City wrangles over sign ordinance

— Facing fines for being out of compliance on ammonia limits, the Pea Ridge Wastewater Department has received a permit renewal while working on a remedial plan for ammonia treatment, Mike Mathis, president of Mathis, Carter and Associates Engineers, told City Council members.

Mathis, whose firm has been contracting with the city for many years, was approved to provide engineering services for an ammonia remediation project on the city’s wastewater treatment facility.

Mathis and Earl Carter, vice president, appeared before the council Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the regular Council meeting.

Mayor Jackie Crabtree explained to council members that another engineering firm had been hired to present options to meet the needs of the growing city, but all options were too costly.

“This is no reflection on that company at all. We feel like working with Mike and Earl, and after we went down and met with ADEQ (Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality), at this juncture ... they understand what the city was going through,” Crabtree said. “It was a very successful meeting. They agreed with all of our ideas wholeheartedly and we’re working on a remedial solution for ammonia.”

“Based on the fact that you’ve been busting ammonia for two years now,” Mathis said, “there is consent order. You’re fixin’ to start getting under heavy pressureto do something about it.”

Mathis explained that a consent order means the city will be fined, but didn’t expect the fine to be too large an amount.

Council members disagreed on the sign ordinance over whichthey’ve wrangled for several months.

“We’ve made all the changes we talked about in the last council meeting. We’ve gotten it down to a very workable document. The Planning Commission has put a lot of time and effort into this,” the mayor said. “It may need minor changes along the way, but it will work for the future.”

Cottingham questioned the newest council member voting on it before he has an opportunity to read it. Ray Easley, who had just been sworn in to replace Jack Kelly, said he would abstain.

“I’m getting a lot of negative feedback,” Steve Guthrie, councilman, said. “They say we’re overstepping our boundaries.”

“So what, do you just want to let anybody do anything they want?” Crabtree asked.

“Our Planning Commission, our folks, they spent a lot of time. Yes, they took a template from Bentonville, this is not everything,” Crabtree said.

Guthrie said, “They said they’re looking for cookie cutter; they wan them all to look the same.”

“Keep in mind,” city recorder Sandy Button said, “You have critiqued this, too. It’s all been done to your specifications, too.”

“Personally, I never liked it,” Guthrie said.

Crabtree said: “As much as y’all have looked at this, as much as the Planning Commission has looked at this, if you don’t pass this, you’re doing a big disservice to the community.”

Councilman Bob Cottingham made a motion to approve the sign ordinance. Easley abstained.

Guthrie voted against it. Cottingham and Nadine Telgemeier voted for it, but didn’t leave a majority. The mayor cast the passing vote.

“Compliments to the Planning Commission for a job well done,” Cottingham said.

News, Pages 1 on 09/28/2011