By Marcus McClain
NEA Town Courier
The Blytheville City Council voted unanimously to dissolve the Historic District Commission during their March 21 meeting. Mayor Melisa Logan explained her recommendation to pass the ordinance, citing the commission’s inactivity and a past lack of clarity.
“What is happening on the historic district commission is nothing. And I say that emphatically. They’ve had one or two meetings over the past three years,” Logan explained. “We have a Main Street District that runs from arc to arc. Everything between the arcs is supposed to be considered by the historic commission for clarity.”
The commission was originally created in 1984. Since then the commission’s main purpose has been to preserve the historic value, both aesthetically and architecturally, between the arcs on Main Street. Over time however, the clear exact direction of the commission has come into question.
“Some of the activity happening on the commission has caused many businesses to not have any attention at all. There are some unclear lines as to where the city’s and historic district's power starts and ends,” Logan continued. “But in order for the city to have any leverage and say-so, as to what’s happening on main street, we don't need a middle man. I think if we have a good code enforcement department that’s willing to work with us, get Main Street cleaned and get our buildings back actively engaged in the community, we can make the quality of life on Main better.”
She later added, “This may not be disbanding them forever. Once we get it to a place where it can be managed, we may say ‘hey we need you back’. But right now, they’re not serving a purpose. And I think we’re doing them a disservice by requiring them to be in a place that they don’t want to be.”
Logan also noted that her office is currently building relationships with each property owner downtown. She stated that property owners can expect to receive letters from her office establishing a connection, seeking understanding on plans for each structure and how the city can assist.
“We don’t want storage buildings on Main Street that you can see from the outside. And everything in that structure is dilapidated [and so forth]. We’ve got to be able to do something with those structures on Main. [But] we won’t have any power if we keep commissions that are actively, inactive,” Logan said.
The council also unanimously approved an ordinance updating the city’s sick leave incentive program. In the most recent finance committee, Logan explained that the city’s issue with employees taking sick days as soon as they are available. With the new program, she believes employees will be more encouraged to use these days when they are most needed.
Under this new plan, employees will be in position to have their collected sick days bought back by the city after being employed for at least 10 years. At this mark, half of those days will be eligible to be bought back. The percentage increases to 75 after 15 years, and the total amount can be bought back after 20 years of service.
In other business, the council approved:
•The lease agreement for three city garbage trucks at $763,866.
•Radio system purchases for the police department with Motorola Solutions for $59,075.
•The purchase of a new metal roof for the water treatment plant at $39,891
•Donating the fire department’s ‘93 tanker truck to the airport authority,