Drainage work begins along North Davis Street in Pea Ridge

— Improving the drainage along North Davis Street, the city plans to purchase property from Alan Ash, but is awaiting a lien release from the bank. City Council members discussed the city’sstreet improvement and drainage projects at the regular meeting Tuesday, June 15.

Andrew Huntsinger, assistant city attorney, told City Council members he sent the appraisal to the bank, but was waiting for the release before the purchase could proceed. If a release is notreceived, the city could condemn the property.

“Is there something different youculd do? Maybe you don’t buy the property,” Nadine Telgemeier, council member, asked.

Mayor Jackie Crabtree explained there was no other way to get the drainage channel corrected without that property.

Street superintendent Larry Majors said the ditch receives the water from a wide area. “If anybody builds upstream, that water will flow down there.”

The project has already been bid and the box channel configured with that piece of property,said Tony Townsend, city building official.

The drainage pipe there now is 48 inches on one side of the road and 60 inches on the other.

“We just don’t know why it wasdone that way,” Townsend said, explaining that the new plan should dramatically improve the drainage in that area.

The mayor said the road and drainage work should take 30 and 40 days respectively.

Telgemeier also said residents on Ryan Road were concerned about drainage.

Majors told her the problem had been addressed.

“That’s been in the works for two months now ... We’re getting it cleaned out - the whistle under the road,” Majors said.

In other business, the council:

◊Appointed Ken Hayes, water/waste water superintendent, as a director and the mayor as an alternate to the Benton/Washington Rural Water Authority Board;

◊Received a favorable report on the city legislative joint audit report for 2008 and 2009.

The mayor commended the staff at City Hall for their work saying: “There was nothing found in he audit. That speaks very highly of the staff we have in the front office - Sandy (Button) and Barbara (Brydle) - and the way they handle things. We’re very, very thankful.”

News, Pages 1 on 06/23/2010