Steps planned in response to economic downturn
GRAVETTE — Members of the Gravette City Council held their monthly Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday, April 9, at City Hall. Council members Ron Theis and James Brown attended in person. Rod Clardy, Jeff Davis, Ashley Harris and Margo Thomas responded remotely.
No city department heads were present but several submitted written reports. Police Chief Chuck Skaggs reported police officers had responded to 778 calls so far in 2020. Fire Chief David Orr reported fire department personnel have responded to 171 calls in 2020.
Building inspector David Keck reported the building and code department has stayed busy despite the coronavirus and resultant economic scare.
He reported 21 new building permits from one company in the last month as well as some larger custom home permits and a new commercial permit for a building on Main Street.
Construction on the Casey’s General Store is progressing rapidly and completion is expected in early May.
Keck said the basketball and tennis courts at the Hiwasse park are almost complete. Phase 2 of the trails project is almost out of the planning development stage and bids for the project will be solicited soon.
Karen Benson, library manager, reported the library has received a $5,400 check from the Gravette Community Foundation reflecting a donation received last year for replacement of the library’s public access computers. The library has also received a free four-month subscription to TumbleBooks which will provide patrons with access to more ebooks. The library has shared digital resources with local schools so students could access ebooks on Libby by OverDrive.
Tim Dewitt, street and parks department supervisor, reported his crew has been cleaning the ditches in town and has started mowing all parks and around city buildings.
Employees have also been sanitizing restrooms and drinking fountains in all parks and civic centers.
Council members discussed a proposed city annexation ordinance which would require owners of any property contiguous to the city to annex into the city before receiving water service.
Closure of an alley on a property in Hiwasse was also discussed. Both subjects will be on the agenda for the April 23 council meeting.
Council members voted to table consideration of designating a portion of State Highway 549 as a scenic byway.
They also agreed to table indefinitely proposed purchases of a vehicle for the police department and a vehicle for the fire department, agreeing it would be best to wait and see how the economy trends in the next few months.
Mayor Kurt Maddox recommended the city apply for a federal aid Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant. TAP funds are provided with only a 20% local match and the city has previously been successful in securing TAP money which was used for sidewalks.
Maddox reported it will be necessary to buy new radios for the police department and fire department vehicles since the state and the county are going to new digital radios in June or July and the city must purchase radios which are compatible. Purchase of APX 1000 radios for the two departments will be on the agenda for the April 23 council meeting.
Carl Rabey, city finance director, reported the month of March was “a little disappointing” with sales tax receipts 10% to 15% lower than expected. The street fund broke even last month but revenue was down in the water department because of a $17,000 purchase of water meters.
The state projects a shortfall of $353,000 over the next three months, Rabey said, and that will impact the city but city department officials are cutting costs as much as possible.
City department heads have been asked to rethink their needs and put off any unnecessary expenditures since the length of the covid-19 shutdown is unknown.
Mayor Maddox reported two part-time office workers have been furloughed, as well as one police officer and two library workers who have asked to be furloughed. He noted that the city has substantial reserves and has prepared for catastrophic circumstances so, if all departments will pull back on spending for two or three months, “everyone will be taken care of.”
Councilman Ron Theis suggested having the next council meeting at the Civic Center where a larger meeting room would help in ensuring the 6-foot social distancing rule.
Councilmember Margo Thomas asked about progress on Casey’s General Store and Mayor Maddox reported the parking lot is finished and May 6 is the tentative completion date.