Hope City Board

By Mark Keith, 02/21/23 7:02 PM

The Hope City Board met Tuesday for their 2nd meeting of February.  The board members were dressed up as they had new pictures taken for the display of board members at City Hall.

The board first heard from a representative from Garver Engineering about a project at the airport.  The project is a drainage project.  The Garver rep explained most of this project can be taken care of with FAA funds and the “gap”, about $95,000, can possibly be funded by grants.  The overall cost will be about $1.2 million with most coming from federal funds.  The board voted to proceed with the project and to proceed in a change order with Garver’s agreement for services on the project.  This will include a review by another engineering firm.

The board heard from a representative with Tyson who asked the board to commit to assisting a new Tyson Hatchery on Rocky Mound Road.  A resolution the board considered will include the issuing of Industrial Revenue Bonds to finance the project in the amount of $71 million dollars and to enter an agreement for payment in lieu of taxes to be negotiated at a later time.  The board approved the resolution.

A “fixed asset list” policy was discussed.  The proposal would place any fixed asset purchased with a value of $5,000 on the fixed asset list.  The board approved the policy and it will be added to the City Employee Manual.  The board approved the fixed asset list policy.

A Street Milling and Overlay program was presented to the board.  The program included work on North Hamilton, McRae, North Walker, North Spruce, Experiment Station Road, Long, East Avenue G, Park Drive, East 15th, Pecan, West 4th, Hilltop, North High, and North Mockingbird.  The budget for the work was $358,494 but it is believed this work will cost $390,857.  Interim City Manager J.R. Wilson suggested the overage of $32,363 could be realized by an inflow of funds from the Timber Creek Association.  The staff will meet with the Timber Creek folks Friday.  Some clarification on possibilities with Timber Creek was discussed.  The board approved the program.  J.R. Wilson bragged on Street Superintendent Kenneth Harvill and his crew for some work they’ve assisted the city with.

The board discussed combining Train Day and Trade Day.  The proposal would be for the Tourism Commission to sponsor this combined event.  This would mean the Trade Day would be covered by the city’s immunity from liability.  The board took no action but will allow the Tourism Commission to make the decision as to whether they will add Trade Day to Train Day.

The board looked at the city financials for January.  City Financial Officer Cindy Clark addressed the board and explained some issues she felt needed further explanation.

Summer Powell, Director of Parks and Recreation, addressed the board on an Arkansas Department of Transportation Pilot Program that would allow the Tourism Commission to be reimbursed $29 per acre on the nearly 40 acres the city pays to have mowed at the I-30 interchanges.  The board approved a resolution allowing the city to participate in the program.  The city can be reimbursed up to 6 times for the mowing.

Under the City Manager’s Report, J.R. Wilson said they will be bringing some information on some fencing that needs to be replaced at the airport.  Also he noted beacon and structure lights will be discussed in the future.  Also Wilson noted they intend to look at the timber on the airport property to determine if any cutting needs to be done.  He noted the city has looked at a complaint in the 700th block of West 15th.  Wilson said this is a city street program and this will be addressed.  He also noted an issue with some electrical grounding rods which stick out of the concrete behind the HUB and noted a lady had tripped over them during the last Trade Day.  Wilson and Kenneth Harvill noted how they will solve the problem permanently.  Wilson also discussed a recent Firemen’s pension fund meeting.  The board was told of a lawsuit that was served to the city earlier in the day.  Wilson said he thinks this is a lawsuit that should be directed to the Hope Housing Authority.  It involved a motor vehicle accident.  Wilson said the city had been served with a Freedom of Information Act request seeking the names of the employees, positions, and salaries.  He says they get this every year.

There were no citizens requests.  The board went into executive session at 8:14pm.  The board reconvened at 8:25pm.  No action was taken.  Mayor Don Still said the executive session was for personnel matters.

The Board and audience looked at some photos of 6th Street and the Street Scape work.  The meeting then adjourned.