West Memphis prepping for grass-cutting season

West Memphis prepping for grass-cutting season

Bids, funds for mowing discussed at council meeting

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The West Memphis Planning & Development Department presented the bulk of the business for West Memphis City Council during its last meeting in February.

Bids were open to contract for mowing parks and spraying in industrial areas. A resolution passed condemning blighted houses and buildings and new community development statement approved. Finally, updated electric codes were adopted to comply with new state and federal standards.

Mayor Bill Johnson asked for routine handling of the annual groundskeeping bids and wanted the written offers turned over to various divisions of his administration to determine the final awards. The bids called for 14 mowings over the traditional grass growing season between St.

Patrick’s Day and Columbus Day. “The bids are for grass spraying, and separate bids mowing and grounds maintenance at Mid-America Park, and the airport,” said Johnson. “I’ll ask that you refer the first two to the administration and the last two the airport commission and Economic development.”

Planning and Development Director Paul Luker had the annual list of condemned priorities up for council consideration.

“That’s our normal annual list of structures we hope to remove,” said Luker. “They are vacant and in poor condition.”

The city relies mainly on limited federal funds to raze the buildings. Johnson pointed out that the list was big and the demolition priorities would be ranked.

Thirty dilapidated or burned structures made the list with a budget under a block grant allotment of $100,000.

“That doesn’t mean necessarily they will all be removed,” said Johnson.

“We deal with the funding,” replied Luker. “We won’t know how much we can do until we get the bids. Until then we don’t know how much it will cost. We will do as much as we can with the block grant money, those that don’t qualify or we cannot contact, we will use general fund money.”

Luker provided a thumbnail overview of updated electrical codes for to city council to consider adopting. The codes called for enforcement by the city electrical inspector with fines up to $500 for violations.

“The state adopted a new version of the electrical code,” said Luker. “This is another routine matter. We are just following behind the state’s lead.”

“The codes are for safety and just followed the State,” confirmed Johnson.

The final 2018 community development statement was also forwarded by Luker.

The plan outlines the city’s intended use for the $302,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). Condemned structures were only part of the plans. Funds were planned for public housing and street and drainage improvement public facilities improvement projects. Rehabilitating house for elderly, handicapped low or moderate income homeowners was set for $11,700. Another $25,000 was planned to go to non-profits working with low income individuals. The final statement emerged from community at public meetings earlier in the year.

“It’s based on what we have on what we’ve done historically with our CDBG program and public hearings held in January and February,” said Luker.

By John Rech