A few months after voting in an extension for the 3/8-cent sales tax, Siloam Springs citizens can get a look at what some of that money will be used for.
Tuesday's Board of Directors meeting will begin with an hour-long workshop on the quality of life improvements centered around the new library. There will also be discussion on a design for the Mount Olive Street diet.
A pamphlet published by the chamber of commerce in January outlined the possible improvements to the area around the the library. One of the bigger and more popular projects is a proposed amphitheater that will have a stage, built-in seating and booths for the farmer's market.
In an informal poll held by Main Street Siloam Springs, the amphitheater finished in second place, only behind the relocation of the museum to the old post office.
Other proposed improvements include a splash pad/ice rink, which finished third in the Main Street poll, lighting, landscaping and sidewalk and parking lot improvements.
The Mount Olive Street diet is a part of a plan to improve the streets downtown. The street diet means that the street will be narrowed to encourage a slower traffic flow.
After the workshop, the Board of Directors meeting has a pair of resolutions on the agenda. The first is a significant development permit application for a pharmacy from Lykins Leasing. The second is an amendment to the employee handbook.
The proposed pharmacy will be located at 310 North Progress Avenue, due North of Generations Bank. The pharmacy will include medical offices and a drive through window. The permit was approved by the Planning Commission on April 12. Some concerns were raised to the project's proximity to a residential area, but they were answered to the commission's satisfaction.
The proposed change to the employee handbook addresses a conflict between city firefighter and police retirement plans and state statute. Recently, city staff became aware that there was a statute that stipulates that governments shall not provide retirement plans similar to the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System (LOPFI), according to a city staff report.
Under an IRS plan, known as the 457 plan, employees are required to contribute at least three percent of their wages to a fund. The city contributes six percent of the employee's wages to the fund as well. Rather than decrease the benefits of the employees that will be affected, it will be proposed that the benefit money be rolled into the wages of the employees.
The staff report shows that the result will be a salary raise by about $2,000. There will also be raises in holiday pay and LOPFI funds.
General News on 05/01/2016