Bikes, Blues & BBQ event OK’d

SPRINGDALE — A portion of Bikes, Blues & BBQ will again be held in Springdale after receiving approval from City Council members Tuesday.

Council members unanimously approved recognizing the 2016 Bikes, Blues & BBQ as an approved event.

“We’re pleased to have that event in our city each year,” said Mayor Doug Spouse, who presides over council meetings. “We’re happy to have Bikes, Blues & BBQ in Springdale and hope they continue to expand in the future.”

The event, which has become a Fayetteville staple, will return for its 17th year Sept. 21-24, and will present both familiar and new events at Springdale’s Arvest Ballpark, said Michelle Devers, event director.

The event has used the ballpark the past two years for a car and a vintage motorcycle show, and will bring those two shows back this year, Devers said.

“There will be other events but we haven’t made any announcements on those,” she said.

The council approved rezoning land owned by Shiloh Hospitality at 4726, 4723 and

4641 Williamson Lane from an agricultural district to a thoroughfare commercial district.

“It’s the property across the street from the Holiday Inn Convention Center,” said Patsy Christie, director of planning and community development. “We got a large scale development plan for a hotel to be built there.”

The hotel will be around five stories tall, Christie said.

“It’s a major development in that area,” she said. “It’s a big investment.”

The council also amended the Police Department’s 2016 budget. Last week, the council committee approved a request from Police Chief Mike Peters to increase his budget $77,233 to buy three vehicles, including a Ford Explorer to be used as a Criminal Investigation Division crime scene vehicle, a Chevrolet SUV for the division and a Ram pickup for the SWAT and training supervisor.

A last-minute addition to the agenda to add $36,658 more into an ongoing road repair project around Huntsville Avenue caused a stir among some council members.

Councilman Mike Overton voiced his displeasure.

“I have a real hard time thinking we have to jump through hoops at the last minute,” Overton said. “It could have waited.”

The proposal passed 7-1 with only Overton objecting.

There were cost overruns on the road repair requiring more money, Sprouse said.

“The Highway Department had to do more undercuts, which meant having to do more excavation and bringing in more base stone,” Sprouse said. “More work had to be done because we wanted to make sure the base was properly done so the streets can hold up like they should.”