At Tuesday night’s regular meeting of the City of Hope Board of Directors at City Hall, members who were reelected were sworn in for new terms, then met in private to choose a mayor and vice-mayor. They also decided on appointments to boards and commissions. 

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

The first item on the agenda after Director Linda Clark said the opening prayer and the pledge of allegiance to the flag was said was the swearing in of three reelected board members Talley, Reginald Easter and Trevor Coffee. 

After the board went into executive session in the City Hall conference room for about twenty minutes, they returned and made nominations for mayor and vice-mayor. Don Still was elected mayor again by the directors. Kiffinea Talley was again elected vice-mayor. Both received unanimous support.  Eighth Judicial District North Judge Joe Short administered the swearings in. 

Then Mayor Still reported on decisions that had also been made while the directors were in executive session on a series of board and commission appointments as City Manager J.R. Wilson read the particulars from a memo.  The decisions were as follows: 

·       To the Hope Water and Light Commission, Ladell Douglas, whose term expired at the end of December, was reappointed to another five-year term. 

·       To the Hope Advertisement and Tourism Promotion Commission, Sharon Caldwell, her term expiring at the end of December, was appointed to another five-year term.  Steve Montgomery was reappointed as one of two of the city board’s designated members. 

·       To the Hope Planning and Zoning Commission, Allen Smith and Mike Smith’s terms having expired in December, both were reappointed to three-year terms. 

·       To the Hope Housing Authority Commission, Stephanie Espinoza’s term having ended at the end of December, she was reappointed by the commission. This was confirmed by the city board. 

·       To the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation, Steve Montgomery and Mark Ross were reappointed as the city board’s designated members. 

When these were completed, Mayor Still said, “Before we go on, I want to just publicly thank the people serving on these committees. It's a lot of time out of their day just to take time for this … so I appreciate their service.” 

Next, the board voted to authorize Wilson to approve the city’s $20,000 contract with the Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce for 2025.  Christy Burns, executive director of the chamber, was present to make the request for the contract, which is set at the same price as last year, to be renewed.  Burns was asked to present a report at the next opportunity, which will likely be the next city board meeting on January 21st. 

The next item was the City Manager’s Report. Wilson prompted Hope Municipal Airport Director Darrell Allen to show the board a series of slides depicting color options available for the city’s new hangar.  Director Ross said he favored a red color with dark trim as it would go well with the colors of the airport building. A number of slides were viewed with the board members generally disfavoring painting the hangar white.  Finally, by consensus the board decided on Ross’ proposal. 

Discussion followed regarding whether to continue to have an Airport Advisory Committee since it had been a long time since it met. Director Ross advised removing the list of advisors from the city’s website.  Board members agreed to this after Airport Superintendent Allen and Wilson said they frequently got advice from multiple parties regarding airport decisions. 

Wilson then told the board of an opportunity to seek funding from the Intersection Improvement Program.  He said in a conversation with new state representative Dolly Henley, who was about to meet with the new Arkansas Department of Transportation Director Jared Wiley, he had been asked if he wanted her to raise any subject with the Wiley. Wilson brought up the fact that when expensive lighting systems are placed at intersections, cities must handle the expense of fixing them.  

Henley did mention the issue to Wiley, who then explained that Hope could apply for funding for the repairs. 

“There is a program that offers 80 percent federal money, 10 percent state money, and 10 percent municipal or county money,” Wilson explained. “That's how it works. So all you have to do is write a letter. I've already written a letter. I've already turned in our three intersections. I've asked them to consider us for this Intersection Improvement Program. That's not a guarantee we'll get it, but I did call them and ensure that our intersections could qualify.” The three intersections in need of attention are at Hazel and East Third, Clinton Bypass and East Third and Clinton Bypass and Hazel. 

Wilson said the city had projected to spend $60,000 on intersections in its 2025 budget, but that a grant from the Intersection Improvement Fund would save this.  Three months of study take place before funding is dispensed, he said. 

Wilson reminded directors their statements of financial interest are due in by the end of the month to City Clerk Cindy Clark. 

He also announced the city had been approved by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture for up to a $3.85 million loan at four percent interest to do work on the wastewater system.  A visit from city engineer Glen Spears is expected next week and then the directors will be presented with options in its next meeting. A letter is due from the city by the last day of January either accepting or rejecting the loan opportunity. 

Wilson then read a letter from Donna Rosenbaum and Jennifer Robinson, the Gold Star mothers whose sons Thomas “Chad” Rosenbaum and Carlo Montell Robinson were commemorated by the placement in November of signage at the entrances to the city from Highways 29 and Highway 67, thanking the city leaders for their part in making the tributes possible. 

Wilson then gave the news that Hope had not been approved in its application for a state grant for the financing of a splash pad at North Side Park, but that planning was proceeding now to construct a splash pad this year.  He said the splash pad as well as work on the Fair Park tennis courts and the creation of a pickleball court would proceed later as proceeds are received as a result of citizens’ approval of a one-cent sales tax this past November. 

In answer to a question about the search for a place to build the new fire department headquarters for which the one-cent sales tax was also approved, Wilson named several possibilities based on the offers of several landowners who had come forward to help. 

Director Ross said cars were still being parked in the new bicycle lanes. Wilson said that although those parking there were not breaking the law, he would bring options to the board in the next meeting as to what can be done to regulate this. 

In Citizens Request, Marcia White, the incoming Vice President of the Hope Chapter of the NAACP, announced that a Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration will take place starting Saturday, January 18th and continuing to church services Sunday and a walk-around and Mt. Zion church service Monday. 

The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.