Members of West Siloam Springs' Board of Trustees began the process of replacing some important documents during a specially-called meeting of the governing body on Wednesday.
Board members approved a pair of ordinances to confirm the members of the Planning Commission, Zoning Commission and Board of Adjustments. The members were previously appointed through the appropriate channels, but a house fire destroyed the records that made the appointments official.
In order to guard against any future litigation, city attorney Jot Hartley asked trustees to approve the ordinances to create a new paper trail for the positions. Both ordinances received unanimous approval.
Trustees tabled a measure that would increase court fines and adjust court schedules to address rising costs from a few departments.
The item was tabled at the request of Hartley so it could be reintroduced into next month's meeting with an emergency clause, which would remove the 90-day waiting period before the new rates would be in force.
Similarly, another ordinance aimed at raising money for the city's parks was tabled so it could be reintroduced with a shorter time-frame. The ordinance would set aside $10 from each fine from municipal court tickets.
During the meeting, Mayor Elaine Carr responded to a question from board member Robert Stevens, who asked about the pay of city administrator Kathy Osbourn. Carr said that city administrator pay is on the next agenda, to be considered in October. Because Wednesday's meeting was a specially-called meeting, the agenda could not include any new items, so Osbourn's pay could not be considered, Carr said.
Trustees then remained for a second meeting. The meeting for the municipal authority of West Siloam Springs followed immediately, and contained four agenda items.
The headlining agenda item was approval of bids for a sewer project for homes on Stateline Road. The project was tabled last month after bids for construction came in above the expected cost, with the lowest bid priced at $172,169.
Water Superintendent Keith Morgan said he worked with the construction company to reduce costs by replacing a bore hole with a trench. The changes resulted in a savings of $24,000. The project was approved by the board with one "No" vote, by Marty Thompson.
Trustees also:
• Approved retaining officer Tony Stewart, who was on the agenda after having finished his 90-day evaluation period.
• Tabled an occupation license for 157 Cherry St., because an agreement had not been reached with the applicant's attorney.
• Tabled an ordinance that would amend the city's code to include stepfathers and stepmothers to code section 16.6.
• Tabled an occupation license for Colcord Auto Sales. The applicant, who was present, said he wanted to change his business model to a private repair shop that sells to area car dealerships.
• Tabled an ordinance that would have rezoned property on U.S. Highway 59 in order for the applicant, Jim Stewart, to expand his salvage yard. It was tabled because an agreement had not yet been reached with the applicant's attorney.
• Voted to extend water service to 19861 E. 578 Road. The applicant will pay a higher rate for the water because he has elected not to be annexed into city limits.
General News on 09/24/2017