Hope City Board

The Hope City Board met Tuesday for their second meeting of March. The City Hall Board Room was arranged for”social distancing” due to the Corona Virus situation.
The board first looked at bids on three.mowers for the parks department. The board voted to buy three “zero turn” mowers from Hope Outdoor Power and Equipment. Two of these mowers have mulching kits.
The board considered asphalt bids. There were five bids for 2100 tons of asphalt. The board voted to accept the low bid of Tri-State asphalt for $105.90 a ton for a total of $222,390.
The board considered bids for cold milling to remove layers of asphalt before streets are overlaid this summer. The board accepted the low bid for 12,852 square yards from Red Rock Paving of Little Rock for $39,070.08.
The board looked at two bids for vegetation management for control of weeds and nuisance vegetation. The board accepted the low bid of $16,089 from ChemPro Services of Auburn, Alabama.
The board looked at two bids for a “Challenger Container Loader”. This is used on a sanitation truck to lift and dump containers. It will be used on a 2016 truck. The board accepted the low bid from Southwestern Equipment for$20,500.
The board considered bids on a Skid Steer, a piece of equipment for the landfill. The board accepted the low bid of $68,381.85 from Ledwell. This was well below the budgeted amount of $85,000.
Under the City Manager’s Report, Catherine Cook gave an update on the city’s response to the Covid-19 Virus. She explained how the city plans to continue providing services even if some employees are sticken. She also noted the city is looking at ways to hold city board meetings via the members’ iPads so they could be viewed by the public and the media. Cook also noted the city parks are still open although that might change. She noted all the activities at the parks have been cancelled or postponed. Board member Dr. Linda Clark asked how citizens will know about the city’s response and facts about the virus. Cook noted there are posts on Facebook and in the media. She also noted if restaurants are closed, that will come through the Governor’s office.
Cook gave updates on the utility work on 6th Street to prepare for the improvements on that street. She noted surveyors are working on 2nd Street for the Streetscape project. She noted several contractors responded to a pre-bid conference on the landfill construction and she expects up to seven bids on that. Cook noted work is underway on planning the reworking the City Hall roof.
Cook gave an update on the city’s efforts to get a good count on the census. These efforts include working with the media and working with a person fluent in Spanish.
Under Citizens Requests it was noted work will soon begin to try and repair the Fair Park Swimming Pool. Catherine Cook noted the city has the deed to the Dox property downtown,and the Atwood’s property was discussed. The meeting then adjourned.