GOSNELL -- The Tuesday night meeting of Gosnell's city council was opened with a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Mayor Don Marshall also issued a public statement of thanks to the police and fire personnel in Gosnell and Blytheville.
Some unsatisfactory work on several city streets, done by a chip sealing company, was discussed. Payment has not been issued on the contract which the city had for repairs on multiple streets, and won't be until both Cottonwood and South Clement are revisited and repaired.
Councilman Ed Guthrie is set to head a team which will begin pursuing a recycling push in the city. A recycling trailer is being secured from the county, as well as a supply of bags, and the council discussed promoting the recycling program within the school system.
Also related to the city's school system, the Safe Routes to School project, which has been in the planning phases most of the year, is reportedly still on track, but has experienced some delay because of Highway Department officials looking to change the proposed location and layout of sidewalks which will be constructed as part of the project. City code enforcement officer Royce Carpenter informed the council that it could be up to 18 months before construction begins.
A new possible grant funded project was discussed -- a park and walking/exercise track on the land owned by the city directly across airbase highway from city hall. The council passed a resolution allowing Marshall to pursue the possibilities of grant funding from the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, among other government agencies.
In other financial matters, the council voted unanimously to keep the city's millage tax rate unchanged at three mills for the upcoming year.
Marshall took time in the meeting to read out part of the city's trash collection code, in response to an incident which recently occurred. A pit bull, very recently dead, was found to have been left in a resident's trash can. Marshall pointed out that this type of behavior would not be tolerated and comes with a misdemeanor fine of $100.
Tim Nelson of Vector Disease Control reported that in spite of the recent West Nile scare in Blytheville, the area was all still checking out safely.
"We're all OK," he said. "But people need to be diligent in watching for areas around their homes that collect water. We've doubled up on our trucks, but sometimes stagnant water can get worse when there's not enough rain."
Nelson added that calls for service have been up, which he views as a good thing.
"The more that people participate, the easier it is to make this thing work better," he said.
In other city news. the council voted to fill a vacant position on Gosnell's planning commission. The position was given to James Franks, a seven-year resident of the community.
sharris@blythevillecourier.com