By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
Completion of the pool renovations at Southside Park will be the top priority of a grant request the City of Forrest City will make to the state Department of Parks and Tourism.
That was the consensus of a required public hearing held Tuesday at city hall to discuss possible projects for which to seek funding. The particular grant in question is strictly for outdoor recreation.
The Southside pool project was partially funded last year, receiving $150,000 of a requested $250,000. Remaining work includes installation of a slide and renovation of the bathhouse.
Glynis Lewis of the mayor's office said some other suggestions had been made in writing before the meeting. Most included the completion of the pool project.
Some of the other suggestions included pavilions and covered seating at all parks, improved playground equipment and more handicapped accessible playground equipment, water fountains at all parks, a walking trail (perhaps at Stuart Springs but maybe at another park).
Cecil Twillie, an alderman, said he would like to see a center at Southside park. There were also suggestions for more basketball goals and some volleyball nets.
There was one suggestion by Henry Peacock that perhaps the Southside pool needs to be enlarged. Also, it was suggested that drainage in the playground area of the ball park be improved.
After the discussion, the subject was changed to security at the ball park. Paige Laws said that this meeting might not be the venue for the discussion, but asked to be heard. She said that over the past couple of years there has been a problem with "a lot of activities that don't have anything to do with ball playing."
She suggested a system of free passes for family members of kids who are on teams, and a small admission charge for everyone else.
There was some discussion of how that might require the parks
to be gated and where the gates might be. No actual decision was
made at the meeting.
By ALAN SMITH
T-H Staff Writer
The Forrest City Planning Commission on Tuesday agreed to recommend approval by the city council of two variances that would allow a local law firm to expand.
Commissioners reviewed the requests presented by architect Dave Hodges, on behalf of Jennifer Hicky Collins and the Easley, Hicky and Hudson law firm, located at 510 East Cross Street.
"We are adding to the existing building, and we are requesting a 13-foot, 3-inch inch variance from the 25-foot setback required by the city on the east side of the building. We are also requesting a variance of the parking spaces. The size of the building requires us to have 23 parking spaces. The size of our spaces will be nine feet wide and 18 feet deep. Our space allows for only 22 spaces."
After a short discussion of the parking lot size, the commission voted unanimously to approve both variance requests. The next step for the project is approval by the Forrest City City Council.
James Woodard, who lives at 138 Gregory Street, asked commissioners to approve a setback variance for a garage to be built at his home.
"I want to build a 20-by-26-foot garage behind my house," said Woodard. " To do that, I need a nine-foot variance from the 15-foot setback. I've already contacted my neighbors, and they told me that they didn't mind the building."
Chairman Danny Capps questioned the proposed site of the garage.
"I've been out to the property, and I don't see how you can pull a vehicle in there without driving on someone else's property. If your property line is where the stakes are in your yard, then it looks very tight for you to be able to park a vehicle there."
Woodard gave commissioners a survey that shows his property boundaries. However, Capps said that layout was not detailed enough for a formal vote of approval or disapproval since it did not show where his home is located on the property or where the proposed garage would sit.
The members did, however, vote that Woodard would be allowed
to appear before the Forrest City City Council provided that he
present more detailed drawings for their consideration.
The City of Wheatley was recently honored with a Four Star Municipality Award during the Arkansas Municipal League's 69th Annual Convention.
Wheatley was among 15 cities and towns across the state to receive the award which is given to cities for excellence in loss control in accident prevention, employee safety and wellness and avoiding lawsuits.
The convention, with more than 1,300 city officials, exhibitors, guests and speakers participating, ended June 20 with the annual election of officers and adoption of its Policies and Goals statement for 2003-2004.
The League has presented the Four Star Awards for 16 years.
In addition to Wheatley, the 2003 Four Star Winners include: Altus, Arkadelphia, Bentonville, Cave Springs, Dell, Hoxie, Lakeview, Patterson, Perla, Piggott, Portland, Sulphur Springs, Summit and West Fork.
A Tennessee man trying to land his plane east of Forrest City crashed Tuesday afternoon.
John Howard, 43, of Bartlett, Tenn., was attempting to land his Cessna 170 airplane south of Interstate 40 near County Road 255 when he crashed about 12:30 p.m., according to a report on file at Arkansas State Police Troop D headquarters in Forrest City.
Howard and a passenger, Clifford Morgan of King George, Va., were not injured in the accident.
ASP Trooper First Class David West reported Howard's plane struck a power line which caused him to lose control of the aircraft and crash.
The Forrest City Fire Department responded to the accident scene.