Hope City Board

The Hope City Board met in the City Hall Boardroom on Tuesday (2-6). After the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance the minutes were reviewed and approved.

Next there was a recess for a public meeting about the city’s plans for the future. John T Miller spoke about the possibility of Tyson donating their old feedmill site as it would draw people from both Northside and Georgetown. It would be near Main Street. He said both the splash pad and swimming facility would cost money and could be built in the same site. Miller argued the city could save money by doing so.

Marsha White agreed with John Miller about using the Tyson property. She stated it wasn’t about Black and White but about the community and stated it was a neutral location.

Oscar Rodriguez talked about fire station #1 being outdated as it was built in 1939. He stated fires burn a lot hotter and faster now. Mayor Still said the city fire department was good as it can get as it js a class two which means full time employees with new equipment. It is simply time to upgrade the station by building a new one. The plan will be to combine the two stations into one. The new station will have 4 – 15 foot double bays.  Ideas as to future locations are welcomed.

Next was the discussion of wastewater East plant UV project. There was a motion, which was seconded and passed to accept the lowest bid by Bobo and Bain for $443, 730.

The lowest bid for a wastewater hydro excavating VAC Trailer of $120, 654.00 (more with taxes) was accepted.

For trash bags, the Board voted to accept the bid of $52,500.00

There was a waive bid ordinance for a landfill dump truck. $130,000 has been budgeted for it. Motions to suspend the rules, adopt the ordinance and an emergency clause passed.

Airport property of fencing, HVAC units, lights, light globes and a fuel tank were declared surplus.

There was a presentation of a new airport logo with 25 rays to represent Arkansas being the 25th state. The logo designed by a new IT employee and his wife. There was a motion to accept the new logo which passed.

There was discussion of a new hanger being built at the airport. The city is unsure if it will be feasible. The city would apply for a grant of $330,000 in which the city would have to pay 10% and would receive 90%.

Garber Engineering came up with an estimate of $440,000 for the project. The board decided to explore an alternative service to use.

There was a proclamation of January 16th being a National Day of Racial Healing.

There was discussion of millage and overlay projects with Sixth Street being deemed more urgent than West Avenue B. There was a motion to accept which was seconded and passed.

Meeting attendees were reminded about the survey for “Hope for the Future”.  While there will be a meeting this week to meet with the engineers about the “Hope for the Future” project, the public was encouraged to take the survey or talk to committee members as it will be too much to have 100 people show up and give their opinions at the meeting.

Committee Members include Thomas Matthis, Jodie Coffee, Summer Chambers, Edmundo Dominguez, Marsha White and Mayor Still.

For the next two months there will be a “Hope for the Future” public meeting before every board meeting.

City Manager JR Wilson said he had visited the Texarkana Recreation Center and stated the next meeting would be a finalized 2023 budget meeting. He said the city is always looking at ways to cut costs and might do only one trash pickup a week instead of two. The city could purchase 96 gallon trash cans and sell them to residents at cost making them a third of the usual cost.

Attendees were reminded of the Eclipse on April 8th.  Director Mark Ross asked about rv spots.

John Miller said he plays the guitar and asked about an affordable place where aspiring guitarists could play. Mayor Still and City Manager JR Wilson said they would see if they could find a place.

The meeting adjourned.