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City News
Big issues on tap for Ark.-side board
Jul 7 2008
By: Brandy S. Chewning - Texarkana Gazette
Several big issues are on the grid for the Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors tonight as it kicks things off with a closed meeting regarding personnel.
In the last meeting, an executive session was requested by several board members to discuss an issue with City Manager Harold Boldt’s contract.
After nearly an hour, Mayor Horace Shipp announced Ward 4 Director Chad Dowd, an accountant, had been asked to research “alternative approaches” and make a presentation tonight.
Shipp said Thursday he had not been in touch with Dowd to see if the presentation is ready, but said if it is, the issue will be put to a vote during the meeting.
Boldt was not present in the last executive session, but said later that his position was not in jeopardy.
The board will also use this evening’s closed session to review expired seats on the city’s Planning Commission. Boots Thomas, Eddie Gamble and Frank Poff serve in the terms that are expiring.
An ordinance that confused board members will be back on the table as well, regarding a new fee placed on adult arcade machines.
Permit fees on the slot machine-type games are $5 each, but the city wants to impose a license costing $500 to $1,000 annually.
The board tabled the adoption last month, when it could not be determined whether the fee would be applied to children’s games as well.
A public hearing and ordinance adoption are slated regarding the recent rezoning of three blocks of property on North State Line Avenue.
The property, in the 6900 to 7100 block near Sugar Hill Road, was recently rezoned commercial from residential, though it has housed several small businesses in the past.
Brandon Cogburn, a neighbor of the location, believes the city approved the rezone too quickly and did not allow a required 30-day waiting period from the public hearing and Planning Commission’s recommendation.
But City Attorney Ned Stewart said Cogburn had researched the wrong ordinance and the 30-day period did not apply to this case.
Because of the confusion, the city is offering a chance during tonight’s meeting for the public to offer comments on the rezoning. The board will then decide whether to overturn their previous ruling and return the property to residential status.
On the consent agenda, the city is expected to authorize a contract for reroofing City Hall, the Bi-State Justice Building and the Police Department’s special operations center. The buildings were damaged during a recent hailstorm.
Boldt said the cost of the projects is expected to be about $308,000, including repairs to City Hall’s Spanish roof tiles. An area of the roof that supports the building’s air-conditioning units is not covered in tile.
“The tiles weren’t the majority of the issue. It’s the other roof that’s flat,” Boldt said.
Other items on the consent agenda are:
- Approving a fishing derby at Bobby Ferguson Park July 17.
- Relocating the “Cruisin’ Downtown T-Town” events to city-owned parking lots.
- Approving the annual Four States Fair and Rodeo parade for Sept. 13.
- Authorizing police services during the fair and rodeo.
- Authorizing a contract to purchase security cameras for the BJB and the jail.
Presentations will be given on the city’s first-quarter financial report and building permits and the board will consider requiring permits for any commercial harvesting of timber within the city limits.
The board meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the City Hall board room at Third and Walnut streets.
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