Arkadelphia’s downtown rock/welcome sign will essentially be stowed away while construction on a major highway is under way.
On Tuesday the Arkadelphia City Board of Directors will consider a resolution allowing for the relocation of the downtown welcome sign/rock and to accept funds from the Arkansas Department of Transportation to move the rock and relocate it at a later date.
The rock at 10th and Clinton streets, which for years had been in front of the town’s KFC restaurant, will be hauled to Dexter Florence Memorial Field until the Arkadelphia Bypass is built and city officials “can better determine the exact location for the optimal placement.”
ARDOT has agreed to reimburse the city for the expense of removal and relocation of the sign. The resolution allows the city to participate in an agreement with ARDOT to remove the sign for reinstallation at another location, which will be determined “at a later date” and approved by the Board of Directors.
Planning Commission shrinking?
City directors will consider an ordinance reducing the number of Planning Commission members from nine to seven.
The original number was set to get a “broad range of representation” throughout Arkadelphia, City Manager Gary Brinkley said to directors in a memo. Commission meetings have often been postponed for lack of a five-member quorum, Brinkley said. A seven-member panel would allow for a quorum of four members.
In a separate memo attached to the ordinance, Brinkley is requesting the city board to name Samanta Roybal to a seat on the Planning Commission. Noting that there is an open spot on the panel, Brinkley said two remaining vacancies will be removed once the ordinance is approved to reduce the number of commissioners. Roybal is a former city clerk.
Demolition of dilapidated Clinton Street residence
The city board will consider a bid to remove three buildings on a lot at 121 Clinton St.
An October 2023 court order allows the city to remove the buildings and their contents, and to receive a first lien on the funds expensed. 9E Circuit Judge Blake Batson authorized the removal of the buildings on that property, which the city does not own. Landowners include Christopher Gray, James Graham and the latter’s limited liability company, Graham General Contractors.
The city received three bids, ranging from $22,500 to $27,000. The Gurdon-based McKenzie Farms Trucking & Excavating provided the lowest qualified bid. A fourth bid of $5,850 from Brick City Abatement will allow that company to remove asbestos from the property.
State of the City
As required by state law, Brinkley will deliver a “State of the City” address to directors.
Programming 2023 as a Year of Completion II, Brinkley is touting the completion of drainage projects, the first phase of a Feaster Trail rehabilitation, a bridge replacement on South 10th Street, and a Feaster Park restroom that will be operational this quarter.
Brinkley will give a full report in his address at the city board meeting, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Hall boardroom, 700 Clay St. The meeting is open to the public.
CLICK HERE to see the full agenda.
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