Gravette city council approves rezoning, grading contract
GRAVETTE — A short public forum was held preceding the Feb. 28 Gravette city council meeting to discuss the city’s proposed water and sewer rate increases. Several citizens attended and made comments.
At the beginning of the regular council meeting, members voted to approve Edward Cochenour as a new member of the public library commission. He was then sworn in by Mayor Kurt Maddox.
Council members approved the first reading of ordinances which would raise water and sewer rates. Second reading of the ordinances will be heard at the March 14 meeting.
In other business, council members voted to approve accepting a contract with CEI of Bentonville for engineering services for the parks grant project. The proposed project includes a tennis court and a basketball court at the Hiwasse Park and a toddler area at Old Town Park in Gravette. Fees for basic services of $11,700 for the Hiwasse Park and $6,500 for Old Town Park were approved.
Council members passed an ordinance to rezone property at 13420 W. Highway 72 owned by William and Anita Stanton from A-1 Agricultural to C-2 Highway Commercial and an ordinance to split a tract of land on 11th Street S.E. owned by Kurt and Dawn Maddox.
Another ordinance was passed repealing Ordinance 99-14, providing for the selection of a city attorney and establishing such attorney’s fees.
Council members passed a resolution declaring as surplus a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 and resolutions approving budget adjustments for the 2018 budget and the 2019 budget.
Only one bid was received for road grading services. Council members voted to accept the bid from JD’s Dirtwork of $28,773 for grading all roads every other month, $2,397 for one round of snow removal and $400 a mile for other grading as needed.
Council members passed a resolution to close the community room grant and the police department special reserve account at Arvest Bank and a resolution to consolidate four Hillcrest Cemetery perpetual reserve certificates of deposit at Bank of Gravett into one 18-month CD at a current rate of 2.76 percent.
Monthly financial reports and a current bond fund update were distributed to each council member.