The meeting in its entirety can be seen below the photos that accompany this story.

The decision was made during the part of the meeting devoted to City Manager J.R. Wilson’s report.  He received a communication of the results of phase two environmental testing at the site. “The analysis that they conducted indicated all their samples were below state and federal screening levels, so no big concerns there,” he said.  Then he asked that the board give him permission to purchase the property for $100,000, the discounted price the property’s owners have provided.

Director Mark Ross asked him whether the purchase includes all the property at the site. Wilson confirmed this and replied the purchase added up to five acres.

Mayor Still asked if there would be a problem dividing the funds among the different owners.  “I would leave that out of your motion. Just authorize us to purchase it, and we can figure out how you all want to divide the money at the closing, whenever the closing comes. We could figure that out between now and then. [City Attorney] Randy [Wright] could help us with anything.  Closing matters. I'm not that familiar with,” Wilson said.

Vice-mayor Kiffinea Talley said, “I move that the board purchase the East Third Street property in the amount of $100,000.”  The motion was seconded. There was no additional discussion and the vote to approve was unanimous.

Earlier in the meeting, the board heard a report from Hope Water & Light.  HWL intends to sell a revenue bond of $10 million to partially finance a new West Booster Station so that fewer byproducts of disinfection get into HWL drinking water. 

First to speak on the matter was HWL’s financial representative Jason Holsclaw who told the board, “Our hope is to be back before you next month, [at the] November the 18th meeting with the formal bond ordinance and all the different components that go with that. At that time, representatives Friday, Eldridge and Clark, will be here to walk you through the bond ordinance.”

As Russell Cornelius, Co-Director of HWL explained to the board, “We did a project several years ago, a water plant project where we actually built two new clear wells, added aeration and mixing in those. It was to improve and minimize disinfection byproducts. We were on the border. Every once in a while we would be out of compliance, and have to notify the public that we were out of compliance with regards to THMs. At the time, we couldn't afford to do the West Booster phase of that. So now we're back to do that phase, and it's going to build a new booster station and a small 150,000-gallon tank that will have aeration and mixing to help reduce THMs.”

THMs, or Trihalomethanes, are byproducts of chlorine water treatment that are made when chlorine reacts with degrading plant-material.  High THMs have been linked to increased incidence of cancer, reproductive and nervous system difficulties in laboratory animals.

Vice-mayor Talley asked Cornelius if he foresees a rate increase to help finance the booster.  Cornelius said the need for the booster had been anticipated in the calculations for the rate increase that occurred in 2024.  

HWL Co-director Charlotte Bradley then told the board, “It was taken into consideration at that time. We needed a $7.5 million bond in order to fund the project. Last year, consultants were saying about $12 million or 13 to fund the project. So we went out and got bids, and it was like $11.1 million. So we're doing a $10 million bond. We'll be looking at money that we have in the bank to cover the additional cost, which is the $1.1 million, plus the cost of the consultants also.  So to answer the question, it was built into our rates that we have set they Increase a certain amount [each year], 24, 25, 26, 27, 28.”  In answer to Director Steve Montgomery’s question about the length of the bond, meaning the time in which HWL would be paying back the amount of the bond with interest to bondholders, Bradley said 20 years.

Since the presentation called for no action on the board’s part, there was no vote.

In other business, the board chose to go ahead with the process of letting out bids to contract in advance with a company to undertake debris-clearing services following weather or other emergencies. Susan Hartman, a consultant from ER Assist Disaster Funding Solutions the city is conferring with as it goes through the process of upgrading its emergency preparedness, pointed out how crucial it is to also have debris monitoring so that no fraud or accidental straying outside the parameters of what a city can legally do in debris-clearing operations can take place.  Such incidents might make it harder for a city to apply for FEMA or other reimbursement.  The contract itself would be FEMA reimbursable too, Assistant City Manager Daniel Shelman pointed out. 

The board voted to proceed with letting out bids for companies to respond to the city’s proposal of specifications for these services.

The board also heard a report from Clay McGill on the 90 percent complete plan for Hope’s proposed recreational and aquatic center.  The board members saw a presentation of a fly-through video that depicted the interior and exterior of the structure.  Members suggested few changes, but these included considerations for child safety as the members hoped to prevent children running from the indoor pool to the outdoor pool and jumping in.  Another adjustment will move the building itself so that it is not as close to Spring Hill Road as was originally planned.

City Engineer Jeremy Stone, participating by video link, presented his 100 percent plan for the pickle and tennis courts at Fair Park.  Director Mark Ross suggested changing the direction of the grid of cars in a parking lot that will be in the sightline of tennis players so that headlights don’t interfere with the players’ vision.  Stone said this adjustment will be made. The next step will be to let out bids in November, which he said will be just in time to avoid delays due to the holiday season. The board approved by unanimous roll call vote of taking this next step.

The meeting began with a presentation by Bonnie Raff, pictured above dressed as Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat.  November 5th will be Family Literacy Day.  Mayor Don Still signed a proclamation of the day.  Raff spoke both on the necessity of increasing literacy rates—one quarter of all public school children come to their fist years of elementary school unprepared to learn to read.  She said the act of reading aloud with a child can be decisive in helping that child develop good reading skills for life.  

The board approved a resolution required annually by the State of Arkansas Act 499 of 2005 to present a municipal audit report so independent auditors can follow Governmental Accounting Standards Board guidelines. 

Hope Scoutmaster Ed Flagg introduced Scouts present who were observing the meeting as part of the requirements for merit badges. 

In City Manager’s Report, as well as presenting the board with the results of the phase two environmental study of the future site of a new Hope Fire Department headquarters, Wilson also said a pre-construction conference on the Splash Pad to be built at Northside Park had been held with construction likely to begin soon, with the process expected to be finished within 120 days barring weather delays. 

“We're hoping this project will be completed, you know, at least by, you know, the first part of next year, saying, you know. So I think most people say they open their splash pads around April and close it around October. So hopefully we'll be ready for April, I’m hoping,” Wilson said.

With Cynthia Ford resigning from the Planning and Zoning Commission a replacement will need appointing.  

Concerning a problem with water leaks at a property owned by Willie Walker, smoke tests have been done to identify leaks.  Notification of the results to area residents is ongoing, Wilson said. From 46 homes, 11 have been notified thus far.

Wilson also noted an article appearing in a recent edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette described the heroism of Hope native Lieutenant Colonel Robert Vesey, who after an escape attempt at a Japanese POW camp during WW2 chose to be executed in the place of a U.S. Army general.  The article described a recent development in which the location of Vesey’s remains may have been identified.  Wilson said the article was drawn to his attention by a letter he received.

Vice-mayor Talley asked that a proclamation be made for former Mayor Floyd Young, who passed away a few days ago.  Mayor Still, who had included the Young family in his opening prayer, said he would see this was done.  A service for Young will occur at Rising Star Baptist Church, Talley said, Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

The meeting adjourned about one hour and ten minutes after it began in the City Hall’s board room.