Tuesday night, officials with East Arkansas Planning and Development provided the Blytheville City Council with a city "Plan Snapshot" and an annual report for its consideration -- two pieces of the reNEW East Arkansas effort.
Brian Thompson, East Arkansas Planning and Development senior community liaison, told the Council that the extensive economic and community development plan for the 12-county area has reached the next stage.
"We're ready to officially adopt this and go out and promote it in the community and the region," he said. "Kudos to Blytheville. Out of the 20 plans that have been done around the region, you guys will be number one to adopt this, if you adopt it."
EAPD is expected to be at the September Council meeting, hoping the city's governing body approves the proposal.
The strategic planning effort was born in November 2011, when East Arkansas Planning and Development secured a $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The locally-driven reNEW East Arkansas program aims to improve its communities' economic development opportunities and quality of life.
"Blytheville, at the very beginning, stood up to the plate and said we want to be a part of this planning effort," Thompson said.
Some 30 members of a steering committee have been working for months on Blytheville's portion of the plan, with L.C. Hartsfield leading the charge as the plan director.
"L.C. has been a great partner in this," Thompson said. "He's done a fantastic job as plan director."
Building Communities Plan Facilitation director Jennifer Watkins said there are a number of strategies the steering committee chose to purse. Over the last several months, the group has been putting together action plans to implement them.
The Plan Snapshot lists 25 strategies, including Education Development, Value-added Agriculture, Leading-edge Development, Pass-through Visitor Services, Attracting Government Funding, Downtown Development, Business Recruitment, Infrastructure Development, Attracting Government Jobs, Transportation Distribution Center, Attracting Lone Eagles, Business Retention and Expansion, Environmental Restoration, Business Cultivation, Destination Tourism, Local/Regional Tourism, Bedroom Community, Attracting Retirees, Entrepreneurial Development, Cultural Tourism, Health Care, Value-added Fisheries, Energy Development, Value-added Mining and Value-added Forrest Products.
The group narrowed the list down to 11 -- Education Development, Attracting Government Funding, Downtown Development, Business Recruitment, Infrastructure Development, Transportation Distribution Center, Business Retention and Expansion, Business Cultivation, Local/Regional Tourism, Entrepreneurial Development and Health Care.
The Quality of Life initiatives listed include Affordable, Quality Housing, Board and Commission Volunteer Training, Communications, Crime Reduction, Property Maintenance and Code Enforcement, Retail Development and Youth Activities and Recreation.
"Our population has declined year after year, even while our job picture is strong," the Plan Snapshot reads. "We've experienced many tribulations that have been difficult to overcome, and still which affect us today. Our community has had every reason to fail, yet we persevere, realizing success on many fronts. Imagine what we can do if we all work together.
"This strategic plan embodies that exciting possibility. The time is right for us to rally as one community, bound by our faith in each other and in our hometown of Blytheville. This is a tremendous place, and we know we can make it even better. We cannot wait any longer -- the future of our community depends on what we all do today."
The plan is two-pronged, looking at economic development strategies to provide more and better jobs for local residents as well as quality of life goals.
It says enhancing both areas are necessary for meaningful population growth, increased community pride, better jobs, quality education, health care that meets residents' needs, etc.
"A lot has already been accomplished," Watkins said. "We don't sit back and rest. I realize that's not what this town does. They don't just sit back and relax until the plan is done and the ink is dry. They actually get going so that's good that we've gotten a lot accomplished already."
She pointed to a report earlier in the meeting.
Councilman John Musgraves noted in his Code Enforcement Committee report that Cherry Construction has been awarded the bid to tear down 10 dilapidated houses in the city, including 2200 Chickasawba, 1900 W. Vine, 713 Clear Lake, 325 E. Kentucky, 2123 Carolyn, 2337 Carolyn, 308 1st Street, 1701 Mahoney, 2337 Marguerite and 1109 E. Cherry. Musgraves said the demolitions are being funded by Southern Bancorp, which has become a partner in the reNEW East Arkansas project.
"They have been a wonderful partner to work with," Watkins said of Southern Bancorp. "They started a process about the same time, about a year or so ago, for a strategic plan for Mississippi County. We thought, you know what, we're going to be strategic planning you guys to death. So we figured we better work together and that's exactly what we've done. We have a very good partnership with them."
Watkins said reNEW East Arkansas is asking for input from the Council and the public on its proposal.
She is excited to see what happens with the plan; officials goals are that it will be implemented in 3-5 years.
"I think the resources might be in place for Blytheville and Mississippi County to get a lot done," Watkins said.
Blytheville Mayor James Sanders asked Council members to review the plan.
"Be aware that it's a living plan," Sanders said. "So it's something that can change. This is merely a road map of the things that we need to do."
Meanwhile, Tuesday night, the Council also:
-- Suspended the rules, read three times, then unanimously adopted an ordinance allowing Public Works to purchase a 2006 John Deere backhoe/loader from United Rentals for $40,720.
-- Read once a proposed ordinance permitting Assistant Police Chief Ricky Jefferson and fireman Scott Edwards to conduct business with the city as an electrician and Edwards Automotive, respectively. Resident James Welspom argued they should not be able to work for the city in another capacity and questioned whether state statute allows it. City Attorney Mike Bearden said, indeed, state law does allow it. "It does state for the city to do business with any alderman/city employee we must adopt an ordinance for that to happen," Bearden said, noting the City Council has passed many similar measures in the past.
-- Unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing Mayor Sanders to apply for a $150,000 GIF Funded Community Enhancement Grant from the Arkansas Rural Development Commission. If awarded the grant, the city plans to construct a new wastewater office/lab building.
-- Unanimously approved a resolution thanking now-retired Fire Marshal Jeff Camp for his service to the city and awarding him his service weapon.
-- Heard from Councilman Kevin Snow, during his Airport and Utilities Committee report, that Pre-Coat Metals has passed all required toxicity testing by ADEQ to tie into the city's sewer system. The company has been working with the city on the effort for the last several months. Snow also reported that the Airport Commission received word that it will be receiving a grant in excess of $100,000 from the FAA for the first phase of fencing around the perimeter of the airport.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com