SILOAM SPRINGS — Another step in the process of building a new library occurred Tuesday because of action by the Siloam Springs Board of Directors.
The board approved a development application to construct an 18,000-squarefoot building to house the library. The library will be on the property where Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital stood — at the corner of Jefferson and Mount Olive streets.
Director-at-large Bob Coleman was eager to hear when construction of the library would begin.
Don Clark, city community services director, said that library construction is close, and once a construction manager is selected the project will begin.
“This is going to be a quicker-than-normal project,” Clark said. “The process of selecting a construction manager should be done by the end of the week.”
Once the manager is selected, a four- to six-week bidding process will begin to select a contractor. After the bidding process is complete, construction of the library will take 10 to 12 months, Clark said.
Director-at-large Carol Smiley asked what a raised speed table crosswalk is, which is part of the proposed library plan.
Civil engineer Ron Homeyer explained that the raised speed table is a 4-inch speed bump that has an incline on both sides and is flat across the top. The flat top will provide enough room for pedestrians to cross Jefferson Street.
The development permit was approved by a 6-0 vote. Director Dennis Brown was absent.
Directors also approved an amendment to the city’s municipal code regarding zoning at the site of the new library. The area was re-zoned from residential office (R-O) to a general institution (G-I) zone, which is used for civic, religious, medical, governmental and non-commercial properties.
The amendment was approved in a 6-0 vote.
In other business, directors approved:
The second reading of an ordinance to amend and update the city’s energy code.
The second reading of an ordinance to adopt new stormwater and drainage standards.
A cooperative purchasing agreement with the Houston-Galveston Area Council, which will allow the city to purchase equipment at surplus rates.
At the end of the meeting, new city administrator Phillip Patterson provided an administrator’s report that included city-made purchases.