Hope City Board
The Hope City Board met Tuesday for their second meeting of September. After the approval of the minutes the board looked at considering the renewal of the property at the airport leased to the Arkansas State Police for CDL exams. The board agreed to continue the lease for $600 per year. This lease will be for two years.
The board looked at adding new finance officer Cynthia Clark as a signer of city checks. Clark will replace current finance officer Debbie Hall who is retiring later this year. The board added Clark as a check signer.
The board heard from Police Chief J.R. Wilson. He noted the city had been approved for a STEP grant for $32,420. This is for DWI/DUI, speeding, distracted driving,and seat belt enforcement. The board approved acceptance of the grant.
The board considered a rezoning on Berry Street from R-2 Medium Density Residential to R-5 Residential to allow placement of a mobile home. The property is owned by Billy and Charles Pickens. The Planning and Zoning Commission have approved the request. The board approved an ordinance allowing the zoning change. Board member Kiffenea Talley voted against the change.
The board approved a waive bid ordinance to get the milling done on the city street program. Redstone, the company that got the bid earlier this year for $2.57 per square yard apparently will be unavailable to honor their bid in a timely manner. The city has received a lower bid from Johnsville of Hermitage for $2.55 per square yard. The board approved the Johnsville bid.
The board looked at a project to upgrade the city’s cyber security and enhance the audio and video capabilities of the City Hall boardroom using American Rescue Plan Funds. The total package would be for $61,400. The cyber security project will help ward off potential ransomware attacks. City GIS Coordinator Darrell Allen explained the proposed purchase. He noted if approved some of the boardroom audio/visual equipment would be used for now at the Fair Park Community Center and moved to City Hall when the board meetings move back to City Hall. Allen noted these improvements would increase the annual city expenditures by approximately $18,000 per year. The board approved the proposal.
Under the City Manager’s Report, Catherine Cook noted the first 300 feet of the rail spur upgrade has been completed. Another 300 feet will be done next year if funds are available. Cook noted street milling will begin in a couple of weeks. She said the Tourism Commission voted this week to pay for paving the former Atwood’s property adjoining the Clinton Birthplace National Historic Site. She also noted there is a new Superintendent at the Clinton Birthplace. Cook said Whatley Sign Company will develop a couple of sign proposals for the HUB. She also talked about efforts to find a person to serve as a downtown maintenance person. Cook said the city is having problems finding enough staff. Cook said that could mean temporarily contracting out some jobs temporarily. She also noted the city is up to 69 or 60 vaccinated employees for COVID and over 20 had taken advantage of the city’s vaccine incentive. Also, Cook noted the “90% Plans” have been delivered to the highway department on the Street Scape Plans. Board member Kiffenea Talley noted the city street lights on Walnut have been repaired. Mark Ross noted there have been complaints about the turn lanes on East Third at Hazel and Walnut. He said he realized these would have to be adjusted under the auspices of the Arkansas Department of Transportation. Cook also noted the city will be painting over the graffiti at the skate park on Spring Hill Road soon. She said they hope to hear about the Pocket Park grant application next month. Also, the city is to get $32,000 in ARPA funds for the airport.
Mark Ross gave an update on a recent trip to Mississippi to look at downtowns.
The board went into executive session at 7:55pm. The meeting reconvened at 8:08pm. No action was taken. Mayor Don Still said they had been reviewing contracts The meeting then adjourned.