By JOE MAY | The Southern Standard
The Arkadelphia City Board approved a resolution Tuesday applying for over $29 million in grants from the Department of Agriculture for water and sewer projects.
David Green, utilities manager, told the board that the city has seven projects that could be funded by the grant. They include:
• Water meter replacements with new digital meters
• Pine Street water relocation
• Pine Street sewer relocation project
• Ouachita pump station and force main
• Gum Springs Water improvements
• New Elevated Water Storage Tank, likely to be placed behind Burger King and Car Mart on Pine Street
• Bypass water line relocation
At the motion of Directors Taylor Chaney and Chris Porter, the motion carried.
In the absence of City Manager Gary Brinkley, city clerk Samantha Roybal then introduced Stuart Tapson as the city’s new parks and recreation director.
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In other business, the board:
• Heard Mayor Scott Byrd read a proclamation concerning the dedication of the new Tate Temple Church of God in Christ on Pine Street.
• Passed at the motion of Direction Jason Jones and Chaney, an ordinance approving the city’s new electrical code.
• Approved a bid for $780,000 from Township Builders for drainage construction on Haddock Street at the motion of Palmer and Director Keith Crews.
• Heard Green say that Verizon has assured him that they are working to correct cell phone issues in the area. Roybal said the cell phone provider has discussed placing a tower atop City Hall to improve service.
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Categories: City & County
The city just passed a water rate increase for $21 million in needed repairs, where is that money going? Or, if these grants are approved, does this mean my water bill won’t be doubling over the next three years? Of course not. We’ll be billed for work paid for by grants. I understand the need for the increase in water and sewer bill, but double just way too much. Too late to fix that scam though, I guess.
So if the city gets this grant are they going to rebate the rate increase to customers and go back to the previous rate before the increase? Seems fair. Many people are struggling to pay these high utility rates. Plenty of money for Ukraine though. Naa, they won’t rebate it or defer back to the old rates, not the American way.