06-2025 Minutes

Street Committee Meeting

June 17, 2025 - 12:30 p.m.

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

Present were Scott Manchester, Assistant Director of Streets; Jim Bodenhamer, Carry Manuel, Susan Stockton and Jennifer Baker, Committee members; and Steve Hill, Director of Public Works.

Kathy Wham, who lives at 705 Arkansas Avenue, was present at the meeting to voice her concerns of the heavy traffic and excessive speed of both cars, semis and motorcycles.  She said the traffic is especially heavy in the morning and afternoon hours, during shift changes at Baxter Lab.  She added, Google Maps directs traffic through the subdivision as a short cut, and the noise begins about 4:30 a.m.  She explained where her house was located and asked about speed bumps, or something to slow traffic.  Scott reported that the traffic counters he placed in her area showed a one-day total traffic count at 1,341 vehicles.  She invited anybody to come to her house and observe the traffic and then asked if a patrol car would be able to sit in her driveway.  She also has concerns of many, many drivers not stopping at the stop sign on the S curve at Conway and Arkansas.  She asked if there was anything that could be done to slow these vehicles down, even temporary speed bumps.  Steve told her there isn't much the Street Department can do, that it is more of a safety issue which makes it a law enforcement issue; speed bumps cannot be placed, because they will damage both equipment and vehicles.  He said he had already been in contact with Police Chief Eddie Griffin, and Carry told her this would be addressed at the Public Safety meeting today at 2:00 p.m.

The Street Report for May 2025 was reviewed. 

Scott reported a crew has started working again at the Community Center.  They are framing up a 10 foot retaining wall behind the gymnasium.   The crew is working on the footing at this time, and it's coming along well.  The total cost for the Community Center is $1,654,392.62; year to date total is $56,733.36.

Our work has been completed at Fire Station #2.  Asphalt was placed last Wednesday, and it was hydroseeded on Tuesday.  The total cost through May 31 is $411,715.87, and of that, $253,702.99 has been reimbursed to the Street Department.  The next committee will have the total invoiced to the Fire Department for reimbursement. 

The Redbud/Windbrook rebuild project is going well.  Curb was poured on Windbrook from Redbud to Cardinal Drive last week.  The total cost to date on this project is $317,140.62.  This crew has moved back to the Delwood/Meadowcrest/Grace Lane project to get the sidewalk poured and that project completed.  Once Delwood has been completed, the crew will return to this project.

The Delwood/Meadowcrest/Grace Lane is going well, the cost as of May 31 is $292,242.65.  Scott told the committee he expects this project to be completed and paved by the end of July.

Maintenance for the month of May is $56,060.92; this includes mowing right of ways, cleaning culverts and inlet boxes, spraying weeds, bank stabilization, landscaping for the month.

Scott reported the Budget Summary looked good.

There was a short discussion about the traffic light at 62 and 8th Street.  Scott told the committee the new signs have been delivered, and he reminded them ARDOT wants the traffic lights at this intersection removed, and stop signs to be installed at 8th street, both sides, and at the spur.  He said they had completed a traffic study which shows these lights are not needed in this area.  There was a brief discussion about this intersection and the intersection at 6th Street.

Scott Liles, City Clerk, presented paperwork for the committee to review regarding a new sign ordinance that will supersede the current sign ordinance.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:23 p.m.