The Blytheville City Council approved several ordinances May 18 to support the efforts of the Public Works Department.
Working to solve the city’s pothole problem, the council passed a resolution to purchase a 2022 Freightliner Pothole Patcher from TAG Truck Center in Jonesboro for $174, 875. In early meetings concerning this purchase, Public Works director Mark Key explained the need for this truck.
In his opinion, this purchase eliminates the large number of small patches needing repair and removes the difficulty of finding contractors to complete these smaller jobs. Furthermore, this truck will assist in completely fixing the potholes, rather than fill them. Workers will be able to cut around potholes, level out the surface and resolve the issue.
The council also entered a lease agreement with Rivercity Hydraulics for a 2022 Street Sweeper for $247,510. Additionally, they renewed the current lease agreements on three garbage trucks as well as three knuckle boom trash trucks.
Concerning code enforcement, the council also accepted two property donations. However, councilwoman Vera James had some reservations against the decision. With the city previously accepting properties, and no action taking place, James voted against it.
Rather than compounding the current issue, James suggested a different solution.“If they’re going to simply give it to the city, I think we need to find ways to encourage property owners to just sell to their neighbors so we don't take on a whole lot as the city,” James said.
Additionally, Mayor James Sanders pointed out another issue with vacant properties in the city.
“Arkansas law says that even if someone was to make a purchase of a property [through taxes], there’s still a grace period where the [original owner] can come back and claim it,” Sanders said. “We’ve got to be great stewards in trying to find a way to get properties back on the tax roll and also protect people trying to purchase.”
Councilmen John Musgraves and Ray Jones also spoke in support of a land bank to help advance the city in this process and make the path more clear in getting the properties back on the tax roll.