Adding water and sewer lines to the Arkadelphia Bypass and relocating lines to widen Pine Street will cost $15.6 million
By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com
The Arkadelphia Board of Directors gave its nod Tuesday to a pair of bids from separate companies to handle the two jobs.
The Arkadelphia Bypass project attracted two bidders: Timco Blasting & Coatings, Inc., of Bristow, Oklahoma, which provided the lower bid of $8,975,489. The Hot Springs-based Coakley Company, Inc., offered to take on the project for $9.1 million. City governments are generally required to accept the lowest bid from a qualified contractor.
Coakley, however, would be the sole bidder for the Pine Street water utility project, offering to complete the work for $6,651,870.
Funds from a board-adopted bond measure in 2023 will be used to pay for the utility projects. The Arkansas Department of Transportation should absorb 65% of the cost, city officials said at Tuesday’s meeting. Work on the water and sewer line projects is expected to begin by April 2024.
Abstaining director: Airport funding request ‘fuzzy’
Ward 3 Director Keith Crews took issue with city administrators’ desire to use $200,000 from franchise fees as “seed money” for upcoming airport projects aided by grant funding.
The city collects franchise fees from providers of electricity, natural gas and telecommunications.
Calling the reallocation of funds “fuzzy,” Crews argued that the airport budget should have been finalized during the budget process.
City Manager Gary Brinkley countered, noting the airport brought in less revenue in the fourth quarter, mainly because fuel sales typically reflect the flux of student flights related to Henderson State University semesters. Also, Brinkley pointed out airport projects — notably a new 3-bay hangar — that are set to take off in 2024 will need a local push in order to match reimbursement grants already earmarked.
Crews still maintained that the airport’s budget should have included the additional $200,000 needed to match the grants. He likened the scenario to giving a child an allowance: “Whether I gave [my daughter] $5 or I have her $100, she spent every bit of it,” he said.
A motion to move the funds to the airport account passed in a 4-1 vote, with Crews abstaining.
In a separate airport-related measure, the board gave its nod to donate the city’s Precision Approach Path Indicator lights, which were replaced in 2018 after flooding at Dexter Florence Memorial Field, to the Search Municipal Airport. The city was allowed to donate the asset — but could not sell them — as they were purchased with state grant funds.
Arkadelphia board changes policy for citizen speeches
In its annual adoption of procedural rules, the city board OK’d a change to its policy as it relates to citizens wishing to address the board.
While Brinkley admitted there have been no speakers abusing the current policy related to citizens addressing the board, an added rule limits citizens from talking about the same issue at consecutive board meetings.
arkadelphian.com has reason to believe that the city board’s policy change is in response to the Clark County Quorum Court’s approach to giving citizens the floor. The quorum court instead allows citizens to address the court without such limitations, as evidenced by NAACP president Bruce Bell’s repeated arguments of late concerning a 1/2-cent economic development sales tax.
The following language was added to the city board’s procedural rules:
“A citizen speaking to the Board of Directors shall be limited to one time per calendar quarter on the same subject and a time limit of 10 minutes. The time limit may be extended with dialogue between the speaker and the Board of Directors.”
City renews agreements with nonprofits
In customary agreements with three local nonprofit groups, the board approved the renewal of separate Memorandums of Agreement.
The city pays $6,000 each year (payable at $500 per month) to each of the following organizations: the Arkadelphia Council on Aging, the Community Family Enrichment Center, and the Clark County Arkansas Museum. Each organization in turn provides certain services to citizens.
In other business, the board:
• Reviewed a proposed 2024 budget, which will be presented at the Jan. 16 board meeting. Directors were provided packets outlining each department’s proposed budget.
• Adopted an ordinance to rezone 115.25 acres to put North Ridge Estates in a residential zone.
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