The Hope City Board met in the City Hall Boardroom on Tuesday (2-20). During the meeting there was a recess given for individuals to speak about Hope for the Future. Nobody chose to do so.
A motion was made to allow the Christian Charitable Clinic to put a storage building on a pad behind the clinic. It would be a 12 x 20 building. The motion passed.
Hope Baking Company asked for the city to approve the tax back program. A motion was made to accept it which passed.
There was a proclamation designating February Black History Month.
The financial statement was reviewed with Cindy Clark going over the figures and being questioned by the Board.
Christy Burns gave a Chamber of Commerce update talking about the many different things the Chamber had done during the last year. She said 7 mini grants were distributed for a total of $5,000. Burns attended a conference in Louisiana and Chamber Boot Camp in Little Rock. She talked about the phone ringing constantly and said social media is going pretty well. Burns stated 8 businesses were gained downtown.
The contract with the Hempstead County Economic Development Corporation has been amended.
Anna Powell talked about the Mayor’s summit which had been delayed because of the weather. The event will happen at 108 West 3rd St from 9:30-1 on the 22nd from 9:30-1. The focus will be broadband and rural communities. Powell said the world is digital and talked about how well Hempstead County was doing in spreading broadband and the need for rural communities to understand the importance of it. She stated that Hempstead County was being fairly aggressive with it. The EDC has a couple of new stakeholders and is looking to broaden the opportunities for people to invest in it. The EDC has made progress with personnel and grant opportunities are being added in.
Hempstead County stands to be extremely competitive with Lithium in the next 30 years servicing Columbia and Lafayette County. The EDC has been preparing for a strategic boom which will happen in the next five years. In South Arkansas Exxon plans to spend $200 million. Tetris also wants to invest.
For mowing of City Hall grounds sealed bids were taken. Silvey Lawncare for $4,650 was approved. They had the service last year and did a good job. The other bid was over $10,000.
An image was shown of the proposed new fire station.
City Manager JR Wilson discussed attending Beautification and Tourism meetings. Wilson met with Austin Morace and Clay Black , an ARDOT inspector and engineer. Wilson mentioned different events he would be away for such as the ISEP conference.
For Citizen’s Request Alex Mendoza spoke about the proposed indoor basketball facility and talked about the need for a volleyball facility. He said the community had fallen behind and talked about how Hope could draw a lot of people with tournaments. Mayor Don Still responded saying although the city has talked about a basketball facility it could be converted to volleyball.
The meeting then adjourned.
