02-2025 Minutes

Street Committee Meeting

February 18, 2025 - 12:30 p.m.

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

Present were Scott Manchester, Assistant Director of Streets; Steve Hill, Director of Public Works; Jim Bodenhamer, Carry Manuel, Susan Stockton and Jennifer Baker, committee members; Scott Liles, City Clerk and Mayor Adams.

The Street Report for January was reviewed. 

Scott reported there was no new work at the new fire department #2 location.  He said all that we can do has been done and we are waiting to start building another entrance.  The total cost to this project is at $267,671.54 and most of that has been reimbursed to the Street Department.

The Redbud/Windbrook rebuild project is going well. The crew has gotten 50% of Windbrook done and they are now working on putting in drainage culvert on Redbud.  Scott anticipates completing this project later this year; he said it is a big project.  The cost to date is at $176,145.82.

The crew working at Delwood has moved over to Cooper Park to pour new sidewalks and other concrete work for the tennis courts.  This is a Parks Department grant that will reimburse the Street Department.  Scott reported the Maintenance crew took down the fence, dug out the old tennis courts and based in, rolled and compacted for a new tennis court to be finished.  He said there is a little bit more work to do, which will be finished by April 1 when their contractor comes in to lay the new courts.  The total cost to date is $21,367.90.

Concrete work at the new location of the police department on South Street is going well.  The crew built a new handicap ramp and sidewalk.  Currently, they are hammering rock in the parking lot and putting in new drainage culvert.  The cost of the police department project is $12,308.92, which will be reimbursed. 

Snow removal for the month of January totaled $18,129.92.  This amount includes getting all equipment and vehicles ready for the snowfall, and dismounting the spreaders and plows afterwards along with cleanup.  Scott told the committee with the snowfall that is beginning today, he has sent the night crew home at noon, and they will be back at 7:00 p.m. tonight to start their 12 hour shift and work until 7:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Maintenance for the month of January totaled $38,147.61.  This includes sign maintenance, crack sealing, cleaning culverts and box throats, sweeping, patching any potholes and traffic light maintenance. 

The Budget Summary was reviewed; Jennifer asked if we were fully staffed, and Scott said we are two short; we need a laborer/concrete finisher and a mechanic at this time. 

Scott reported there was nothing new done at McCabe Park, he is waiting for contractors to move some of their things, so work on the parking lots can be started.

Carry asked about the status of the Highway 5 South project.  Steve told the committee, bids for utility relocation will be opened on Monday, February 24 and expected work to begin sometime this year.  The Mayor told the committee, ARDOT has moved their bid letting to September 2025, so it may be next year before it begins.  They will rebuild the bridge near Cardinal Drive and when completed, the city will begin reconstruction. 

Steve reviewed with the committee an overlay list along with planned street rebuilds and miscellaneous projects for 2025.  There was a brief discussion, and he said the list will probably change. 

The Mayor spoke to the Street Committee about a piece of property on Bradley Drive at Cooper Estates Drive, which connects to the Cooper Park. He said there are 11 acres, and the city shows interest in acquiring this piece of land.  There was discussion regarding this piece of property along with the planned rebuilding of Bradley Drive and Cooper Estates Drive.  There will be more to discuss at upcoming meetings. 

The Mayor also reported to the committee, the Veterans Plaza 2000 wall is in need of major repair.  He was approached by representatives from First Security Bank offering to have the repairs made for the city, and for 5 years, rename the plaza, "First Security Veterans Plaza".  The Mayor said he got an estimate for the repairs needed and First Security offered to pay installments for 5 years, reimbursing the city for that amount.

Mayor Adams also spoke to the committee regarding a permit that was acquired from ARDOT to take out the woven wire fence along the bypass at the walking trail.  He said the inmates from the Department of Corrections at Calico Rock came out and took down the fence.  He plans on replacing the wire fence with cable fencing because there must be some sort of traffic barrier, and this cable will make mowing much easier.  The Mayor also explained these areas are ARDOT jurisdiction, and they mow only three times a year.  He said that between mowing, the grass and weeds grow so high making it unsightly and it doesn't look very nice for visitors coming through the city to have the grass unkept and so high.  The permit also allows the city to mow the west end of the 62-412 Bypass, from Highway 62 West to College Street/201 South, and, at Highway 62 East and the Bypass to Charles Blackburn Street.  He said ASU, parks and street departments will take care of these areas and it will look so much better.

City Clerk Scott Liles discussed a cleanup ordinance he has created, that pertains to past years' bid waiver ordinances.  This will be presented at the next city council meeting. 

The meeting was adjourned at 1:22 p.m.