Hope City Board

The Hope City Board met in City Hall on Tuesday (6-6)   After being called to order the meeting started with an invocation, reciting of the pledge of allegiance and approval of the minutes. The first item for consideration was infrastructure millage and updating of HPS cooperative agreement with respect to Fair Park. Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Crossley stated that Park and Administrative Staff had held a preliminary conversation on HHS using the field with the conclusion that it would benefit both parties.

Dr. Crossley spoke about the millage with the upcoming vote on it. Crossley spoke about facilities needing to be updated – particularly Yerger but also the High School. All of the buildings are under capacity so the state won’t help build new ones. Magnet funds can’t be used for facility upgrades so the millage increase is needed.  Dr. Crossley stated that Yerger was 50 years overdue for an update and said that while the bones of it are good one wouldn’t know it from the outside. This would involve increased parking area, a clear entry way, and updated practice and football area.  The Agri facility and the sports complex would be in both be updated as well. The state will pay 72 percent of the cost for the Agri facility.  For the sports complex the stands will hold structurally for another 7-10 years but the turf is at the end of its life and there is old barbed wire around the track.  There are plans to expand the band program and invest in the tennis courts. The baseball fields need investment in drainage and could have turf infield, new fencing, new dugouts and concessions.  The issue of the parking at the High School was raised by Mayor Don Still.  Bubba Powers stated the last millage was passed when he was 34 years old and praised Dr. Crossley for his big dreams and energy stating that all the board had expressed their support for his big dreams.

A Juneteenth resolution was put forward by Sylvia Brown of VOTE SoAR to be signed by the City.  The resolution talked about the history of Hope and Hempstead with regards to slave holding and the history of Juneteenth celebrations in AR. The resolution argued that it was an opportunity to celebrate lives and contributions of it’s black residents and to create a more inclusive society in Hope and Hempstead County. Brown was absent so City Attorney William Randall read the resolution, which passed without debate.

The Board was asked to consider acceptance of 90/10 Arkansas Aeronautical Grant award. This grant was awarded on May 17, 2023 for $135,000 and will be used to replace existing chain link fence, gates #1 and #2, as well as repair and replace the beacon light and some obstruction lighting. Acceptance of this grant required committing to a local in-kind grant match of $13,903.10 and a cash match of $1,096.90. This grant was accepted with no debate.

The Street Department requested permission to declare certain vehicles as surplus – a boom truck, a sweeper truck, and a John Deere loader.  All of the these vehicles are not functional and have cost the city money  – from $6,207.28 for the leaf machine to $22,269.38 for the street sweeper. Permission was also requested to sell old, torn out concrete piled at the Public Works yard and airport for $2 a yard or $20 a dump truck load. The city would load the concrete into the vehicles.

Board member Mark Ross asked about the concrete with advertising squares in it that was a part of city history and City Manager Wilson said he would make sure that wasn’t being sold. Ross had stated that the concrete was a part of city history and it would be a shame to lose it.

Hope Police Department sought approval to make an application to the Justice Department for a Bulletproof Vest Grant. HPD has participated for a number of years and has been provided thousands of dollars. The price of a vest and carrier is $1,166.63. DOT will pay 50% and HPD is responsible for the other 50%. The application is submitted electronically and due by June 26, 2023.  Police Chief  Kim Tomlin stated the money would have to be spent anyway but this would allow the police department to be reimbursed for half the expenditures. The question was asked how many vests – 4-5, maybe 6.  The vests should last 5 years.

In the City Manager’s Report,  it was stated the Hope In Action roof job was complete. The city is getting close to submitting it’s UV project to the state for approval. The Streetscape electrical work has begun and the Christmas lighting issue seems solved with Hope Water and Light doing the hookup and using an existing box  A local electrician will also be used.

The fireworks show is set for July 1 at the airport. Gates will open at 6PM.

The Board asked Wilson to look into adding sidewalk.  TTC will add 5′ x 300′ of new sidewalk; double handicap ramp at Pine and Division and a 6″ x 28′ x 16′ driveway off of Pine St into the new parking lot for $27,880. The board gave permission to proceed with the sidewalk.

Hope In Action and the city of Hope shelter applied for two grants (48,000 and $26,000 respectively). The Summer Kids Programs at the Hope Parks begins June 13th and runs through July 20th. Programs will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am until noon.

City Manager Wilson mentioned the rental of facilities, with 13 pool parties, a wrestling event this weekend, 3 pavilions rented multiple times and the HUB rented 6 times – 3 of which are the Farmer’s Market.

Since the first board meeting of July is the 4th Wilson asked of the Board wanted to cancel it. The Board passed a motion to cancel the meeting.

Sylvia Brown showed up towards the end of the meeting to express her thanks for the support of the resolution.  The meeting then adjourned.