Highfill council talks of rescues, roads

HIGHFILL — Emergency workers in the city were commended by the mayor and council at the City Council meeting May 11 for their work in response to flooding.

According to Fire Chief Gene Holland, city rescue crews responded to 14 calls and rescued 25 people April 28.

As a result, the council approved a request from Police Chief Blake Webb to outfit the city’s Army surplus HumVees with radios, lights and sirens for use as high-water rescue vehicles. He estimated the cost to be up to $5,000, with the money coming from the Police Department’s savings fund.

Webb told the council that the county’s new radio system didn’t perform as he had hoped during the emergencies on April 28. The radios were supposed to make it possible for interdepartmental communications. He said the sheriff and county judge need to be made aware of the system’s failings, so improvements can be made.

He reported the Police Department had received the two new trucks it ordered and that they were being prepared to go into service, with one fully marked and the chief’s vehicle unmarked.

JC Brenaman, the city’s public works director, reported significant road damage due to the April flooding and said his department is working on repairs. It was suggested that Brenaman publish a timetable to let residents know what roadwork is scheduled to be done and approximately when it would be done.

With no old business on the agenda, the mayor asked the council about funds donated for HayDays but not used being used for the city’s July 4 celebration. She said the committee for HayDays is no longer active and reported about $2,200 in unused funds. Chris Holland suggested getting the committee active again and planning activities in the city. The council had no objection to the unused HayDays money being used to purchase fireworks or promote the July 4 celebration as a joint effort with First Baptist Church in Highfill.

Mayor Michelle Rieff reported to the council about ongoing work to update and prepare a zoning map for the city. She said there is nothing new on the map but it reflects the ordinances passed by the city from 1996 to the present and took much research. The previous map was not up to date and contained numerous inaccuracies.

The new zoning map will assist the city inspector in knowing how parcels are zoned within the city and what type of buildings and activities are permitted in each parcel.

A public hearing will be scheduled in conjunction with the June planning commission meeting so that people may voice any concerns they may have with the current zoning of their properties. People can review the map at the city hall. The map is expected to be finalized and approved next month.

Rieff reported on preparations of a comprehensive plan for the city and was taken to task by some on the council for failing to make it more of a joint effort since she had formed a task force to work on the plan and then did most of the work herself. Rieff said the plan she prepared was done in cooperation with the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission and Cassie Elliott and was modeled after plans of other cities. She invited the council and others to contribute to the effort and participate in a Tuesday meeting on the matter.

A partial financial report was given by Will Battles, contracted to handle the city’s information technology needs and currently going through the city’s accounts and finances to help clean up the city’s records and rectify entries and account balances, income and expenditures in the city’s software program. The report indicated that the city was not spending more than it was taking in but exact account balances for departments and line items were in some cases not yet certain.

It was reported that the community building is not yet up to code for use and the city is hoping to obtain grant funding to continue work there and complete the kitchen and other needed improvements.

Councilmember Chris Holland asked if the City Council could put Sunday liquor sales on the ballot. Jay Williams, the city’s attorney, said he would look into that question and report back.