Arkadelphia directors OK building code rewrite

By JOE MAY | The Southern Standard

Arkadelphia’s building codes will no longer be a jumbled mess, thanks to a three year effort by city staff to update and organize the various subdivision and other zoning ordinances.

City Manager Gary Brinkley told members of the city board at their regular meeting Tuesday evening, Sept. 17, 2024, that city codes had long been a source of confusion and frustration for officials as well as those wanting to build in the city. Based on this, in late 2021, the city embarked on a full rewrite of the municipality’s building codes, which are now contained in one booklet.

“This is a massive deal for the city,” Ward 1 Director Taylor Chaney said. “This has been needed forever. Now, there will be no more ambiguity and it will be available online, which will be much more efficient.” Brinkley agreed, saying that once the ordinance involving the rewrite is passed following readings at three meetings, the code will then be placed online.

The revised code is set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, the city manager said.

At the motion of Director Keith Crews and Chaney, the issue was placed on its first reading following a hearing presided over by Assistant Mayor Roland Gosey in which no members of the public spoke.

The board also recognized Henderson State University and employees John Hardin and Sande Mabry for their efforts in cleaning up and revitalizing the school’s campus. They were presented with certificates by Gosey.

In other business, the board:

• Placed on its first reading the annual 5-mill tax from the county.

• Placed on its second reading an ordinance to increase water tap fees for the first time since 1979.