Highfill adopts budget, moves forward on water, sewer projects

HIGHFILL — The city council in Highfill, at its Jan. 8 meeting, appointed a new council member, amended its 2018 budget to reflect actual expenditures, adopted a new budget for 2019 and voted to move forward with extending water lines along Hutchens Road and later explore extending lines along the eastern side of Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.

Ryan Evans was appointed to the council to fill the Ward 3, Position 2, seat vacated by the resignation of Mark White at the end of 2018. The only dissenting vote was that of Wesley Evans, who voiced concern that this would be the third volunteer fireman on the council. Ryan Evans was sworn in by Mayor Michelle Rieff following his appointment and took his seat on the council.

Tim Mays, of Engineering Services Inc., of Springdale, presented the council with alternative plans for both water and sewer system improvements. As asked by the council, Mays presented plans to extend the city’s water system to the east side of Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport to protect the city’s water service area from encroachment by other city water systems, to have water service available for anticipated future development on the east side of the airport and to loop lines to reduce the need for line flushing and possibly provide an additional supply line to the city’s system.

Projected costs to do the full loop were approximately $1.1 million and $1.5 million with the Hutchens Road extension included, accord to maps provided by Mays.