City focuses on economic development

Editors note: The HeraldLeader is publishing a series about the goals that city board members decided to pursue during a May 14 workshop at the Siloam Springs Public Library with City Administrator Phillip Patterson and Mayor John Mark Turner.

The board informally chose 12 out of 58 proposed goals to focus on over the next two years.

Patterson said he would like to have the goals, and their analysis, time lines and measurements drafted and formally adopted by the board in June or July so that any goal to be completed in 2021 can be included in that year’s budget, he said. The same thing will be done for the goals to be completed in 2022, he said.

This week, the HeraldLeader will look at the second goal, which is economic development.

City board members would like to focus on the goal of economic development by promoting Siloam Springs to smaller tech companies and working with the Chamber of Commerce to attract larger industries to the city.

The goal consists of four portions listed under the category of economic development, according to the goal worksheet provided by the city on the night of the meeting. The four portions include coronavirus recovery; recruiting and encouraging new economic activity with an emphasis on tech companies; economic maintenance and balance; and doing a better job of recruiting large industrial employers, the worksheet states.

The directors focused on the second, third and fourth parts of the goal.

Board members discussed attracting more

the directions that the Arkansas Health Department has provided,” Patterson said.

Other guidelines include not opening the baby pool; staff separating chairs and tables to ensure the 6-foot social distancing requirement; no outside food or drink except water; no swim lessons; no toys or noodles would be allowed in the pool; and the concession stand would potentially have pre-packaged items, Patterson said.

No memberships, pavilion rentals or groups will be allowed except for the McKee Employees Recreation Association with which the city has a contractual obligation. Staff would allow McKee employees to come on a first come first serve basis, Patterson said. The swim team will be allowed to practice from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, but no swim meets will be held at the aquatic center, Patterson said.

Rules for the splash pad include signage to remind patrons of social distancing; marked-off spaces around water to show proper distancing; the water fountain will not be operational; and the Splash Pad will run continuously, the post states.

Patterson said the Family Aquatic Center is subsidized by money from the general fund. The average amount to operate the center is $48,000 a year. With all of the directives to adhere to, the amount to run the aquatic center this year is going to be $98,000, as long as people come and go twice everyday, Patterson said.

“If all 125 come in at one time and don’t turn over that subsidy will go up,” Patterson said.

Due to this high amount Patterson wanted to know what the board thought.

Board members agreed unanimously to open the Family Aquatic Center this year.

“If the money’s not there I’m all for reaching into the reserves and bringing a little life back to Siloam,” Director Brad Burns said. “If we have to spend $100,000 it will be the best $100,000 ever spent.”