Hope City Board

The Hope City Board met Tuesday for their first meeting of December.  The meeting was held at Northside Park and the city Department Heads were on hand to answer questions as the board considered the 2022 budget.  The board approved a budget resolution after much discussion to approve the $18,144.57 budget for 2023.

The board heard a request from Beckie Moore of the Klipsch Heritage Museum Association for the 2nd annual Paul W. Klipsch Birthday Celebration.  Moore asked if the KHMA could rent the big hanger at the Hope Airport for an event March 9th.  The board would not allow the KHMA to rent the hanger as they decided a couple of years ago to not rent out the hanger for events due to possible damage to planes store there.  Instead, the board voted to allow the KHMA to use the grounds for the event and erect a tent for their activities.

The board accepted a grant application that would pay for software to blur non-relevant faces from police body cam footage.  The board also approved applying for a grant that would bring the city into the Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWINS).

The board approved an engineering agreement for Kelly Field.  The city will contract with Jeremy Stone on the project to replace the wooden light poles and the lights with metal poles and L.E.D. lighting.

Under the City Manager’s Report, Catherine Cook gave updates on the 6th Street project, the Street Scape project on 2nd between downtown and the Clinton Birthplace.  Cook noted downtown looks better than it’s ever looked during Christmas.  She credited city crews, the Downtown Network, and the merchants for the outstanding effort.  Cook also gave an update on the pocket park in 2nd Street downtown.  Cook also outlined some of the work at the airport.

Mayor Don Still thanked everyone who helped with Monday’s Christmas Parade.  He also noted how the city will need to look at their policy on how they dispose of the wood refuse.  The city has been burning much of this at the airport but a new plan probably needs to be discussed.

Mayor Don Still congratulated board member Dr. Linda Clark.  Dr. Clark’s daughter, Doris Pryor, was confirmed for an appointment as a federal magistrate from southern Indiana.  The U.S. Senate voted 60 to 31 to confirm Pryor on Monday

The meeting then adjourned.