The Siloam Springs Planning and Zoning Commission has two new members.
The new members come after former commissioner Frank Johnson was elected to the Board of Directors, and commissioner Ben Jones resigned because he "could not fulfill his duties."
"Ben said he didn't have time to do it anymore and he had to be replaced," said commissioner chair Karl Mounger.
The seat openings were posted in November.
New commission members are J.W. Smith, 71, and Tony Williams, 76. Smith will replace Johnson and Williams will replace Jones.
Smith said he has always wanted to be a part of the city that he lives in and becoming a commissioner was something he knew would happen eventually. From 1989 to 2013, he co-owned a cat furniture manufacturing business in town.
"I am interested in any community that I live, its city government and the function of the city," Smith said. "I have a lot of business knowledge that I can lend to the city and its future development."
He is an active member of the American Legion Post 29, and previously held the position as post commander. He currently serves as adjutant.
Williams said that he is happy to be a commissioner because he has the time to do it. He retired 10 years ago from his self-owned insurance agency in town.
"I am glad that I will have some impact in the future of our community," Williams said. "I've been around long enough and have enough experience from all of the years working in the community."
He is an active member of the Kiwanis Club, and previously was the president of the local chapter and club lieutenant governor for Arkansas and Missouri.
Williams is widowed, he and his wife were married for "54 years, 9 months and 8 days." He has two children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
"I am pleased that we had these two apply for this commission," Mounger said. "I've known them for a long time and I feel like they're two level-headed men that will have the city's best interest in mind for the decisions they have to make."
The new commissioners were welcomed at the Jan. 13 meeting.
At the beginning of each year, new commission officers are selected from nominations of the commissioners.
Karl Mounger was nominated by commissioner Sheila Colvin to remain as chairman. Mounger was approved in a 6-0 vote. Colvin was nominated as vice chairman by Commissioner Jeff Stewart, which was a approved in a 6-0 vote. Commissioner Colin Blakely was nominated as secretary by Colvin, which was also unanimously approved. Commissioner Garrett Brown was absent.
In other business, commissioners unanimously approved a plat-development permit that would subdivide a 49-acre parcel of land along U.S. Highway 412 East, owned by Doug Allen, into four separate tracts. As part of an agreement with the city, Allen will dedicate land for a future street, which is informally referred to as Simon Sager Avenue. The north/south street was proposed in the city's Master Street Plan. The city has not committed to creating the street at this time.
Commissioners also unanimously approved a development permit for the 3400 block of U.S. Highway 412 East for the construction of a Rib Crib BBQ restaurant. The permit allows for construction of the 4,645-square-foot restaurant and 46 parking spaces, which will be connected to the Lowe's parking lot.
Both permits will go before the Board of Directors for approval on Feb. 3.
General News on 01/21/2015