The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m.

Present were Amon Tilley, Director of Streets; Darrel Bennett and Rick Pierce, Committee members; Janet Nelson from the Baxter Bulletin and Richard Hester from KTLO Radio.

The Street Report for October 2011 was reviewed.

Amon reported another section of the McClure/Glenbriar Rebuild project was paved since the last committee meeting. He said a total to date of $717,159.91 has been spent on this project, and estimated completion in early Fall, 2012.

The South Main Street Rebuild project had another section paved also. Amon estimated completion of this project to be the early Spring of 2012. He said this last paving was approximately $18,000, so the approximate total to date for South Main Street is at $381,493. He added that storm drains, sidewalks, landscaping and paving is left to do.

The Fuel line item is reported in good shape. Rick asked Amon how ready the department was for winter. Amon said the bins were full of sand and calcium and they are ready for winter.

The meeting adjourned at 12:35 p.m.

The meeting was called to order at 12:32.

Present were Amon Tilley, Director of Streets; Rick Pierce, Dave Almond and Darrel Bennett, Committee members; Janet Nelson from the Baxter Bulletin and Richard Hester from KTLO Radio.

The Street Report from September was reviewed.

Amon reported the McClure/Glenbriar Rebuild project was going well and he'd like to have another section paved. He said the area from the mobile home park to Hallmark will be ready later this week or the beginning of next week. To date, $292,225 has been spent on this project.

The South Main Street Rebuild project is going well. Total to date spent on this project is $292,551.71.

The Microseal project is completed at a cost of $162,938.55. Amon reported he is happy with the way the 19 streets and 1 parking lot turned out. Dave added, he lives on a street that was sealed and said he was also happy with the results.

Amon reported he needed to transfer money from three line items to others to cover expenses. Amon and the committee reviewed the items and after discussion it was agreed the Mayor would draft a resolution for the transfers.

Rick spoke of the shortfall in General Fund and voiced his opinion; the Departments that were not in financial distress should not be penalized for the Departments that are overspending. Also discussed was the possibility of an 18% charge to the Street Department by General Fund for Administrative fees. This amount would come to $64,256 for the year 2012. Water Department would be responsible for 53% or $222,633.63. Rick then reminded the Committee there would be expenses for the Department next year when the 201 South rebuild project begins.

The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

Street Reports were distributed to all in attendance.

Amon reported the McClure/Glenbriar Rebuild project was going well with a cost to date of $237,078.71

South Main Street rebuild is at $252,803.22 to date.

Traffic lights have been upgraded to LED lights by the State Highway Department. Amon reported that he had inquired about upgrading the lights in the past and said it would be costly for the City to upgrade the 22 traffic light locations. He added the lights are controlled by the state and maintained by the City. The upgrade was at no cost to the City.

The Microseal project was started yesterday. Vance Bros. from Little Rock was the low bid for the project. They have started at Chestnut Hills and are sealing various streets throughout the City.

The Committee discussed the site triangle issue. It was agreed a line connecting points 35 feet from the intersection of a collector or arterial street, and 25 feet for the intersection of 2 local streets. The committee agreed to send the ordinance to the Council for approval. Rick announced he would retype the ordinance and give copies to City Attorney Roger Morgan and City Clerk Brian Plumlee.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:27 p.m.

Present were Amon Tilley, Director of Streets; Rick Pierce, Darrel Bennett and Dave Almond, Committee members.

The Street Report for July 2011 was reviewed.

The McClure/Glenbriar Rebuild project was going good with a cost to date of $142,534.44. Amon was hopeful they would try to pave a portion of the street from the mobile home park to the bypass by weeks end.

The South Main Street Rebuild project is at $148,511.27 to date. 1,200 feet of this road was paved this past Monday from 10th Street to just north of 12th Street by the cemetery.

Crews worked on a City parking lot getting it ready for the new location of the Farmers Market. A total of $6,044.97 was spent on the lot.

Reviewing the Budget summary, Rick asked Amon about the two pickup trucks that came in under budget. Amon reported the pickups that were sold in 2008 and 2009 had a cost of approximately $193.19 per month, based on four trucks. He was asked how long the trucks had been used, and he reported two were at 26 months; the other two were at 27 months. Amon said it's a good deal for the City and has been done for quite a few years, all of the committee agreed.

Bids for slurry seal were opened on August 2nd and they are under advisement with the engineer, Consolidated Land Services. Amon is going to West Plains, Springfield and Joplin, Missouri to look at the their streets that were done so he can compare the work of the contractors along with the sealer that was put down. He said both cities have streets that have been sealed in excess of ten years. They both had two different contractors and two different types of sealer put down. Both contractors placed their bids with the City on the 2nd. Amon added that a decision needs to be made so it can be done during this years' construction season.

Amon asked the committee if he could purchase another plow and spreader to put on one of the 1-ton trucks this year for snow season. He said he'd like to use money that was left over from the line item for the backhoes and purchase a plow and spreader. He told the committee that the spreader and plow that was purchased last year for one of the 1 tons worked out really well for snow removal in the subdivisions. Amon said there is approximately $17,178 left in that line item. He said it will cost approximately $6,097 to put a spreader and plow on the truck. All of the committee agreed, but it needs to go to Council because it's changing a line item.

Residents from the Indian Creek subdivision voiced their concerns regarding a fence that had been put up on the lot at the corner of Oak Ridge Road and Osage Lane. The fence is obstructing site angle view and is also in the right of way. The committee referred it to the Council.

Rick reported maps were distributed to all the schools for traffic relief.

The meeting adjourned at 2:10 p.m.

The Street Report for June 2011 was passed out and reviewed.

The McClure/Glenbriar Rebuild project was going good with a total spent of $116,306.57.

Amon reported that he had hoped to have the paving done on South Main Street before school starts, but he said it will not be done to Wade Street. He's hopeful it will be done from 10th Street down to 12th Street by that time. Total to date on the South Main Street Rebuild project is at $104,977.20.

$89,629.91 has been spent to date on Overlays.

The budget looks to be in good shape and Amon reviewed a few line items with the committee.

The Street Department has received the two (2) new ½ ton pickup trucks that had been ordered. There will be 2 trucks put in the City auction next Tuesday, July 19th.

The asphalt recycler bids were opened on July 7th. The bid that was received was too high, so it was rejected. Amon said he wasn't sure if he was going to wait until next year to rebid or try to find different brands of recyclers for review.

Two backhoe bids were accepted and ordered, but have not been delivered yet.

Bids for microsealing various streets were published with the bid opening scheduled for Thursday July 28th.

Rick asked Amon if there was any progress on the retention pond at Cooper Park. Amon reported the design is complete and it's ready to go, he was waiting for the Parks Committee. Rick asked Amon If he had the men and equipment to do this project. Amon said a crew would work as time permitted; he wasn't going to stop a project to work on the pond.

The meeting adjourned at 12:25 p.m.

Special Street Committee Meeting, June 22, 2011 – 9:00 a.m.

The purpose of this meeting is to review a proposal from Arkansas Highway Department for a Highway 201 South widening project.

Present were Amon Tilley, Director of Streets; Rick Pierce and Darrel Bennett, Committee members; and Mayor Osmon. Also present was Richard Hester from KTLO Radio.

A proposal was passed out from AHTD and was reviewed. It included four (4) alternate choices for reconstruction.

The Mayor said he would like to accept the proposal with a portion of Alternate 3 along with a portion of Alternate 4, and request that curb and gutter with sidewalk on the south end be put in from 16th Street to the bypass. The Mayor said that he has received requests from the school to put a sidewalk on the South side from the school to the library.

Rick said he'd like to review all three of their proposals and put a proposal from the City along with it for their approval.

Rick made a motion to present the council with the proposal with the revisions, Darrel seconded.

Street Committee Meeting, June 14, 2011 – 12:30 p.m.

The meeting was called to order at 12:35. Present were Amon Tilley, Director of Streets; Rick Pierce, Darrel Bennett and Dave Almond, Committee members; Richard Hester from KTLO Radio and Janet Nelson from the Baxter Bulletin.

The Street Report for May 2011 was reviewed.

Amon reported the McClure/Glenbriar Rebuild project was going well. The first phase is about 1/3 done. To date $84,116.51 has been spent.

The South Main Street Rebuild project is at $69,377.46. The curbs are in from the cemetery to 10th Street on the East side. The crew has started on the West side.

Overlays are at $86,462.44.

Amon told the committee bids were opened on June 7th for the Asphalt Recycler. The bids were rejected because they came in over what had been budgeted. Amon is not sure if he is going to rebid it later this year or again next year. He said he had budgeted $52,000 and the bids came in at $55,000. Rick asked Amon if he had contacted the company as to why it came in at that price, Amon said he didn't get a satisfactory reply.

The bids specs are almost ready on the slurry seal for various streets. Consolidated is working with Amon on the specifications. Amon handed out a list of streets that will be done in micro seal. The savings will be approximately 40% over hot mix. Part of the savings will be on the driveway aprons. Amon explained that when a street is overlayed, the driveway aprons are included with the asphalt. He added that throughout the neighborhoods, as much money or more is spent on driveway aprons. With micro seal, the aprons will not be done; just the street. Amon hopes to have the bids finalized by next week.

Rick reported that he and Amon met with the Mayor last week to discuss the City accepting Highway 201 South (South College Street) from 9th Street to the Bypass. Also included would be the 201 Spur. He said this has been discussed with the Highway Department and there is a good chance they will do a "cooperative measure" with the City to accept the street and paperwork is getting underway. Rick reported the whole street will be rebuilt from 9th Street to the Bypass. The Highway Department will propose an offer and the City will revise it and then accept it. The State will give both streets to the City after the work has been completed. The Highway Department would do the reconstruction on the street. The savings on the City's part would be approximately 50% or more, by letting the Highway Department do it their way. Rick said he didn't have any numbers yet so he wasn't going to report any. He added we will have to save the funds for the state and then pay the monies out when the bid is let. Though the State would not need any funding until the bid is let, thus giving us a few years to reserve the money from the Street Department budget once the cooperative  agreement is signed and completed. Amon added this is the way it will get the street done quicker. He said this could be completed within the next 3 to 4 years. Previously, when he spoke to the State about rebuilding the street, he was given a 12-15 year completion date on their schedule. Rick added that the Highway Department will give the City the street at any time, but if the City accepts it right away, they will have to do the reconstruction themselves.

Rick announced there will be a meeting between the City and Mountain Home School in reference to the street issues on South College at the Pinkston school access.

Future projects include opening up more roadways with access on the West side of town.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m.

The meeting was called to order at 12:32. Present were Amon Tilley, Director of streets; Rick Pierce, Dave Almond and Darrel Bennett, Committee Members; and, Janet Nelson from the Baxter Bulletin.

The Street Report for April 2011 was reviewed.

Amon reported the McClure/Glenbriar project has started up again after the crew was pulled off and sent to the Police Department to work on their parking lot. Total spent to date at Glenbriar is $63,327.23.

South Main Street Rebuild is coming along good. A total of $37,187.65, to date has been spent on this project.

The project at the Police Department building and sidewalk is at $12,421.07 and this amount will be reimbursed to the Street Department. The parking lot project is at $6,755. Amon reported new asphalt will be put down today.

Overlays have started and as of today, 8th Street and Justis Street have been done.

Sealed bids for new backhoes were opened April 28th. Potter Equipment in Harrison has the low bid with their Case backhoes at a price of $74,116 each. Amon reported the 2 backhoes being traded in are priced at $44,950 and $42,750 for a total trade in of $87,700. This makes the 2 new backhoes a total of $60,532.

A traffic accident at Highway 62 and Cardinal Drive claimed the life of a traffic control box. Amon reported everything is repaired and all information has been submitted to Farm Bureau Insurance for the $15,158,76 claim to be reimbursed to the City.

Rick asked Amon if there was any progress on the information for using the used traffic light poles for the ball field lighting. Amon said Consolidated Land Services is still working on it, waiting to hear from the manufacturer of the poles for the specifications along with the Highway Department.

Rick also asked about the Cooper Park drainage. Amon said all that had been done so far was the survey. Rick would like to have the creek dammed so there could be a retention pond at the back corner of the park.

The meeting adjourned at 12:51 p.m.

The meeting was called to order at 12:33 p.m. Present were Amon Tilley, Director of Streets; Rick Pierce, Darrel Bennett and Dave Almond, Committee members; Richard Hester from KTLO Radio and Janet Nelson from the Baxter Bulletin.

The Street Report from March 2011 was reviewed. Amon reported curbs are going in on the McClure/Glenbriar Rebuild. To date, $47,731.54 has been spent on this project.

There is a crew working on South Main Street. It will be completely rebuilt from Dodd Street to Wade Street. They have started at the North end, to get that area done before school starts next year. Amon said the whole project would most likely be completed by then. New culvert, curb and gutter, and sidewalk will be going in.

The Laurel Road Box Culvert project has been completed at a cost of $21,208.63.

The Gregg Road Rebuild is completed with a total cost of $164,241.58.

Amon reported the Budget was still in good shape. Rick asked how the fuel costs were. Amon said they were doing pretty good so far, with a lot depending on what happened this summer.

Rick asked Amon where they were with the Parks Department and their lights. Amon told the Committee that Consolidated Land Services is conducting tests on the poles. They had been out and took measurements they needed to see if the lights the Parks Department has would be supported by the poles. Amon reported to the committee that the Street Department has heavy-duty traffic light poles that had been taken down in the past, and the Parks Department acquired lights from the stadium in Fayetteville. The Engineering firm is running tests to see if the lights can be supported by the poles. They have also been in contact with the light pole manufacturer.

Rick mentioned the Parks Department is going to be putting up new fence at Cooper Park. He asked Amon if the Street Department was going to assist with equipment or how was that done. Amon told him it hadn’t been mentioned, but he would help in any way if they needed it. There was also discussion about the creek at Cooper Park, which Amon said he’d take a look at.

Rick asked Amon if the Street Department was done working at the new Police Department. Amon said there still needs to be a curb put in at the upper parking lot next to the building, and they will get started on it next week.

Rick brought up the Water Department’s request to be able to park their trencher at the Street Department. The reason for this is it is so big and unsightly; they’d like to move it to an area out of the way. The Water Department also has other acreage it could be parked at. Rick said he had met with Amon, and they agreed there was no room for the trencher. Dave suggested they put up a fence to hide it, or since they have other property to keep it on, that’s where they should keep it. Rick also mentioned that the Water Department could move it closer to their building, and it would be away from the road and it would blend in with all of their other equipment. All agreed that the trencher will stay at the Water Department.

Amon presented an ordinance that will go the Administrative Committee. He said since Section 3 had been added it pertains to the Street Department and would like to see it passed as it’s written. Rick added the last one had a $4,000 amount in it for the Council that was sent back to committee. He said there was a discrepancy between the $20,000 and the $4,000. He added this was all directed at used equipment purchases, or any equipment of any kind that is not a line item. This give the department the ability, if it’s $20,000 or less, to make the purchase without going to Committee or Council for approval.

The meeting adjourned at 12:57.

The Street Report for February 2011 was reviewed.

The crews are doing a final dig out at Gregg Road in Carlile Highlands. All the concrete work is done, and there is base, paving and landscaping left to do. To date, $110,023.19 has been spent at this job.

The McClure/Glenbriar Rebuild job has the crews working on curbs. Storm drains are in from the church, south to the bypass. $18,697.49 is the total cost to date.

The box culvert at Laurel Road is in at a cost of $6,205.95 to date. Curbs are being put in over the top of it today, and wing walls have yet to be put in. The street should be opened back up by Thursday.

Two Snow Removal reports were included this month. One is a current report, for 11/15/10 through 2/28/11; the second one is for 11/15/09 through 2/28/10. The total cost of Snow Removal for this year was $39,073.47. Last year was $89,272.89. Amon said the breakdown compared the two years.

The Budget is in good shape, Amon reported.

Rick asked Amon questions concerning the McClure/Glenbriar project. Amon said this project would be a two-year project, with a total cost of approximately $1.5 million dollars. The first phase of the project will go from the bypass to the trailer park; the second phase will go from the trailer park to the 4-way stop at McClure. The last phase will go from the 4-way stop to Highway 5 South.

Rick asked Amon if his department was on schedule with this project. Amon said it was, and the weather didn’t hold them up that much.

Rick also asked about the street being opened at the Laurel Avenue box culvert. Amon told him that the concrete had to completely cure before the street was opened, and he felt that Thursday would give it enough time to cure out.

Amon reported he spoke with a company a few days prior regarding slurry sealing various streets. He said he had some streets sealed in the past, and it was a good product, adding, the public needed to be educated what is done. Slurry seal, or micro seal is done on a good street, to keep it good. This would mean a street that is five years old would be sealed. It is very good preventative maintenance. Amon reported, if you have a street that is 5 to 8 years old, slurry seal it, and the street will be good for another 8 to 10 years. After that, put another slurry seal on it and you’ll never have to overlay that street. Rick mentioned that the problem with slurry seal is that it’s not a “politically productive decision” because it seems that the streets are being painted. However, he added that in the long run, the street is being saved. He said it’s a better decision for Mountain Home, because the street can go from being a 10 to 15 year street, to be made to last 25 or 30 years. The short term, residents will think the street is just being painted. Rick gave an example of when he and Amon had a prior discussion about a street that could have been slurry sealed approximately 5 years ago, he said, had the street been slurry sealed, it would not have to be overlaid, and that street in particular is scheduled to be overlaid this year. Rick said this will be so much savings to the City compared to overlaying. He added, to run a grinder on the road and then to overlay it would have so much more cost compared to slurry sealing, and it was a very valuable process. He said he and Amon were both in favor of it. Some of the streets that had been slurry sealed back in the 70’s and 80’s continue to be good streets, however, streets that are next to them have started to fall apart. It’s very difficult when the surface cracks, water gets in, it freezes and starts to tear the pavement up. The slurry seal saves that. Amon said there are a few issues with slurry seal, one is getting a set of specs that you can follow, and make sure the company is following it. The State Highway Dept. has specs, but they are such a wide-range that you get some of them in. There was a company that came in 6 or 7 years ago and did some slurry sealing. It didn’t hold up, there were problems with the company, and Amon said the City had to threaten with lawsuits and even held back money until the issues were resolved. They were within the boundaries of the mix design, but they had changed it one way or another and it wasn’t right. He showed a sample of a product that was put down on streets at West Plains, Missouri last year. MAQS surfacing system is the product, it is similar to a micro seal, but there is no comparison. He said it is a real hard rock, and he doesn’t like the micro seal because if there is a softer rock in there, it won’t work. West Plains is doing some of this he said, and Springfield Missouri is doing a lot of it. This is another option he has. It will do a street that is a little rougher, that the slurry seal won’t work well on. Another issue with slurry seal and others is you need to know what kind of street you are going to put it down on. It cannot be put down on a street that is worn out; money will be wasted on that street. Amon said it would on the street that he and Rick discussed. Amon said the MAQS sealer is about half the cost of asphalt.

The meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

The Street Report for January 2011 was reviewed.

Amon reported weather permitting, digging out for the Gregg Road project will begin next week and paving would be done in the Spring. Total cost to this project through January 31 is $90,427.57.

The cost of snow removal through February 6, 2011 is $18,032.11.

A crew started yesterday working at Glenbriar for the McClure/Glenbriar street rebuild. This project is going from Highway 5 South to the Bypass.

Amon reported to the committee that a 1-ton truck purchased from Federal Surplus last year was fitted with a V-plow and sand spreader. He said the truck cleans up the snow quicker than the dump trucks, and he’d like to purchase a spreader for another 1 ton that the Street Department has.

A Mountain Home resident from Louann Drive complimented Amon on the job well done removing the snow. He also asked what the Equipment Cost was on the Snow Removal report. Amon told him that each piece of equipment had a cost per hour charge. The resident also asked Amon why the plow trucks would drive down his street when the snow was already plowed. He told the man the trucks do passes and go wider each time around. Amon told him the City is divided up into 10 Zones. He said each Zone has main streets that get plowed first, and then the secondary streets get done. He also added, the plows need to get to the edges of the road to keep the inlet boxes clean so the water has some place to go when the snow melts. This is the reason they keep going down the streets, widening as they go around. The resident also asked what the guys in the pickup trucks are doing “riding around”. Amon told him they are supervisors that are checking the streets as they are being cleaned. There are also crews in pickup trucks cleaning the culverts out so the water will drain. Rick asked the man if he had noticed the trucks going around Monday and Tuesday of this week. He said there were crews going around cleaning up the broken asphalt throughout the Zones. Amon said there is a lot more than getting into a plow truck and going down the road and cleaning it off once. It just doesn’t work that way. He commended his crew for doing a fine job getting the streets cleaned in a timely manner.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:42 p.m.

The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m.

Present were Amon Tilley, Director of Streets; Darrel Bennett, Dave Almond and Rick Pierce, Committee members.

The Street Report for December 2010 was reviewed.

Dave nominated Rick for Committee Chairman, Darrel seconded.

Amon reported the crew working on the Gregg Road project has the curbs done and have been putting in sidewalks. The street will be ready for paving in early Spring. The cost to date for Gregg Road is $74,305.19.

A crew has built a retaining wall at the new Police Department on W. 7th St., to dump fill between the empty lot and the creek. Amon said it’s a good place to put road fill. The cost of this project to date is $30,554.05.

Amon reported he had a crew come in about 4:30 a.m. on Monday, and another crew came in around 5:00 this morning to put sand/calcium down at the main intersections and slick spots throughout the city. He said the problem with this amount of snow is it cannot be plowed, they have to rely on the sun to melt it, and sand will be spread.

Rick asked Amon what street projects he had planned for this year. Amon said the Gregg Road project at Carlile Highlands would be finished this year. He said McClure from Highway 5 South and Glenbriar to the Bypass would be completely rebuilt this year with curb and gutter, sidewalk on one side. Amon added he is in the preliminary stages of looking at South Main Street from 10th Street to Wade Street. One of the problems is the right-of-way by the little houses. It’s in the planning stage right now and if there is room to fit it in, they’ll try to do it. He also said the school at 10th and Main is closed right now but it will be open next year. It would be to the city’s advantage to get the road rebuilt before the school is opened back up.

It was agreed to keep the Street Committee meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12:30 p.m.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:37 p.m.

The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m. Present were Amon Tilley, Director of Streets; Mary James, Darrel Bennett and Dave Almond, Committee members.

The Street Report for November/December along with the year-end report was reviewed.

Amon reported the Gregg Road project is going well with curbs just about finished to Highway 5 South. The crew is working on the sidewalk now. This project will be ready for paving Spring 2011. This project is at $52,136.53.

The retaining wall being built at the new Police Department for the fill being brought in by the Street Department is at $13,418.20.

The Rodeo Drive North Extension project has been completed for a total cost of $671,836.54

Budget is in good shape for the end of the year. The annual report was reviewed. The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 p.m.

The Street Report for May and June was reviewed.

Rodeo Drive North Extension, Highway 5 North to Walker Road is at $371,262.60.

Nelson Street curbs is complete except for the overlay, which is waiting because of the rain we’ve been getting. Cost of this project is $32,961.15.

Overlays are at $25,458.82

Pine Tree Lane sidewalk is complete except for some touch up landscaping. Final cost of this project is $37,905.65.

Amon read a letter from Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department; they have denied the City’s request for traffic lights at the three locations that were requested for traffic studies, (West Road and Rodeo Drive, Highway 5 North and Rodeo Drive, and, Arkansas Avenue and Highway 201 North). Mary said it was going to be a mess, Amon agreed. He said after the new school buildings are built and the traffic is there, the City will again request another traffic study.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m.