Highfill purchases limb truck, accounting software

HIGHFILL — The city council, on Nov. 12, adopted numerous ordinances and resolutions, including the purchase of a limb truck to haul off limbs and debris from the recent tornado, and software to handle the city’s payroll and accounting needs.

The council passed three ordinances with rules suspended, on three readings with a single vote and with an emergency clause. The first amended the city’s fixed asset policy to increase the reporting requirement for purchased property from $500 to $1,000. It was adopted unanimously, with Toby Lester absent for that and subsequent votes.

The second ordinance states that the position of city treasurer will be filled by appointment of the council from and after the date of the next general election for the post of recorder-treasurer (Jan. 1, 2021). The action separates the duties of the elected city recorder or clerk from those of the city’s treasurer, who will handle the city’s finances on a day-to-day basis. The ordinance was passed 4-1, with Wesley Evans voting against it.

The third ordinance approved rezoning certain lands belonging to Darrell and Jean Armstrong from R-1 (residential) to C-1 (commercial) and from RR (rural residential) to PUD (planned unit development). David Williamson opposed the measure.

The council, by resolution, approved the purchase of a 1993 Ford L8000 truck with a 20-foot dump bed to be used for city limb cleanup for a price not to exceed $8,000. Rob Holland, the city’s director of operations, said the truck would save him lots of man-hours in the limb pickup. He also said the city is receiving just over $19,000 from FEMA for storm damage back in 2009 or 2010 and that, with the purchase, he would still have about $12,000 left for other cleanup work. He said additional funds for last month’s storm may be received from FEMA or the state’s emergency management agency.

In a related action, the council unanimously approved spending up to $11,000 for repair work on Duke Hill Road. A low-water crossing there was undermined in the recent flooding.

A resolution to appoint a person to fill a vacancy on the city’s planning commission was tabled because no one had expressed interest or willingness to serve on the commission. The city will be seeking candidates for the post prior to the December council meeting.

The council approved the purchase of CenterPoint accounting and payroll software for the city. Williamson cast the only no vote. Also approved was adding Ryan Evans and Toby Lester as signatories to the city bank accounts.

Ryan Evans cast the only no vote but did not say he would not take on the new responsibility.

Frank Holzkamper of Centerton Utilities addressed the council and suggested the possibility of the city waiving tap fees for developers who put in all the required infrastructure. He said this may be a way for the city to get its ESI-designed lift station built which is needed to provide sewer service for new developments. The lift station would pump sewage to Centerton’s system after meeting the allowed capacity in Highfill’s current drip-field system.

Due to health department restrictions on the number of connections to Highfill’s current sewer system, Highfill is seeking solutions so that housing developments planned in the city can move forward.

Rob Holland, at the beginning of the meeting, asked the council to increase the amount for required reporting so that he could recycle old water meters when the price is up instead of waiting for council approval and then having the price be back down.

He reported on applying for a hazard mitigation grant — a 50/50 grant up to $150,000. He also said that

Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport had contacted the city about the possibility of Highfill’s building inspector doing inspections at the airport.

Highfill’s police, fire department and city workers were commended by the mayor, council members and citizens for their services following last month’s tornado and recent flooding.

Rob Holland said he is still working with FEMA and is obtaining repair prices for storm damage in the city. He said cleanup work is ongoing and will be for some time.

Gene Holland, chief of Highfill’s fire department, reported responding to 26 emergency calls on the night of the tornado.

A 2020 budget workshop was planned in the city hall, beginning at 6:30 p.m. tonight.