Sergeant's son, 3, gets chief's award
The smallest honoree stood out Thursday during the city's annual Public Safety Awards luncheon to honor North Little Rock's Fire, Police and Emergency Services departments, hosted by the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce.
Zac Chamness, 3-year-old son of police Sgt. Steve Chamness, was on hand to receive a Police Department Chief's Award for demonstrating strength and "the meaning of family." Zac was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in late 2013 and has since undergone surgery, chemotherapy, stem-cell treatments and localized radiation therapy. The department has helped raise more than $17,000 for his family. Members of the department also donated about 260 days of leave time, according to department information, to allow Sgt. Chamness to be present during Zac's many treatments.
Also Thursday, the police awarded individual Merit Awards to officers Craig Umholtz and Karen DiMatteo, and a joint Merit Award to Maj. Clayton Goddard of Metropolitan Emergency Services and officer Robert Cupps. Sgt. Craig Edwards and Emma Dye received Achievement Awards, while Sgt. Brian Dedrick, officers Carmen Helton and Shana Cobbs, and Rusty Gartrell were given the Team Achievement Award. Officer Jacob House received a Chief's Award.
The fire department honored seven of its members -- firefighter Eli Staton, Apprenticeship Firefighter of the Year; firefighter Justin Bradshaw, Firefighter of the Year; firefighter Brian Thomas, Emergency Medical Firefighter of the Year; Lt. Mark Wittenburg, Fire Officer of the Year; Capt. Jeff Bennett, Fire Service Educator of the Year; Capt. Gerald Tucker, Fire Service Support Staff Award; and firefighter Nathan Wolfe, Fire Chief's Award.
The Emergency Services department named Carissa Merz Dispatcher of the Year.
Funds for new fire station on agenda
Locating a fire station on North Little Rock's east side is taking another step forward, with the North Little Rock City Council set Monday to consider an appropriation of a maximum $150,000 to make improvements for a temporary station.
The money will be for professional services, renovation and related construction to convert a building being leased by the city at 9906 East U.S. 165 for a fire station.
The City Council approved a three-year lease agreement Feb. 9 with Southeast Financial Management LLC and $18,700 for a first-year rent payment and related expenses in a 7-0 vote. The 1-acre property contains a 1,920-square-foot office and a storage building for a firetruck.
Residents in several subdivisions in the area have asked for a fire station for several years. Mayor Joe Smith and Fire Chief Jim Murphy worked out the rental plan last fall, but the arrangement wasn't finalized until this year.
The fire station is only a temporary solution, city officials have said. The city owns property in the area reserved for a new fire station, but funding hasn't been available to build and staff a permanent station, city officials have said.
Apartment-access plan goes to city
A new street alignment off of Crystal Hill Road recommended by the North Little Rock Planning Commission goes before the City Council on Monday.
Intended to expedite the development of a planned 414-unit apartment complex by Lindsey Management Co., the road would provide a second access point into the area between Crystal Hill Road and NorthShore Business Park near the Interstate 430 interchange with Maumelle Boulevard. Currently, NorthShore Drive is the only access road from Crystal Hill Road.
The Planning Commission approved amending the city's Master Street Plan 6-1 on March 10.
Gene Pfeifer, developer of the NorthShore Business Park, has spoken in opposition to the plan. The amended street plan would change the Master Street Plan approved by the City Council in January 2014. The change turns the proposed road south at the west side of a mountain to connect with Young Road instead of continuing east around the mountain to connect with a proposed Young Road extension.
The City Council will also consider a related rezoning of about 5 acres on the western edge of the proposed road. The rezoning is to provide the apartment development with additional property adjacent to 18.85 acres originally planned as the location. The Planning Commission approved the rezoning 7-0, also on March 10.
Metro on 03/22/2015