Hope City Board Meets

By Submitted, 05/1/18 8:36 PM

The Hope City Board held their first meeting of May on the first day of May. The board first looked at bids for the Walnut and Third flower bed downtown. The bid was $12,701 from Freeman Landscape and $11,380 from McKee’s Lawn Service. Each of these bids also asked for $250 in monthly maintenance. A bid from H & N was $6,231 which did not provide a monthly maintenance fee. The board looked at drawings and discussed plants which would be used. City Manager Catherine Cook noted all the companies were licensed landscapers. The board voted to accept the H & N bid.
The board considered a request from the Hope Lions to use the old Band Boosters building at Fair Park. The Hope Lions want to pursue analyzing using the building. The Lions said in writing they would partner with the Evening Lions, the Garrett Memorial Leo Club, and the Band Boosters. Mayor Montgomery asked what the city’s role would be and city attorney Joe Short noted since the city owns the ground it is on that the city should sign off on the use of it. Several Lions spoke including Doyle Brewer, Steve Archery, Dave Phillips,and Daulton Brewer. Short noted since the Lions want to merely investigate using it a motion wasn’t necessary and that it would be appropriate for the board to decide on any proposal to use the building.
Under the City Manager’s report, Catherine Cook noted the recent city-wide clean-up was quite successful. The city took 47 loads to the landfill while citizens brought 23. The city collected 635 cubic yards and citizens collected 148.5 cubic yards. Total was 783.5 cubic yards compared to 615 cubic yards last year.
Bob Erwin represented the Hope Downtown Network at the meeting. He noted Tena Pilkinton Carter has donated a building in the Capitol Hotel, 109 South Main,to the HDN. The Downtown Network has been removing junk from the building and the county had provided a dumpster. Erwin asked if it could be dumped at the city landfill free of charge and the board agreed. Erwin also noted Orgill has donated 15 gallons of paint and Sherwin Williams 15 gallons of paint to paint the Capitol Hotel building. Blond Ambition will stay painted black and the south part of the building will be painted “Tailgaters red”.
Citizen John Akin asked two questions about expenses at the Hope Airport. Debbie Hall answered them and the meeting adjourned.