Last week the Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District Board of Commissioners met twice, once for a regular meeting followed by an additional special meeting. Chair Linda Graves reminded the audience there would be a three-minute time limit imposed on public comments.
A resident addressed the board to discuss trailers and sheds stating, “The neighborhood is going to crap, excuse the French.” Graves reminded the resident that HISID and the Planning Commission are two separate authorities; where HISID does not have any control over the Planning Commission.
HISID Manager Lawrence Blood discussed a proposed change order to the 2019 road resurfacing project. Blood stated there is an approved $250,000 budget for both road resurfacing and the asphalting of the HISID parking lot. The Board has supported that it will no longer be investing in single chip & seal projects, but instead using double chip & seal or better – specifically asphalt for both an improved driving surface and longer wear-ability.
HISID received two bids for the road
resurfacing project; the low bidder of $174,326 was awarded to Heavy Constructors of Arkansas for resurfacing of nine roads which includes Oak Point Drive, Thunderbird Lane, and Pleasant Ridge. Blood negotiated additional upgrades with the bid winner to include the parking lot for a total cost of $202,126 which is well below budget. The Board unanimously approved.
The first of many discussions began regarding the 2020 Capital Improvements Program posing the question by Blood of how would HISID like to invest back into the community. Blood stated generally the budget for this program is about $700,000 as a result of collaboration between management and the Board of what projects take priority. Blood provided a variety of proposed options for 2020 that currently total $1.35 million anticipating the Board to make selections over the next few months. Discussion topics were road improvements, considerations to water wells and line replacement, disaster preparation, building renovations, mowing equipment, and marina improvements. Blood stated that a significant amount of planning would be going into the program selection and estimating costs related to each elemental project.
And in an additional special meeting the Board held an executive session for the purpose of considering a candidate for employment and details of this information were not disclosed. Current employment opportunities listed on the Holiday Island online job board are for a Senior Accountant and meeting minutes writer.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 16 at the Holiday Island District Office.