Benton Courier - Bryant council to hear water update

City Engineer Richard Penn is expected to update aldermen on multiple reports, including funding for the Forest Cove area watershed analysis by FTN Associates of Little Rock.
The meeting will begin at 7 at Boswell Municipal Complex.
Penn will update the council on the latest developments with FTN watershed projects designed to improve stormwater drainage in the Forest Cove, Sunset Meadows, West Pointe, Springhill Acres, Springhill Manor, Sherwood Estates and Northridge subdivisions.
FTN is an environmental consulting firm hired in January 2007 to help identify stormwater problems in Bryant. The firm is proposing solutions to flooding problems.
A resolution outlining the company’s final report was presented to the council in December. The resolution asked that the city take the following steps:
•Ask the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department to take immediate action to replace a bridge over a stream on Arkansas 5.
• Effect repairs of the levees at the West Pointe detention pond, subject to fund availability. The detention pond is now the property of the city.
• Implement FTN’s recommendations and begin seeking funding to ensure that each stage can be completed in a timely manner.
• Provide monthly progress reports in the implementation of the FTN Forest Cove hydraulic analysis report at the council’s regularly scheduled monthly meetings.
Penn previously listed his priorities, beginning with replacement of the bridge on Arkansas 5.
He said projects on Forest Cove Drive are estimated to cost $53,500, plus another $4,000 if a sidewalk is constructed.
The third project is drainage issues on Hidden Creek Drive. Estimated cost of this project is $51,000, plus another $4,000 if a sidewalk is constructed.
The last of the prioritized projects is a “strip center connection” between Larry’s Pizza and Malvern National Bank off Arkansas 5 North. The project is estimated to cost $51,000.
Penn said problems in the areas of the watershed project will not be corrected until the entire project is completed, but that there will be some easement of the flood issues.
Penn also is expected to report to the council about the geographic information system (GIS), which is used for capturing, storing, analyzing and managing data for the city.
In other business, Rachel Kremer of Moore Stephens Frost Financial Group in Little Rock is expected to discuss opportunities in Bryant; the Bryant Water Department will ask for approval of two water line projects for Robert Berry property; City Attorney Nga Starzewski will present departmental policy changes; and the first reading is expected of a proposed ordinance rezoning residential property.
The agenda does not list any discussion concerning the city’s investigation of Fire Chief Randy Cox.
The fire department has issued a vote of no confidence in Cox, who has been chief since 1999. Cox went on medical leave in mid-February when two firefighters he had fired were permitted to return to duty.
Cox and the fire department have been under an internal investigation and city officials learned recently in an opinion from the state attorney general’s office that they may serve as custodians of files pertaining to the investigation.
Boswell Municipal Complex is at 210 SW Third St.
Larry Mitchell is mayor. Aldermen are Rick Meyer, Steve Gladden, Steve Glenn, Larry Smart, Robby Young, Ken Green, Danny Steele and Chris Tipton.

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