7.27.23 City Council Highlights

Posted Date: 08/03/2023

The City Council met Thursday, July 27, 2023. Highlights of the meeting include:

Department Reports:

Public Works: Wade Phillips reported that 90% of Goblin Drive Phase Two plans have been completed, so they will begin right-of-way acquisition shortly and move toward getting this project bid out.

The Gipson Road extension plans are about 90% plans complete. This project will track a little behind because of a funding standpoint. We are going to go after some EDA funds later this year. Another good reason to have the plans ready to go. “They like to see it “shovel ready.”

Camp Jack Architects are moving along. One of the biggest problems we had to solve was ensuring this building was eligible for the historic registry, which removed it from floodplain restrictions.

Fire Department: Chief Marc Lowry said, “Our department is always public-related orientated. But we have gotten lax with reporting that. We are doing activities all the time. So we are trying to show better what the guys are doing when they aren’t making calls or training. We were at the Sports Complex for four or five days and made a good impact on the community and guests.”

Parks: Chuck Eddington Summer rec ends the first week of Aug. “I’m happy to report we were able to reach over 315 different kids in our program. Our highest number ever has been 225. So the staff did a great job raising that number. We averaged around 120 kids per week during the 10-week program.”

“We ran two national tournaments in July for Fast-Pitch Softball. We partnered with Branson and had 130 different teams here, two weeks in a row from 15 different states. It was a large tournament, and we had lots of people coming in for it. I want to thank Chief Grady and Chief Lowery. We had emergency personnel on-site each day, and all the participants and parents loved that. We did have a couple of incidents where people got overheated, and our guys were on them immediately. I travel all over for ball games, and no one else does this. Our last tournament will be Ragball, then we will begin our covered bleachers' project. We are also in the middle of our matching grant proposal. This is a new playground at the baseball/softball complex and a pavilion at the softball complex, and a climbing wall at our existing pool. Hopefully, we will get good news soon and be selected to have a chance for that matching grant.”

Committee Assignments: 

Finance Committee: Mitch Magness

1. Public Safety Building change order, The construction manager and their electrical contractor estimated rebates at $21,000 for energy-efficient elements within the building. Those rebates only ended up being $6,481.72. The city has received this rebate check, so the construction manager has entered this as a $21,000 change order so they can recover their cost of $14, 518.28 more than what we had originally planned to spend.

Councilman Mitch Magness said, “Essentially, our vendor was shorted $14,000.” The council approved.               

Brian Warner from Davis Construction told the council he was completing the punch list and should have everything done this next week. The Mayor told him, “By the way, we love this place!” Warner said, “It was our pleasure.”

2. Mitch Magness called for Bob Largent to give the second quarter economic development report from the Chamber.

Chamber of Commerce Second Quarter Economic Report

Bob Largent reported $225 million in new capital investments from Jan 2019 through June 2023. 

In the past six months, there have been almost $100 million in new capital investments in Boone County and the City.

$177.9 million are in the pipeline (that is known) 65 projects the Chamber is tracking.

Workforce: 194 jobs were created last year. In the first six months, 283 jobs were created, $7.3 million in salary impact.

Unemployment: In May, it was 2.3%. That’s the second-lowest unemployment in the last 40 years. The state in May was 2.5%. That’s the lowest in the state in 20 years.

“There are just not a large number of employees in the system. Pace Industries downsized 50 employees on July 19. Within 10 days, all 50 employees had jobs in the local community or the location of their choice. Today, Wabash, Westrock, Claridge, and Johnson Manufacturing are full. They have no vacant positions. It’s good news, but what do we do with our new businesses coming? Between Beef-a-Roo, KFC, and Dunham Sports, they have hired 120 part-time employees starting above $13.50 an hour in the last four weeks. We estimate there are 75 jobs available in local businesses,” Largent said.

Residential construction: “This is good news,” Largent said. “Last year in the city limits, there were 11 new homes permitted at a cost of a little over $2 million. In the first six months of this year, there have only been two, valued at $350,000, in the city limits.

The County shows in the past 12 months, through June 30, 2023, there have been 146 homes constructed valued at over $42 million. “While Harrison is not getting large numbers in housing permits, it’s clear the county is,” Largent said.

Magness asked why this was happening. “It’s available land, and people want to be in a rural setting,” Largent said. “Four homes were remodeled in the first six months, too.”

Developments in progress: 

• Rock Springs Apartments (Bryan Properties) started turning dirt two weeks ago. They hope to begin physical construction in October.

• Gipson Landing (Lew Thompon’s project) intends to have a Planning and Zoning update soon. 

• Cottonwood Road Development for the 55 and older, six units have been completed, with another six under construction. 

• Iron Blufs, there are 125 single family, with 32 lots already sold. 

• Diamond City, 17 single-family home lots. Two are under construction, and four are for sale right now.

“Housing has been a challenge for the business community, but we have a lot of traction here,” Largent said. “There are a couple of projects we don’t have listed, the Davenport family who are purchasing the Old Federal Building with tremendous plans. They are also building 35 new apartment buildings in the city limits right south of the college. We are making some great headway.”

The housing market is slowing down. In May 2022, there were 196 listed. Now there are 174 on the market. The average list and the units sold have dropped from a year ago. The inventory is still especially low in the area.

Westrock and Claridge are expanding. The MedNorth is projected to be open in mid-September. LRS is just about ready. The UPS million-dollar expansion on Industrial Park Road is underway. Wabash is undertaking some major demolition of old facilities on their property. 

“For the economic development services we have with the city, we are especially grateful. We received $25,000, and we have expenses for the past two quarters of $20,000 with a balance of $5,000. We can’t tell you how much it means to have this to continue to do our work with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the city, the county, site selectors, and with our local businesses to help them grow and expand, “ Largent said.

It was Largent’s last official report to the city as the President/CEO. “I’ve enjoyed the last four and a half years leading the Harrison Chamber and working with this Mayor’s Council and the Judge’s Quorum Court. We’ve had a lot of dramatic changes in what we do at the Chamber, from festivals and parades to economic and business development. I’m proud to have played a small part in that; more than anything, pleased to introduce Wilson Marseilles as the President/CEO of the Chamber as of July 1. It’s an exciting time ahead for the community. The vision he has on where to take the Chamber portrays where the community goes. We’ve been working on this for four years,” Marseille said, “Thank you for the opportunity to work with you. I’m excited to lead the next chapter.”

Marseille said, “I’d like to share information about the behind-the-scenes investments, both public and private, which formed the Eagle Heights Bike Park, which encouraged the HEART committee, the master plan, and the investment from the College of the Pioneer Trails. These groups and more coming together have encouraged a new bike shop in downtown Harrison. The new bike shop opened on July 1, and they’ve been selling and servicing bikes. Not to mention the tourism impact of what’s happening in August. We are hosting two bike events. They expect 2,000 mountain bikers and their families to visit Harrison on the Northark Campus. So I’m very excited about what we can do in the future.”

Councilman Mitch Magness added, “It’s amazing what can happen when we all work together.”

Mayor Jackson said, “Wilson, welcome. It looks like a wonderful opportunity to work with you.”

Public Works & Transportation-Jeremy Ragland

Wade Phillips reported on the 2023 Street Overlay Bid Approval

Phillips said there were almost four miles of city streets that needed to be overlayed. 

He received three bids and went with the low bid of $860,705 from Capital Paving and Construction.

Resources and Policy - Wayne Cone Chairman

1. Clean Ordinance Amendment-Clean Premise

Marc Lowery Shared with the committee. “It’s an entirely new format, the way it is laid out. The new document is more than 20 pages. The main changes are the way we can do violations. Lowery asked that it be placed on first reading tonight.

Magness said, “It is difficult to look out into the future and know what problems we might have.”

“This is complaint driven.”

Magness added, “If it’s in there, then I want us to enforce it.”

Magness motioned to suspend the rules and place the ordinance on its first reading. The Chamber approved.

Lowery said the existing facilities is word for word from the existing ordinance. 

2. Resolution for ARDOT additional Right of Way

“This involves the new bridge crossing Crooked Creek,” Cone said.

Magness asked Wade to explain additional details. “This is their evaluation and typically, they ask Cities to go ahead and donate that right of way.”

Parks and Rec-Liz Darden, Chairman

1. Amendment to NWA District Fair Lease – Fairground Ball Fields

Dardin explained this was to amend the current lease to include two ball fields. Mayor Jackson said, “This is adding the ball fields to the lease, and when the Rodeo Club wants to use it, they work together, giving the fairgrounds a lot more parking, which they need.” Motion passed.

2. Creekside Membership – City Employees, Dardin called on Mary Creager. “I think we should offer our current city and retired employees a 50% reduction in their membership costs for Creekside.” Darden asked Parks Director Chuck Eddington.“We are good with it and don’t have any objections.” Magness said he spoke with CFO Luke Feighert, and it wouldn’t cost the city that much.” Mayor Jackson added, “I’m real excited about everything we are doing and especially the lower-income people that we are addressing. We’ve made that commitment, and it won’t have that much of an impact

on the revenue.” Dardin said, “We want our city employees to feel appreciated.”

Magness wanted the record to show the mention of John Phillips passing. “For those who knew John, it touches us very much. I want the official record to reflect an acknowledgment of his service to the community.” The council agreed. Jackson said, “Thank you, Mitch. John has been a big part of this city. It was only John until Chuck came along. There wasn’t anyone before John. We appreciate the Phillips family who remains involved.”

Old Business: none

New Business: none

Citizen Comments: Jim Hall thanked the City Attorney Nancy Cartwright and Wade Phillips for their testimony before the Senate Committee hearing on Monday hosted by Bryan King.

Mayor Jackson added, “I want to also comment on that meeting. It went from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. but I agree with Jim, our people, Wade and Nancy were terrific. We also thank Senator King for getting the other Senators to Harrison to listen to the community’s concerns. I know they are going to try to get a special session. That will be unlikely, but I will probably make an attempt. We will understand a little more where we are after Aug. 1. But I think the people of Harrison and the County have to feel really good to stand up the area for regarding these things. 

Mayor’s Comments:

1. Housing Authority’s Annual Board Commissioner Confirmation

Chonda Tapley, Housing Authority, asked for the confirmation of the reappointment of Commissioner Rebecca Martin. “Out commissioners have five-year terms. Rebecca agreed graciously to reappointment. Her new term was approved from 9.1.23 until 9.1 28. Thank you for all you do. We appreciate you and all the Commissioners do.”

“Just as a side note,” Tapley said, “When I started this job eight years ago, we were only helping 419 families. Today we are assisting 529. It’s a good thing we have the funds to do it, but it’s sad that we have so many families who need the help.”

2. CATCP Board Appointment 

Matt Bell was unable to attend but asked that Thomas Honer be reappointed to the CATCP Board for whatever that term length is.

3. Eclipse Planning

“In about eight months we have a huge event coming to town. This will be the biggest event we’ve ever had – several thousand we are told. A lot of them will be staying right here to enjoy an almost total eclipse of the sun. If people aren’t staying here, they will be moving through. It will require a lot of planning. We have a city committee we’ve put together of our Department Heads and Matt Bell. I’ve spoken to Joe Willis to organize the next level. It’s going to be a big deal and we will have more information to come.

Wayne Cone thanked the Harrison Daily Times and mentioned the Police Department Dog had a good stop this week and was featured in the paper.