Caraway Mayor Bo James and city council members were excited about the possibility of jobs coming to Caraway.
Mayor James said he had been talking to a well established manufacturing company for a couple of years about the possibility of locating in the Basler building, owned by the city of Caraway.
Presently the building is being rented for storage but Mayor James said the man renting the building is very receptive to an industry locating in Caraway and is willing to vacate the building.
Mayor James said he had received a call and Roach Manufacturing of
Trumann is interested in opening an assembly plant in Caraway starting with 20 employees and possibly expanding to 40.
“I've run the numbers and talked to Mr. Roach,” James said. “Presently the city receives about $1,300 a month rent and pays the utilities and insurance. They are willing to pay all the utilities, do the renovations needed on the building, and pay the insurance which is $5,523 a year.”
He suggested the council discuss what would be fair to everyone.
After a discussion with all council members in agreement the location of the industry in Caraway would benefit the community, the council voted to offer Roach Manufacturing a five year lease for $1 a year with the agreement to pay the insurance on the building.
“This is a win/win for our city,” Councilman Jerry Martin said.
A discussion was held about making a change in disconnections on late water bills.
Water superintendent Terry Couch said it is a nightmare for the office workers. The bills go out the last day of the month and they are due on the 10th. If not paid, they are disconnected on the 21st.
It was proposed to stop sending second notices; give everyone who is
presently behind three months to catch up (that includes paying all current charges and past due). Anyone who has not paid all of their charges will be disconnected after May 20. The council was in agreement the extension should give everyone time to catch up. All requests for extensions will need to come through the mayor's office.
Council was in agreement the city needs a standard to go by that is fair
to all.
There is a reconnect fee of $25 once the water has been disconnected.
The council voted unanimously to give three months grace period to allow citizens to pay past due water charges.
The council passed Resolution 2019-1 (regarding ratification and acceptance of financing for the purchase of a cascade system for the fire department).
Mayor James explained the council voted in January of 2018 to purchase the system in the amount of $24,000 with half being paid from the Act 833 funds and the other half from other funding.
“The city received a bill from U.S. Bank for a loan for the remainder of
the $12,000,” James explained.
He said the first payment of $6,268.79 is due Feb. 15 and the next one is due in February of 2020.
The first payment will be paid from the one cent sales tax fund and once the next Act 833 funds are received, the second payment will be paid.
In other business:
*Mayor James updated the council on the new water well project saying
applications have been submitted for any grants/loans available to help with the project. Presently, the city is having to purchase water from Buffalo Island Rural Water.
*The council voted unanimously to advertise for a water/sewer employee with the pay depending on experience.
*The council voted 6-0 to approve Johnny Wayne Dunigan of Monette to serve as attorney for the city.
*Mayor James discussed bank charges of different city accounts. He said Caraway, along with many other towns across Arkansas, had been hit with fraudulent checks. Accounts have had to be closed and new ones opened. They agreed to go with the Positive Pay on all of their city's accounts which will help catch any fraudulent checks.
*Park Commissioner Jeremy Garland gave an update expressing his appreciation to the Deese family for their donation to provide a scoreboard at the ball park. He said they have met with Riverside Superintendent Jeff Priest and Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Jason Durham about high school baseball and softball games at the Caraway park. He said due to the state regulations, it would not be cost efficient to make all of the modifications needed for high school baseball. There will be three of the high school softball games played in Caraway. There will also be summer sign-ups and other games/tournament planned. He also said the Park Commission will be glad to assist the Caraway Volunteers for the Caraway Fourth of July celebration.
*The council voted to approve Justin Clay for a one year term on the
park commission.
*The council had no objections to former park commissioner Lee Austin working on and helping organize the annual fishing rodeo.
*The council voted to accept sealed bids for the mowing/maintenance of the cemetery. There is no spraying around the headstones and caretakers will need to mow and weed eat. Mayor James said Jerry Deese is donating his equipment for spraying around the cemetery and ball fields which is very good for the city.
The Caraway Council meets at 6 p.m. the second Thursday of each month.