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Flood relief update on table |
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Thursday, 14 August 2008 |
Council to hear of progress on watershed, park
Bryant City Council members will receive updates tonight on a number of issues, including Operation Flood Relief, the FTN watershed project and progress at Bishop Park.
The meeting starts at 7 at Boswell Municipal Complex.
Bryant Fire Chief Randy Cox plans to update officials on the condition of several areas of the city following the April storms that caused major damage. Cox was named Operation Flood Relief incident commander.
Then, on July 4th, heavy rain threatened to flood numerous houses in areas of the city, and Cox was again was asked by Mayor Larry Mitchell to address the issues.
“Much has been accomplished since May and you can see that,” Cox said previously. “Every department will be used again in order to complete new projects and assist with projects waiting on materials.”
Public Works Director Richard Penn will update the council on the FTN and Associates watershed project. FTN was hired by the council in January 2007 to conduct a watershed study in identified areas of the city.
The project was initiated not only to identify problems, but also to determine what should be done to improve stormwater drainage in Forest Cove, Sunset Meadows, West Pointe, Springhill Acres, Springhill Manor, Sherwood Estates and Northridge subdivisions.
The objective was to identify steps that could be taken without causing additional harm to other points in the watershed.
The best way to control flooding is to replace the box culverts on the Arkansas 5 bridge near Larry’s Pizza, according to the study. Penn said all of the other projects in the plan are impacted by the bridge.
After FTN completed its study, the city hired McClelland Consulting Engineers Inc. of Little Rock in April to design a plan to replace the culverts. Dan Beranek, McClelland project manager, told the council that the plan must be approved by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department before construction could be completed and utility lines moved.
Several engineers, including Penn, Beranek and Roger Dodds with FTN, also informed the council that a temporary road needed to be built around the bridge during construction. Councilmen approved $144,500 on May 30 for construction of the road.
The council approved up to $60,000 to move AT&T lines and cables. The council also approved a $295,500 bid to begin work on culvert replacement at Hidden Creek.
Jeremy Lemons, city parks and recreation director, will update the council on progress at Bishop Park on Boone Road. The 106-acre park, which will cost around $16 million, is expected to be completed in 2010, although city officials said part of the park will be ready for use at an earlier date.
Council members also will vote on the second reading of two revised ordinances related to the annexation proposal that could double the city’s land size. The first ordinance approved a repeal of a Sept. 9 special election concerning land south of Northlake Road.
Bryant is in a dispute with Benton over the section of land. Both cities claim territorial jurisdiction of the area. Bryant wants to pull the special election and place the proposal on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.
Areas in the annexation proposal include Springhill, Midland, Hilldale, Northlake and Wilkerson roads and property surrounding the new Saline County Regional Airport. Bryant Planning Coordinator LaVenia Jones said there are about 1,200 houses in the areas proposed for annexation.v
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