The Hope City Board of Directors met Tuesday, August 1 to decide on and discuss several items.
The board authorized an application for up to $500,000 in state grant funding with the help of the Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District. The program is called the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Grant. Blake Harrell of the SWAPDD told the board that Hope would be eligible for the financing for the dredging of wastewater ponds at the East and West Plants. The board voted for a series of resolutions bringing Hope into compliance with requirements. Winning a grant would help offset costs for a loan Hope has already received to complete the project.
The board allowed citizens to speak about priorities for future help from the SWAPDD. Eddie Garcia, local business owner and frequent community volunteer, explained that courses on parenting should be made available. Community volunteer Marcia White requested attention to addressing the lack of housing options in the area.
City Manager J.R. Wilson explained the need for a project to address the presence of pollutants in ground water leaching from a closed landfill that had been built prior to regulations requiring liners in the trenches used to hold refuse. The Arkansas Department of Environment and Energy recently turned down an application for a grant to fund remediation of the problem because the landfill is near other landfills. Wilson said engineers would speak to ADEE’s director to negotiate a solution. If none is reached, the city will have to raise about $500,000 for the project either by finding the money in its budget, locating other grant funds, taking out loans or a combination of these. The board took no action on the issue.
A 2005 dump truck was declared surplus based on needing a new engine and the cost being judged prohibitive in the case of an older truck.
The board voted to waive the bidding process in buying and having installed a more up-to-date jet fuel pump that filters water out and recirculates the fuel at a cost of $59,914.52. Because of the rarity of firms that supply such parts and perform such surfaces it was judged impractical to seek bids after one was submitted by a firm that the city’s airport has done business with previously with good results.
In the City Manager’s Report, Wilson said the city’s deal with Weyerhauser is progressing through the contract negotiation process and a resolution would need to be passed by the board in support of the deal. This was passed unanimously. $850,000 has already been provided to the city in advance for the timber Weyerhauser will be harvesting on airport property. Wilson said work on sidewalks on Sixth Street is progressing. City Director Mark Ross observed it was now unlikely the project would be completed prior to school starting at HAPS. Wilson announced that more effort would be put into code enforcement in the city, including the development of a standard operating procedure for city code enforcement officials to deal with problems of unkempt yards. Vice-mayor Kiffinea Talley spoke about the need to alert citizens not to place signs on utility poles or traffic control boxes.
In Citizens Requests, Ed Flagg, Lions Club member and retired engineer sought help for the construction of a pavilion next to the Coliseum and adjustment to a door on the Coliseum’s west side. Wilson said the help would be provided but Flagg would need to speak with Third District Livestock Show officials about adjustment to the Coliseum door.