State of the City 2021
State of the City March 16, 2021
Pea Ridge continues to grow, as does all of northwest Arkansas. Our population estimate from July 2019 is 6,211. The census numbers will not be out until mid-year or September for us to have the official count.
Since 2010 to the end of 2020, we have issued 706 certificates of occupancy for new homes and as of Jan. 31, 2021, we have issued 30 certificates of occupancy for new homes.
It was announced in 2020 that our local Neighborhood Market was selected as the test site for the Walmart* drone delivery project. This is an exciting project for our community, just another one of a kind for our community.
Even through the covid-19 issues, Pea Ridge continued to provide services to our citizens. We had to make changes throughout the year to meet the covid-19 restrictions or requirements. Our city staff met the challenge and has done an outstanding job during this difficult time.
We had to close our offices for a while but were still able to maintain service to the citizens.
Our community has stepped up to the challenges of 2020 and together we have taken care of each other and will continue to do so.
Highlights of 2020
1. Street Department Projects consisted of the following:
• Carr Street, West/East ditch reshape and correct drainage (928 feet total)
• Carr Street property cleanup
• Created proper ditch on Greene Street to eliminate road erosion (290’)
• Removed large dead tree behind museum
• Removed and replaced heater at museum
• Built small pad at park for Gaga Ball
• Replaced posts/painted, cable replaced @ park (15). Updated entrance to park.
• New trash cans and frames (5)
• Painted basketball court at park
• Regrade electric ditch @ 385 E. Hayes St. to streetlight
• 247 N. Davis St. culvert replacement
• Completed underground drainage Henry Little Circle to South Davis Stree (897 feet pipe total)
• Replaced culvert on Sugar Creek Road (35 feet)
• Removed old gas lights on the Sugar Creek Golf Course subdivisions
• Remove / replace curb on Peck Road to eliminate standing water (120 feet)
• Greene Street concrete swell to remove standing water on asphalt. (29’x22’)
• Fire Dept. concrete paving remove and replace (53’x29’)
• Reshaped south side of Police Department, West side of parking to eliminate water running into building.
• Rebuild plumbing in Police Department bathroom
• Connected Blair Circle sidewalk to existing sidewalk at Washburn Drive (279’ total)
• Patton Street extension project (pipe, and select fill completed thus far)
• Boarded up house on Greene Street (23 sheets of OSB)
• Two 20’ light poles for basketball court at park
• Remove replace asphalt in Standing Oaks (6 tons)
• Private/public partnership for Dove and Hazelton Road improvements
• Annexation of 160 acres in total
• Started on the Baker Hayes Urban Trail with the partnership with NICA team at the school.
2. Parks
• Movies in the park were discontinued due to covid-19 restrictions
• The Splash pad was closed due to covid-19 restrictions.
3. Water Department
• Wastewater Treatment Plant — Construction complete and in the process of bring the plant online.
4. Fire/Ambulance
• Updated all SOPs
• Updated all inspections and developed a new inspection program
• Narcan program
• Developed a Pre-Fire plan program
• Updated all current job classification and developed job qualifications and educational requirements
• Developed an application and hiring process
• Implemented a strict incident command structure
• Developed a strategic plan for the next 5 years
• Performed a study of like size cities comparing budget, population demographics, revenue and commercial occupancy
• Applied for numerous grants:
• AFG – Self Contained Breathing apparatus $200,000
• Received Arkansas Trauma Grant, August 2020 ($5,371)
• Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) $1,200,000
Robert Reich
(b. 1946), former U.S. Secretary of Labor