2,152,247
Total Available
$2,811,340
Total Expenditures
Balance December 31, 2024
Airport Maintenance
1,884,489
Rail Spur Maintenance
127,039
$2,011,528
$799,812 

WASTEWATER FUND
Balance January 1, 2024
Sewer Service Fees
Other
$164,750
1,706,896
108,887
Total Receipts
1,815,784
Total Available 
1,980,534 
Operations & Maintenance 
836,204 
Fixed Assets 
345,758 
Debt Service 
661,805 
Total Expenditures 
1,843,767 
Balance December 31, 2024 
$136,767 

SANITATION FUND
Balance January 1, 2024
$283,453
Sanitation Fees
1,859,631
Landfill Gate Fees
Other
129,972
289,968
Total Receipts
$2,279,571
Total Available
$2,563,024
Collection
745,491
Vehicle/Equip Maintenance
70,985
Public Works
229,783
Landfill
621,143
Capital Outlay
115,237
Debt Service
387,957
Total Expenditures
Balance December 31, 2024
$2,170,596
$392,428 

BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
2016 Waste Disposal Revenue Bonds, $1,685,000, payout June 2031 
2016 Sewer Revenue Refunding Bonds, $4,770,000 payout Dec 2038 
2017 Sewer Revenue Capital Improvement and Refunding Bonds, $3,915,000 payout Dec 2043