GARFIELD -- Safety concerns on U.S. Highway 62 dominated the discussion from members of the audience Tuesday at the beginning of the City Council meeting. Several residents spoke asking the city for signage and decreased speed limits on the highway near the intersection with Wimpy Jones Road where the road narrows from five lanes to three.
"I feel like we're going to have to take and move our sign about merging," Ellen King said. King, a former council member, said, "Something needs to be posted ... to be aware. Somebody's going to get hurt."
"Coming off Wimpy Jones Road, you literally have to get into the lane to see what's coming," one lady said. "Somebody's going to get killed there."
Mayor Gary Blackburn told the audience and council members that he had met with Steve Lawrence of the State Highway Commission who said the appropriate signage is in place and the speed limits are appropriate. Blackburn said Lawrence agreed to have a traffic investigator assess the situation.
"I share your observations," Blackburn said to audience members. "I'm keeping a record of accidents. I saw one today come to a complete stop before they merged, they were so confused. It's terrible. We will have an ongoing dialogue. I can't tell you I know a quick fix."
Council member Junior Matthew said the state should finish the highway widening to Gateway. "They need to get on with it right now."
Blackburn said: "There is not a person who won't agree that where it merges from five lanes to three is a problem."
Council member Katherine Shook said she had contacted State Sen. Cecile Bledsoe who told her there is no funding for the project in Gateway.
After discussion, council members voted to cease the contract with Benton County for inspection services. The mayor said he entered into the contract after the departure of the former city employee left a void.
"I've talked to a few constituents, they don't like this at all. The (county) standards are very, very stringent," Shook said.
"On reciprocal building inspection services," Sue Pennington, resident, said, "I suggest you don't do that. Keep your Garfield rules and regulations."
Council members told Blackburn they wanted the city to hire a replacement for Mickey Kelley, former city employee.
Council members heard the second reading of an ordinance to raise water rates and discussed various options, including whether the increase should be a flat rate or tacked onto the 1,000 per gallon.
"I would like to see us leave the flat rate alone, so put it to the 1,000 gallons. We should raise it the same as Two-Ton is to us," Malania Carter, council member, said.
"Right now, it looks like it will be 26 cents per gallon," Shook said. "Why would we raise it to 45 cents a gallon? I don't understand why we would raise our rates more than we need to. We need to cover our costs, but do we need to make money?"
"If we want to raise it more than what Benton County is asking for, add that to the flat fee in order to make repairs. That's my suggestion," Carter said.
"Break even," Matthew said.
Shook told fellow council members she had requested an opinion from both Mark Hayes, Arkansas Municipal League, and the city's attorney, Howard Slinkard, and was told that an ordinance that is amended on a reading, must begin again at the first reading. "They said the ordinance needs to read as written; every time you amend it, you go back to step one. It's a state statute."
Carter also asked about the absence of the city attorney at council meetings. "That was a big selling point, that he wouldn't charge to attend council meetings," she said, adding that his presence and advice are needed.
In other business, council members:
• Approved September Council minutes as read;
• Agreed to evaluate need to move utility poles on North Wimpy Jones Road for which Carroll Electric wants to charge $15,558.27.
General News on 10/21/2015