Federal funds sought for sidewalk

City business at the April 16 City Council meeting was dealt with in short order as most items to consider had been dealt with at length during the previous week’s work session.

Council members approved an ordinance correcting the legal description of the Perrin property, which was approved for a rezone a month ago.

Other ordinances approved included Ord. 843 which approved rezoning property at 2295 Hayden Road from Residential Estates to Residential 2, allowing smaller lots than R1, and Ord. 844 which approved the final plat of Walnut Hill Phase 3.

Council members approved Resolution No. 528 expressing the willingness of the city to utilize federal aid funds for a sidewalk connection on Pickens Road (Arkansas Highway 94).

Mayor Nathan See said the project, if approved, would be 80% funded federally and 20% locally.

“This is going to be a TAP project that will be on Thursday’s TAP meeting with Regional Planning,” See explained.

“Do we have any idea how much it might cost?” council member Nadine Telgemeier asked.

See said total cost would be $183,000 and the city has already received $14,00 from Seay Construction and Kinney Construction.

“We’ve already had cost share,” See said. “That will go into our 20%.”

See said TAP (Transportation Alternative Project) projects involve the city applying for funding through Regional Planning. He said there are several classifications, including Carbon Reduction Plan.

“We went into each to see which could fund it,” he said.

See also commended the city employees as well as the city residents who “moved really, really fast” and worked together cooperatively helping clean up after the most recent wind damage in the city.

“It was really amazing to see neighbors helping neighbors,” See said.