Springtown residents ask to close streets

SPRINGTOWN — April’s meeting of the town council was canceled due to covid-19 pandemic concerns and social distancing guidelines, but the council met May 12 at the City Hall.

The council heard reports during the meeting.

A petition to vacate alleys and streets which was presented to the council from property owners Paul Lemke, Barbara Goodman, Terry and Christi Willson and Erin McCollum in March has been reviewed by legal counsel. George Rhoads, the town’s attorney, drafted an ordinance to close the alleys and streets included in the petition.

However, the public hearing notice hasn’t been published. Mayor Terri Glenn apologized for the delay and suggested the council hold a special meeting to vote on the ordinance after the public hearing notice has been published and the hearing held. The property owners consented to delay the vote to the June meeting.

Alderman Karee Barrett submitted her resignation from the council. Glenn encouraged the aldermen to seek a replacement from the community, with the matter to be addressed at the June meeting.

Glenn said vandals broke into the town’s machine storage and took gas from cans stored there. It was also noted the newly purchased weed eater had been tampered with and is no longer operational. Clerk Shelly McGarrah will follow up with the repair of the weed eater. The vandalism was reported to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

The culvert at Readings Road and Arkansas 12 needs to be cleaned out to improve drainage and has been reported to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department with no response. Glenn said she would follow up to determine the town’s options.