Tobin gets approval

Planning Commission members approved changes to a large scale development plan from Pat Tobin as presented by engineer Christian McGuire with Bates and Associates. The plans for commercial development, located on Slack Street, have been tabled repeatedly as plans were changed prior to receiving approval from city officials.

There was discussion about a safety rail being installed between the driveway and the detention pond.

City Street Department superintendent Nathan See told planners that Tobin will be responsible for maintaining the berm, ditch and pond.

“We’ve had concerns before,” chairman Donnie Ewald said to Tobin. “Do we have your assurance?”

“It will be enacted,” Tobin said, concerning regulations imposed on the development by the city.

“Going forward, if we have changes made to the plan that is not exactly what we approved, I’m not willing to come back in after the fact,” Dr. Karen Sherman, planner, said. “Either come in before or we’re going to ask you to take it down. This is not the way things should be done.”

City building official Tony Townsend told Tobin there would be additional fees on the building permit since the buildings were constructed larger than approved.

In other business, planners approved a home occupation request from Omar Contreas at 606 Blair Circle. Contreas told planners he cleans floors and carpets for Prestige and plans to open his own business. He said he does not store chemicals at the residence nor would customers come to the residence.

Middle School principal Leslie Moline reported Pea Ridge Student Success Plans are now being used as models for other schools by the Northwest Arkansas Educational Cooperative and, now, by the Arkansas Department of Education for school districts around the state.

She also reported that a survey has just gone out asking parents if they would be interested in participating in classes on school technology not only for their own benefit but so they can better help their children with it. She said all parents have been given a code that allows them to access their children’s learning progress in Schoology, the online learning management system now being used in all Pea Ridge schools. If parents do not have the code, she said they may call their child’s school to get it.

Board member Jeff Neil said about Schoology, “I’m loving it. To see where my kid didn’t turn in a paper or an assignment, that makes me say, ‘Hey, what’s up with this?’ and makes me feel better informed about my kid’s progress.”

Pea Ridge Intermediate School principal Mindy Bowlin reported that the Aspire test prepping process has just concluded. It included third through 10th grades and is conducted three times in each school year.

Pea Ridge Primary School will hold its Fall Festival Oct. 23.

Board members present — Sandy Button, Wood and Neil — voted unanimously to approve all items on the agenda. John Dye and Ryan Heckman were absent.