After a lengthy discussion Thursday night, the Blytheville Streets and Drainage Committee agreed to grandfather in a request to rename Ash Street "Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard," exempting it from rules that do not exist yet.
On behalf of the Versatile 25 Club, resident Sue Jeffers successfully lobbied the board to grant a grandfather clause to the MLK proposal. Streets and Drainage is working on rules and procedures, after the Blytheville City Council tabled the Planning Commission's suggested renaming streets rules for more discussion in committee.
However, it could be months before the city holds a public hearing on the Ash Street name request.
Streets and Drainage Committee Chairman Stan Parks said the state has jurisdiction over Ash and plans to turn it over to the city once the Highway 18 overpass project is completed. Police Chief Ross Thompson added the state will resurface both Ash and Walnut streets before turning them over to the city, once the project is finished.
Councilman Kevin Snow noted he has been told it will take at least another year to complete the job. Snow also wants confirmation from the Highway Department that it will turn over the street to the city.
"I don't want to promise something that we can't deliver," Snow said.
Jeffers said when Ash becomes a city street, she hopes the Streets and Drainage Committee recommends the name change to the Council.
"I would not see a problem at that time because it does have a rich heritage in the black community, as you stated," Parks said.
Jeffers said years ago, on Friday and Saturday nights, Ash was once "the place to be" for African-Americans, who would come in from rural Blytheville to the city to shop and socialize.
"As a child, I grew up on Elm Street; I could go up the railroad track to Ash Street," Jeffers said. "At that time, Ash Street was almost all blacks. The black businesses, we had black doctors, we had black dentists. We had a drugstore. We had a movie theater. We had the first black church in Blytheville. All of that was between probably Elm Street to Second Street -- black-owned and black-operated businesses. We feel that this is a street that would not only give the history of blacks in Blytheville, but it is a significant street."
She pointed out that two years ago, the Versatile 25 Club sent a letter to city leaders asking that they rename Ash, from Lockard to 21st Street, in honor of the late civil rights leader, though the request slipped through the cracks.
Jeffers argued because the request was made in 2012, it should be grandfathered in and not be subject to any new rules, only procedures applicable at that time. Snow said the city couldn't have made the decision two years ago because Ash is a state roadway.
Jones suggested the board recommend renaming the city sections of Ash now and changing the name of the state's portion later, contending that would give proponents assurance that the committee is serious. However, Snow and Parks said the name change should be done all at once.
Later, Jones made the motion to grandfather in the request and Parks seconded it.
"This right here will let them know that the Streets and Drainage (Committee) is accepting her proposal about grandfathering this street in," Jones said, though pointing out there will still have to be a public hearing on the matter.
It's unclear which board will conduct the public hearing, something that may be thrashed out during the rules discussion.
During Tuesday night's Planning Commission meeting, Chairman Jim McClain indicated it wouldn't be his board.
"We went through a whole lot of effort to give them a process, and the mayor threw it away," McClain said. "So if they want to name streets, let their streets committee name them and have their own process, take it off our shoulders. We're not going to do it anymore. Anyone who wants to rename streets can go through that committee."
Thursday night, Snow said the Streets Committee may use the Planning Commission's proposed rules as a guide, but the board will present its version to the full Council. Snow and Jones both contend an honoree shouldn't have to be deceased; the proposed rules call for the individual to be dead at least three years before being eligible.
"They've got some things in there that I would agree with, but they've got several things that I don't agree with," Snow said. "I don't think somebody should have to be deceased before (they have a street named after them). If somebody's deserving, they're deserving now, not 10 years after they're gone."
Parks, Jones and Snow all agreed there needs to be some rules in place.
"We do need some organization in the way we do street names, as the procedures to go through, but it doesn't need to be restrictive either," Parks said.
Snow suggested that committee members jot down potential changes and bring them to the next committee meeting. Snow has made several notations already.
He added it will take some time to finalize a set of rules to send the City Council.
Meanwhile, Public Works Director Marvin Crawford requested purchasing a Kubota mowing tractor from Henard Utility.
He said recently the current mowing tractor's engine blew and Crawford wants to trade in the 2007 tractor. After getting $2,500 for trading in the old tractor, the city could purchase the new one for $17,185. The cost could be even lower than that, however, if the Parks and Recreation Department's request for a bush hog is approved. Henard is offering a discount of $500 discount per machine if an additional unit is purchased. That means the city would pay $16, 685 for the Public Works tractor and $19,185 for the Parks and Recreation tractor.
Both requests must get approval from the Finance and Purchasing Committee, which is scheduled to meet next Thursday night.
Also, Crawford told the board that 7 of the 9 tornado sirens are working. He proposes replacing the two sirens that aren't working, though noting they would be on a different system than the current sirens.
Both systems would be operated from the Blytheville Police Department radio room, however.
In other news, Jones asked that the city reimburse Gwendolyn Butler for damages to her storm door.
Jones said last summer, while mowing a vacant lot near Butler's home, a Public Works tractor accidentally hit an old water base box and the debris knocked out the storm door's glass.
The committee heard that City Attorney Mike Bearden is recommending that the city not pay.
Snow asked to meet with Bearden to hear his reasoning.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com