Smackover Council OKs sewer project ordinance

The Smackover City Council held a special public hearing and meeting Monday to hear public opinion and vote on an ordinance centered around the issuance of a revenue bond for improvements to the city’s sewer facilities.

Mayor Bobby Neal opened the meeting by establishing a public hearing. The hearing lasted for approximately 20 minutes and no citizens offered their opinion on the ordinance during that time period.

The ordinance as presented before the council reads as follows: “An ordinance authorizing the construction of betterments to the sewer facilities of the City of Smackover, Arkansas; authorizing the issuance of a water and sewer revenue bond for the purpose of financing all or a portion of the cost of construction; providing for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bond; repealing Ordinance No. 520; and prescribing other matters relating thereto.”

This ordinance replaces an earlier one for funding sewer facility improvements due to changes in the direction and execution of the project.

Smackover Recorder/Treasurer Rick East elaborated in written correspondence following the meeting. “It’s the same project, just [with] an increased amount for sludge removal, and we will still be installing baffle curtains,” East said. The ordinance was passed in a somewhat unique way. Before each reading of the ordinance, Neal asked for a motion to suspend the rule that requires an ordinance be read in full at three different public meetings on three different days. The ordinance was read three times, each time with the normal rule suspended, and passed three times by the council.

The next regular Smackover City Council meeting will be on Monday, September 14 at 6 p.m.