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Council OKs planning area; police officer who saved three lives from fire honored |
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Tuesday, 25 March 2008 |
 Alderman Bill Donnor congratulates Benton Police Officer Brian Bigelow on being named Officer of the Month for February. Bigelow was commended for alerting a family to a fire at 706 Gertrude St. and saving the lives of three people.
Officer Brian Bigelow received the Employee of the Month award for February. He was presented a plaque by Alderman Bill Donnor, who was instrumental in establishing the recognition program. “Officer Bigelow followed his intuition that someone was inside and kicked the front door open,” Donnor said.
“At the same moment, Brian heard a woman plea in the back portion of the house. The lady was screaming that she could not breathe. Officer Bigelow courageously entered into the residence and not only helped the female occupant but also her husband and their 1-year-old child ... out to safety.”
Bigelow learned that the three family members were asleep until he began kicking the door.
“It goes without saying that Officer Bigelow is a hero and that if it had not been for his keen senses, this family would probably have perished,” Donnor said.
Donnor commended the city’s police officers, saying they “do an astounding job every day.”
“There are so many deserving officers of this award, but it is not every day that the actions of a single officer makes this type of impact. I truly believe that Officer Brian Bigelow should be commended for going above and beyond the call of duty in saving this family.”
Bigelow also received complimentary dinner certificates from Darla Huie, owner of Dizzy’s Grill and Bistro.
In other business, a comprehensive plan for the Benton planning area was approved through the council resolution. The eight aldermen present voted for the resolution.
Not present were Aldermen David Sparks and Doug Stracener, whose absences automatically count as “no” votes.
Cities of the first class, which includes Benton, have the authority to adopt and enforce plans for the “coordinated, adjusted and harmonious” development of the municipality. The measure stems from studies and meetings beginning as far back as January 2005.
Following the completion of a planning studies report in January 2006, the city’s planning area was substantially enlarged and special meetings were held. Planning efforts were directed toward updating the city’s land use plan, the community facilities plan and the master street plan.
Numerous public meetings and citizen involvement in 2006 and 2007 focused on economic development strategies; an interim master street plan; land use strategies; updating existing data for the expanded planning area, the natural and built environment, community facilities and services; vision statement; goals and objectives; solicitation and review of public comment on the draft plan and subsequent modifications of that plan.
The resolution noted that the city’s Planning Commission held public hearings May 3-5, 2007. Subsequently, on Nov. 13, the commission unanimously voted to adopt the plan and certify it to the City Council.
After the council voted to approve the resolution, Marsha Guffey, the city’s director of community development, recognized a Metroplan official, John Hoffpauer, whom she credited with providing the city with major assistance in developing the plan.
“He (Hoffpauer) did all the work,” Guffey said.
Bringing up an issue that occurred in a citizens’ summit last week, Alderman Joe Lee Richards defended Guffey for not permitting the Citizens Public Safety Committee to participate. Guffey has been criticized for that decision, but Richards said she made the “right decision.”
“If they had been allowed to attend the meeting ... I feel like they would have dominated the discussion,” Richards said. “The criticism was unwarranted.”
Alderman Steve Lee, who chairs the council’s Health and Safety Committee and who played a role in establishing the citizens’ panel, disagreed. He addressed a comment to Mayor Rick Holland: “You invited that group. [The criticism] was deserved.
“That’s all I’m going to say,” Lee added.
Later, Lee announced that the Citizens Public Safety Committee will hold a series of town meetings to address public safety concerns.
Those sessions are scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the Gene Moss Building in Tyndall Park; 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at Benton First Assembly of God on Arkansas 5 South; and 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17, in the council chambers at Benton Municipal Complex.
Representatives of the panel are available to speak in other meetings where area residents are concerned about public safety, Lee said.
He announced that a group of University of Central Arkansas students will be conducting a telephone survey this week in regard to local public safety concerns. The students’ findings will be reported to the Benton committee as it further studies the issue, he said.
Thus far, the citizens’ group has learned that while Benton’s population has increased more than 23 percent in the past six years and is projected to grow at that rate or more in the next six years, public safety is struggling to keep up, Lee said.
Lack of funding reportedly is the primary reason for this, he group has been told, according to Lee. In studying the issue, the following chief concerns have been noted:
•The fire department no longer provides advanced life support service.
•No funds are being reserved for the city’s next fire truck.
•No funds are being reserved to buy and replace police cars.
•No funds are being reserved for required safety equipment.
•No funds are being reserved for the next police/fire station.
•No funds are available for across-the-board raises for police and fire department employees. The last time this occurred was in 2004.
•No funds are available to hire, train and grow public safety personnel.
In other matters Monday night, the council approved a$21,530 bid from Covington Roofing to make emergency roof repairs at the Christian Community Care Clinic, which is housed in the West South Street structure that once served as City Hall.
The roof of the structure leaked badly during recent heavy rainfall and flooded portions of the building, Holland said.
The repairs will be made with carryover funds from the previous year, Holland said. He said $768,000 is included in this fund.
All of the aldermen present voted to make the roof repairs.
Other matters that came before the council included a review of a recent Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission meeting by Jill Jones, the new executive director of the commission.
Monday marked Jones’ first official day on the job.
The mayor also announced that April 26 is the date for Sparks in the Park, an annual fundraiser for CASA. A related CASA pageant will take place April 5, he said.
In other matters, the council:
•Approved a request from Tawanna and Mike Newcomb for a medical mobile home hardship renewal at 3215 Silica Heights Road. The Newcombs provide care for Verna Newcomb
•Approved change orders on a street improvement project on Winchester Drive and a drainage improvement project in the Troutt addition.
The Winchester Drive project included the omission of planned work and resulted in a net change of $297.
The Troutt addition reflects a net increase of $6,133.98.
Both of the change orders were recommended by the council’s Community Services Committee, which is chaired by Alderman Charles Cunningham.
Alderman Donnor, who chairs the council’s Personnel Committee, announced that city employees will hold a meeting tonight with representatives of insurance firms who are submitting proposals for the city.
He encouraged other aldermen to attend the session. |
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