Board of Directors

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF SILOAM SPRINGS, BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, HELD MAY 4, 2021 The City of Siloam Springs, Arkansas, met in regular session at the City of Siloam Springs Administration Building on May 4, 2021. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Judy Nation. Roll Call: Sappington, Hunt, Smiley, Burns, Rissler, Carroll, Allen— Present. City Representatives Present: Phillip Patterson, City Administrator; Renea Ellis, City Clerk; Steve Gorszczyk, Public Works Director; Ben Rhoads, Sr. City Planner; Jay Williams, City Attorney; Don Clark, Community Development Director; and Chief Allan Gilbert, Police Department. Opening prayer. Director Burns led the opening prayer. Public Input: Deanna Inclan, 5000 Thomas, Apt. B, addressed the audience about Christ' s saving power and read a prayer over the Board. Consent Agenda: A. Regular Meeting Minutes/ April 20, 2021 B. Dedication of Utility Easements/ 415 East University Street C. Dedication of Utility Easements/ 3550 Highway 412 East D. Resolution 13- 21 / Significant Development Permit/ Beehive Enterprises, LLC/ 22000 Highway 16/ Timberline Business Park E. Resolution 14- 21 / Preliminary Plat Development Permit/ Fox Meadow Addition/ 600 to 700 block of East Lake Francis Drive F. Resolution 15- 21 / 2021 Budget Amendment/ Administration/ Chamber of Commerce 2020 Economic Development Agreement/$ 7, 500 G. Resolution 16- 21 / Street and Alleyway Closures/ Rainwater Wedding and Summer Concert Series H. Contract/ Public Works Department/ West Siloam Springs Water Services Renewal Mayor Nation requested Item D be removed from the Consent Agenda. Director Burns asked Item F be removed from the Consent Agenda. Director Sappington asked Items E and F be removed from the Consent Agenda. A motion was made by Hunt and seconded by Rissler to approve the remaining Consent Agenda items. Nation called for a roll call vote. Motion passed unanimously. Item D: Mayor Nation asked Ben Rhoads to speak to the Board regarding this item. Rhoads explained that, due to late design changes, the applicant requested the Item be remanded to P& Z. A motion was made by Smiley and seconded by Rissler to remand the item back to P& Z to be heard on June 8. Motion passed unanimously. Item F: Burns stated the Chamber of Commerce( CoC) needed to be held accountable for meeting the contract requirements and that the contract shouldn' t be a" paper tiger." Sappington stated the Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Page 13 May 4, 2021 Item N: Administrator' s Report. Patterson reported expenditures in the Electric Department in the amount of$ 39, 980. 00— 1 Substation Protection Panel( Moss Substation); Finance Department/ IT Division in the amount of$44,999.03 - Cisco Core Stack Replacement for City Hall( connectivity and security equipment for network); Administration in the amount of$ 32, 650— Ecostrat Inc.— for a study to determine if the City' s Opportunity Zone will classify as a Bioeconomic Development Opportunity Zone and stated the Walton Family Foundation would provide a grant for 49. 9% of the cost; reported that street closures for special event permits, after tonight, would go back to being approved at a staff level; the Broadband Advisory Committee had had its first meeting; and gave a COVID- 19 update. Patterson also commented on an employee who was severely injured in an accident the day before and that a fund had been set up at Grand Savings Bank on his behalf if anyone would like to contribute. Directors Reports: Smiley pointed out the Senior Activity Center was re-opened to the public; the new mural at Siloam on East Main; congratulated all the graduating seniors; and gave kudos to the COC for the Dogwood Festival. Rissler pointed out the police department had data about residential neighborhoods for those looking to buy a home; reviewed the city' s solar policy; and thanked staff for their work during the flooding. Hunt also congratulated the graduating seniors and the CoC on the Dogwood Festival. Allen stated he had asked to be removed from the Broadband Advisory Committee and the reasons why; thanked the CoC for the Dogwood Festival; restated he believed a guardrail was needed around the pond at the gateway; stated he would like to see some features of the bike path removed or replaced; and stated he would like more information going forward on the rate study. Sappington thanked the lady who prayed over the Board; thanked the employee who stepped in to help the employee who was involved in the accident at the pond; said she appreciated staff listening to citizen' s concerns; and pointed out the Manna Center had given away 200, 000 pounds of food last month. Carroll said he appreciated the communication within departments and the city' s response time to the accident at the pond; stated we had received a lot of rain but was happy to see the improvements that had been made to the city' s drainage; congratulated the CoC on the Dogwood Festival and the graduating seniors. Burns said he had recently ridden in the Square- to- Square bicycling event and pointed out the added benefit to quality of life; pointed out the impact from recent flooding to the city and surrounding areas and said he appreciated the work that was done; asked the city to work with AirBnB' s as they added to the quality of life in the city; said the Dogwood Festival brought joy to the community and that the car show was a fantastic addition; pointed out the dogwood trees were beautiful this year; and said he would like to encourage Siloam to become a" tree city." With no further business, a Motion to adjourn was made by Burns and seconded by Hunt. A voice vote was called. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned. ATTEST: APPROVED: W_ 24 oonnutou a__. enea Ellis, City Clerk, CMC Judy a n, Mayor F owniullio„.. se .. o seal}