Echoing concerns from constituents, city leaders likely won't allow alcohol at special events on city property.
Four of the six sitting board of directors said they would vote against Ordinance 18-01, a proposed amendment to city code that gives the board authority to permit or deny applications from non-profit and civic organizations wanting to serve alcohol at events in city parks or on closed city streets and parking lots. It went through its second reading at the board's regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday. It will go through a third and final reading before being put to a vote at the board's Feb. 6 meeting.
"I've received several letters -- all opposed to passing this ordinance," said director Bob Coleman, who was absent during the first reading of the proposed amendment at the previous meeting. "I will wait to read those until we have the third reading. ... I still think this is a bad ordinance."
Coleman pointed out how giving the board the authority to grant events a permit "each and every time" one wants to serve alcohol would open up the "potential for us to discriminate" and also "consume" the already busy board with lengthy discussions each time an event organizer goes before the board to apply for a permit.
Directors Carol Smiley, Frank Martin and Steve Beers also said they would vote against the proposed ordinance based on negative feedback from their constituents.
"When this first came up, I thought I could get there (by voting to pass the ordinance)," Beers said. "But after talking with constituents, everyone that has contacted me from my ward has said, 'No, this is not a good idea.' I feel like I owe it to them, so I'm leaning heavily, if not already made up my mind, that it will be hard to support this."
Much of the board's concern appears to be over the part of the ordinance that would allow events at city parks to serve alcohol. Director Brad Burns, who initiated the conversation about the proposal, said he would "like to see it on (closed) streets or parking lots only." He said forward-thinking proposals such as this keep the city of Siloam Springs moving ahead and staying competitive with other major cities in Northwest Arkansas that have similar ordinances allowing alcohol sales and consumption at events.
City administrator Phillip Patterson pointed out that the board could deny any requests from events in city parks, which directors have said could cause issues if alcohol is being consumed while families with children are playing at the park.
Director Amy Smith did not indicate which way she was leaning as far as voting for or against the proposal.
"I've had three individuals contact me and all were against alcohol in the parks," Smith said. "I would like to hear from more (before the Feb. 6 vote), but it sounds like having it in the parks is not a good idea."
In other business,
• The board voted unanimously to approve a contract amendment to the lease agreement with the Siloam Springs Country Club, which will allow the club to sell alcohol and wine in an effort to increase revenue. Coleman said he "liked the provision that no alcohol sales would be allowed while those under 18 are there." The provision means alcohol sales would not be permitted when events geared toward youth are hosted at the golf course.
• The board also approved the purchase of a 2018 Mack Truck and two live-floor trailers by the Public Work Department's Sanitation Division. The return on investment of the combined cost of $252,073 is "really good," according to solid waste superintendent Don Tennison. He projected savings of "a little over a million dollars" over the life of the equipment, which will "help to haul our own trash" to landfills.
• Directors heard the first reading of Ordinance 18-02, which would ask voters to extend an existing 5/8ths cent sales tax to fund much-needed improvements at the city's wastewater treatment plant. Many components are 40-60 years old and $30 million in upgrades are needed. If the extension is not passed by voters, it "most likely" would result in a rate increase on utility bills of about 50 percent to fund the bonds.
Board members who toured the plant last year all agreed that upgrades were needed, which also would include a new water line to the Illinois River because the current, concrete line is "going to fail" at some point in the future, Patterson said.
"This would not increase the current sales tax," Patterson said. "We've got to do the upgrades at the plant and the best way to do that is through a sales tax extension because a large amount would be paid by non-residents (shopping in the city)."
General News on 01/21/2018