Calico Rock Council approves new standpipe water tank, gives thumbs up to new private club

By Rich Fischer

       The Calico Rock city council, absent member Howard Jeffery, met in regular session last Monday evening during which plans for repainting and rehabbing the elevated water tank on the bluff were changed such that the city would purchase a totally new standpipe tank to replace it.

Water Supervisor Cody Snider was on hand to present information on the cost to repaint/refurbish the existing 89 year-old, elevated tower tank as opposed to replacement of the aged tank with a brand new standpipe design tank.

According to quotes obtained by Snider, refurbishment of the old tank would cost the city $470,000, and would need to be done again in approximately 10 years.

Purchase and installation of a totally new, glass-lined, standpipe design tank, complete with all necessary engineering and set-up would cost approximately $750,000.  Snider also noted that the new tank would not need to be periodically painted and refurbished to meet state requirements due to its design and the material with which it is constructed.

Discussion then ensued regarding the need to acquire the small piece of bluff property adjacent to the exist elevated tank to enable placement at that location.  Apparently, ownership of the property has been unable to establish which will require the city to potentially claim it via imminent domain.

City Attorney Cole Ezell advised that, though not that familiar with the workings of imminent domain, his firm would be willing to research and facilitate the process for a fee of $5000.

All members of the Council agreed that it made financial sense to alter plans to enable purchase and installation of the new tank and proceeded to approve a measure authorizing Ezell to proceed with the process necessary to acquire the land.

The Council then went on to approve modifications to the existing ANRC loan request for resubmittal, increasing the amount to be borrowed from the initial $470,000 to the higher figure of $750,000.  The old elevated water tank will remain in place, filled with water, but will be taken out of service.  After all, it is a landmark!

While on hand, Snider then presented a proposal to the Council for the acquisition of automation which would enable the city to remotely monitor the water levels and be sent alerts when a tank’s water level falls below a designated level.  Today crews must physically visit each site to determine if there is a problem.

This additional equipment would give city water dept personnel real time information for monitoring the water system enabling them to get on site and address any problems before they become critical.  The system may also be accessed via cell phone providing round the clock monitoring capability.

Total cost for the installation of such a system was estimated at $25,000 to equip the city’s three water tanks.  Mayor Hamby confirmed that remaining city ARPA funds could be used for the upgrade.  Given that funding was available, the Council voted to approve the purchase.

Discussion moved to the need for generator back-up power supplies to support all water tanks and pumping/lift stations to ensure water continues to flow and wastewater continues to be processed during power outages.  The cost for seven generators was estimated to be approximately $100,000.

All agreed that there was a need, so the Council proceeded to authorize the Mayor to proceed to obtain firm prices.  If ultimately approved, funding would also come from remaining ARPA money available to the city.

Mayor Hamby next turned things over to the city attorney who proceeded to pass out copies of a draft ordinance he had crafted to replace the existing Property Maintenance ordinance approved by the Council in August of last year.

The new ordinance, if approved, would provide for the “condemnation and removal of houses, buildings, and/or structures constituting a nuisance with the corporate limits, providing for a lien on the property”.

Upon review, this new measure does not include any specifics about what conditions constitute a “nuisance”, but rather lays the determination solely on the City Council.  Section 2 of the measure states, “That any such house, building, and/or structure which is found and declared to be a nuisance by Resolution of the City Council will be condemned to ensure removal thereof.”

 

The remainder of the draft ordinance sets for the steps for notification of the property owner(s), mortgagee(s) and/or lien holder(s) of the properties which have been deemed a nuisance by the Council to enable the party or parties to address the issue within 30 days.

 

It also provides for the assessment of daily fines of up to $1000 for property that has been judicially declared to be a nuisance, implying that a particular situation may wind up in Arkansas Circuit Court should a property owner dispute the nuisance determination made by the city council.  In other words, the city may become involved in lawsuits if their decisions are challenged in court by the owners of said property.

 

Ezell stated that he was not looking for action on the revised ordinance at this time, but rather encouraged Council members to review the draft and then come back to make whatever revisions may be necessary before moving forward with the approval process.

 

Should the measure ultimately be approved, it would supersede the existing ordinance which laid out in much detail what specific things would be considered as making a property out of compliance and subject to further action by the city.

 

Izard County Chief Investigator, Geoffery Watts provided the monthly Sheriff’s report advising that during the prior month the department had responded to 64 calls for service inside the city limits resulting in three drug arrests and five “other” arrests.

 

He noted that from an emergency response standpoint, the eclipse weekend was “underwhelming”, which was a good thing.  Responders were prepared, but fortunately did not see the chaos that had been projected with all going smoothly.

 

Fire Chief Jeff Sanders reported to the Council that during the prior month the department had responded to 14 calls (8- medical, 2 – MVA’s, 4 – fire).  He also was pleased to announce the addition of two new volunteers, Eric Hicks and Chris James.

 

He went on to recognize city water crews for the progress being made on the refurbishment and testing of fire hydrants placed throughout the city.

 

Lastly, he asked the status of the resolution passed by the Council last month which would authorize the Fire Department to begin the process necessary for having annual fire dues added to residents’ property tax statements.

 

Apparently, a copy of the resolution had not yet been passed along to the department.  Sanders was assured that a copy would be provided by new City Recorder/Treasurer Kim Parnell.

 

Under New Business, the Council turned to appointment of Kitty Dockins to fill the vacant position on the Council resulting from the resignation of Parnell who had shifted to serve as Recorder/Treasurer.  As Dockins had been the only candidate who expressed interest, the appointment was unanimously approved by the Council.

 

In response to a call from Mayor Hamby for anything else from the Council, member Steven Lively presented a draft ordinance for Council consideration which if approved would authorize Wee Kare, Inc. (operating as Between the Buns) to apply to the Arkansas Dept of Finance & Administration, Alcoholic Beverage Control Division for a license to operate a private club to be located at 802 AR Hwy 56 in Calico Rock.

 

It was noted that approval by the Council did not approve the license, but only authorized the named entity to proceed with submittal of an application for same.  If ultimately approved by the ABC, the business would be the second in Calico Rock that would be able to sell alcohol to restaurant patrons.

 

As the item was not listed under New Business on the agenda, the public was unaware of the request and therefore did not have the opportunity to comment one way or the other.  It was unclear what sort of private club license would be applied for, beer or wine only, or a full liquor license.

 

Following brief discussion, the Council approved that the application process may continue as outlined by a 6-1 vote with Council member Jim King casting the sole dissenting vote.