Commission hails landscape efforts
The Little Rock City Beautiful Commission presented its annual "Best of the Best" landscape awards to three local developments at the city Board of Directors meeting on Monday.
The 2018 winners were:
• J.A. Riggs Tractor Co., 9125 Interstate 30.
• South Village Apartments, 1301 Louisiana St.
• Winrock International, 2101 Riverfront Drive.
The annual landscape competition is in its 38th year and includes commercial, instructional, multi-family or subdivision development projects. To be nominated, landscape developments must be in place for at least one year and must have demonstrated "excellent design, implementation and continual maintenance including voluntary upgrades or enhancements that have gone beyond the city requirements," according to the commission.
Board defers vote on street proposal
The Little Rock Board of Directors on Monday again delayed voting on legislation that would establish standards and specifications for cuts and excavations in streets or alley rights-of-way.
The aim is to keep companies from circumventing city ordinances. At-large City Director Dean Kumpuris argued that the proposed $50 per day penalty was not enough for some corporations. He suggested levying a $100 penalty for the first week that rose week by week to a 60-day penalty of $30,000.
The board opted to defer until the next voting meeting on Oct. 16 and have staff rewrite the ordinance in the meantime. Monday marked the third time the proposed ordinance had been deferred.
Hillcrest bakery's zoning approved
The city Board of Directors on Monday unanimously approved zoning for a new bakery planned in Little Rock's Hillcrest neighborhood.
The business, called Hillcrest Little Bakery, would sit at the northwest corner of Van Buren and A streets.
The site plan shows 10 parking spaces, which Little Rock Planning Director Jamie Collins has said is intended to encourage people to pick up goods rather than eat in.
There has been no official opposition from Hillcrest residents.
City plans to buy 7th road sweeper
The Little Rock Board of Directors on Monday authorized the purchase of another street sweeper for the city's Public Works Department.
The cost of the vehicle is $255,025, city documents show.
The purchase will bring the department's number of street sweepers to seven.
Insurance deal for properties to start
Little Rock has entered into a new insurance contract that covers property and casualty insurance for city buildings and structures.
The total amount of the contract with Alliant Insurance Company is $968,385. The city's current coverage ends Oct. 31, and the new contract goes from Nov. 1 to June 30, 2020.
The total value of the city's buildings and structures is $502 million, according to the ordinance approved by the city Board of Directors on Monday. That includes the property of Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services and the Arkansas Arts Center -- but not the pieces of art inside.
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