Bryant has been designated a 2008 Arkansas Volunteer Community of the Year, an honor that Mayor Larry Mitchell said is reserved for 12 cities in the state.
Mitchell made the announcement during Monday night’s City Council meeting.
He said the city nominated itself after parks and recreation personnel researched the award and completed a nomination form.
The award is co-sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Volunteerism, Arkansas Municipal League and the governor’s office.
“I want to thank all the volunteers and volunteer organizations which make this award possible,” Mitchell said.
“This includes advisory committees, Bryant Boys and Girls Club, the Bryant School District, Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce, police and fire departments, sport associations and the people who help with the annual festivals in Bryant. This is a real honor for the citizens, volunteers and the city of Bryant.”
According to the state’s Web site, www.arkansas.gov, Bryant will “receive signs on two of the town’s borders designating the city as a Volunteer Community of the Year for that year. These signs are donated to each city each year by the Arkansas Highway Commission. In addition, the cities, and their volunteer programs are the subject of a feature article in City and Town magazine, which is published by the Arkansas Municipal League.”
Mitchell also announced that a retirement party will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday at the main fire station, 312 Roya Lane, for police Lt. Kermit Gray and the city Finance Director Marilyn Payne.
In other business, the council held a public hearing to determine Bryant water and sewer rates for residents. There were no public comments made and the council passed the second and third readings of two ordinances introduced by Ryan Bowman, an attorney with Friday, Eldredge and Clark law firm in Little Rock. The law firm is the bond counsel for the city water and sewer department on this issue. Bowman said a state law mandates a public hearing before a city passes the ordinances.
Both ordinances state that “fixing rates for services rendered by the [water and sewer] facilities ... the following monthly rates and charges which the city council hereby finds and declares a fair, reasonable and necessary rates.
The ordinance for water rates, after Dec. 1, is based on 2,000 gallons per month and the meter size. Minimum charges range from $8.01 for a 5/8-inch meter to $400.40 for a 6-inch meter. All water consumption in excess of 2,000 gallons is $4.12 per 1,000 gallons, the ordinance states.
After 2009, the ordinance reads that there will be a slight increases up to 2012. Customers age 65 or older will receive a $3 discount per month, which the council said is a “rollover” plan that the city has been using for years.
The ordinance involving the sewer rates, after Dec. 1, reads that a minimum charge of $12.82 be enacted for the “first 2,000 gallons of water consumption per month. All water consumption in excess of 2,000 gallons is $6.26 per 1,000 gallons.”
The sewer ordinance also reads that the same rate basis to increase to a minimum of $14.06 and $6.88 per 1,000 gallons in 2010. That rate will also increase to a minimum of $15.22 for 2,000 gallons per month and $7.46 per 1,000 gallons in 2011, the ordinance reads.
Aldermen accepted the bid presented by Bryant Parks and Recreation Director Jeremy Lemons for work on the building of the Bryant Community Center at Bishop Park. Out of seven bids, Flynco Inc. in Little Rock was announced as the low bidder at nearly $7 million. Lemons said Flynco is expected to give daily construction updates on its Web site, www.flynco.com.
Lemons also presented a report on a $22,300 feasibility study from Ballard King and Associates. Aldermen said they need more time to look into the report before they comment or commit to anything.
Fire Chief Randy Cox told the council that Operation Flood Relief is expected to be $21,000 below the $65,000 appropriated by council. Public Works Director Richard Penn told the council that the city is now looking at June to complete projects in the FTN watershed and operation flood relief projects. Originally the projects were expected to be completed by the end of December. However, Cox said the fire department has numerous sandbags on standby incase of flooding issues arise in the city.
Matt Brumley of Benton, a member of the Saline County Public Facilities Board, presented a PowerPoint presentation to the council suggesting there be only one 911 dispatch center in Saline County. Currently, Bryant and Benton have their own 911 centers and the county has one, according to Brumley. He said the Public Facilities Board was set up by the Quorum Court in 2006 to look at taking power over a Saline County 911 center.
Brumley said if a 1/8-cent sales tax passes in the Nov. 4 general election, the board will have control of the center. He said Benton and Bryant can participate in the center and/or board; Bryant has previously opted out of such a countwide system. Brumley said that if the tax passes, the county center should have six dispatchers with “enhanced and continued education” and should be able to properly and certified to help 911 callers through an emergency. He said that having three 911 centers can hinder response time for emergency services in Saline County.
“You could forseeably talk with all three 911 centers on any given call,” Brumley said. “This could slow down response time just on one transfer call alone.”
The council also approved an ordinance accepting a voluntary annexation from Alcoa. The property is located east of the Saline County Regional Airport.
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