SILOAM SPRINGS -- The Siloam Springs Board of Directors is still short one member, but directors will have to choose a method for filling the empty at-large seat 5, which has more than three years remaining in its unexpired term.
That decision will be made at t0day's regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting, which will be prefaced by a crosswalk master plan workshop that starts at 5:45 p.m. The meeting will be the last meeting of a two-meeting window during which directors must choose a method to fill the vacant seat, City Administrator Phillip Patterson said last month.
In August, directors took a first look at the options to fill the vacant at-large position, but were unable to pass a decision with only five directors in attendance. Directors were torn between recommending a specially called election in December and authorizing the mayor to call a committee to recommend candidates for appointment to the seat.
The future of seat 5 on the board will be considered along with three purchase approvals, seven ordinances and two significant development permits.
Proposed purchases include a long-range water plan, a sewer collection study and a purchase of drainage pipe for the Kenwood Street Widening project.
The water plan, which is required by the state to be updated every five years, will be executed by consulting firm McGoodwin, Williams and Yates, which is based in Fayetteville. It will cost the city $90,862. The sewer study will be conducted by RJN Group, and it includes inspection of 300 manhole covers and all 18 sewer lift stations in the city. The sewer study will cost $19.88 less than its budget of $120,000.
The meeting's seven ordinances include three rezoning amendments; one each for 708 East Main Street from R-2 to C-1A, one for 2701 East Kenwood Street from R-2 to G-I, and the third for 829 South Mt. Olive Street from C-2 to R-3.
Three of the remaining ordinances are a suite of proposed code changes that will update the city's zoning code and amend the city's use units to address potential future medical marijuana developments. Those ordinances will join the second reading of an ordinance that would codify the City Administrator's authority to hire and fire employees, in addition to restrictions on relatives of elected officials becoming employed by the city.
A significant development permit for a restaurant and adjoining retail space at 2325 East Main Street is next on the agenda. The permit request is for a 3,933-square-foot restaurant that would be a Freddy's Steakburgers, according to the city's staff report. There are no businesses listed for the retail space, and at the time of the staff report, city staff was unaware of what business would rent the space.
Finally, the board will consider one other significant development permit. This permit would be for a multipurpose gymnasium to be constructed by Harvard Avenue Baptist Church at 760 South Lincoln Street. The gym would be 7,296 square feet.
NW News on 09/05/2017