Eureka Springs City Council met Feb. 12 starting with a review of city departments and accomplishments. Mayor Butch Berry said that tax revenue rose by 1.7 percent, but closer inspection of distribution showed that lodgings and restaurants were having a harder year while retailers’ revenues were up 28 percent. City departments with the largest budgets were police, fire, water and sewer, and transit.
ESPD presented fulfilled goals, including new computers installed in vehicles, training in several areas, and increasing communications with behavioral health specialists. Berry noted that there is ongoing work to establish a behavioral health crisis center as an alternative to incarceration for people in town struggling with these issues.
The fire department has a new ambulance and has worked to make improvements in the city and the to lower the Insurance Services Office ratings for those areas, which helps lower premiums.
Public Works is undertaking citywide leak analysis, installing new meters capable of drive-by readings, and completed Phase I of the ARDoT sidewalk project on Van Buren.
Transit showed a 12 percent decrease in tram tours and received $1.18 million federal funds from the Federal Transit Administration that allowed purchase of two trolleys and two vans.
CAPC collections were down one percent from 2022. Their reports and study of the Passport Park app showed that June, July, and October were the busiest months of 2023.
Parks and Recreation has been making improvements to Basin, Lake Leatherwood, and Harmon parks.
Planning and HDC have submitted ordinance 2345 establishing tree removal procedures; adopted a B&B moratorium in residential zones; approved 175 applications; and established a citywide geographic information system.
The Cemetery Commission was given special recognition by Berry noting their new office, rehabilitated 500 ft. fence, rebuilt graves, and the Friends of the Cemetery program, a volunteer program for grounds and graves care.
Berry discussed the city’s 2024 projects, including Phase II of the Van Buren sidewalk project, affordable housing options, making the lower level of the Auditorium ADA compliant, and sewer and water issues. He said that Eureka Springs has won several awards in 2023 including three Trendsetter City awards. USA Today ranked the town at number seven for Best Small Southern Town in America, and HGTV’s Most Charming Small Town of Arkansas.
During public comments, Susan Hubbard, who helped start the recycling program in Eureka Springs 35 years ago, asked the council to make a provision to the solid waste collection ordinance that revenues from the tags for extra bags go toward educating the public on recycling and trash for schools and businesses.
Council took this advisement and added it to Ord. 2348.
Aldermen were updated by Public Works Director Simon Wiley, who said work is being done clearing and repairing systems for the Lakeside equipment, a 25-year-old system that’s back up and running after being shut down since at least 2016.
Wiley said that E. coli testing is being done in seven city areas. He addressed a situation about 30 Alexander St. where city sewage flooded a residence, saying he had the flu and that a city truck’s jet had not been working, but that once it was operational, staff cleaned out a buried area under the porch for drainage.
He claimed to be unaware of any further calls or issues with the property, and discussed how most new houses have backflow protection but older house might need them installed to prevent such events.
Wiley and Berry said that a plant tour is scheduled for Feb. 14, Wiley also said that there are three leaks on Van Buren at the water tower, Planer Hill, and Smith Drug that need to have the lines replaced.
Council modified Ordinance 2348 and voted for it to go to its third and final reading before the meeting ended.
The next city council meeting is Feb. 26, 6 p.m. at the Aud.