Director Dennis Brown of Ward 1 announced to the Siloam Springs City Board of Directors on Tuesday that he is engaged and will be moving from his home in Ward 1, and thus he will have to leave his position as director.
His resignation is effective after the board meeting June 17. He told the board that he did not know this was going to happen when he was running for office.
"It was nowhere on my radar at that time," Brown wrote in correspondence. "I do appreciate the residents' demonstration of confidence in me by electing me to this position. I pray the Lord will raise up a director who will seek to do what is right and good for Ward 1 and this city and will not be influenced by special-interest groups."
A special election will be held after Brown leaves office to find someone to fill the remainder of his term, but a date has not been set for the election, Brown said.
Turning to the agenda, the Siloam Springs Board of Directors unanimously approved an economic development agreement with Krish Hospitality Inc.
In April the city Planning Commission approved development for a Holiday Inn Express, and this month the board approved the development's permit via a resolution. During the planning process, city staff and the developers noticed a problem with the water main and decided to extend two, eight-inch water mains 500- and 300-feet to remedy the situation, according to Phillip Patterson, city administrator. This solution will cost approximately $50,000.
Representatives from Krish contacted the city in an attempt to abate the project's new cost and the city agreed to split the cost. The agreement is for the city to reimburse Krish for the fees for building, plumbing and mechanical permits, as well as 50 percent of the Hotel, Motel, or Condominium Rental tax for no more than $7,500 per year for two consecutive years.
To fulfill the terms of the agreement, Krish will get the title to the property, get a building permit before the end of September 2015, and a certificate of occupancy before the end of September 2016, according to a memorandum from Patterson.
The proposed agreement states the new development will bring more tax revenue, jobs, and stimulate the local economy.
The board also passed a resolution that allows the vice mayor's signature to be valid and binding on all city agreements in the absence of the mayor. Bob Coleman is vice mayor for the city and told attendees of the meeting that the first week he filled in for Mayor John Turner was because Turner was ill, and now he is on a two-week vacation. This resolution is designed to keep city business flowing in a timely way while any mayor is absent, according to the resolution.
In other council related news, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department has given the city preliminary approval for State Aid Street Funds. The city still needs to be formally qualified for the $250,000 grant by staff of the state aid division of the AHTD, according to correspondence from Steven Napper, attorney for the State Aid Street Committee. The grant money will be used for milling and overlaying Mount Olive Street from Tahlequah to Kenwood streets, said Holland Hayden, communication manager for the city.
General News on 05/24/2015