Before its regularly scheduled Sept. 11 meeting, Eureka Springs City Council toured two city-owned sites which are options to become the new permanent location for city government meetings. Each would require about $30,000 in remodeling costs, and aldermen discussed benefits and drawbacks for each site. However, in the first action of new business during the meeting, Mayor Butch Berry suggested they move council meetings to the Auditorium lobby in the meantime, and council approved.
Regarding the move to the Auditorium, alderman Mickey Schneider commented, “It sucks.” She said city councils for 20 years have known the meeting space did not comply with regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and finally there is a council trying to do something about it. She called actions by citizens pressuring the city “uncalled for… disrespectful.” Schneider said the move to the Auditorium might be an improvement for a few citizens, but many more who depend on watching the live broadcasts from home will lose out.
Alderman David Mitchell said he agreed with most of Schneider’s comments, plus the city now has an ADA compliance complaint review committee and is planning to have a permanent resolution no later than March. “I find the urgency from two individuals who are creating this emergency disturbing,” he said.
Vote to move council to the Auditorium starting with the Sept. 25 meeting was 4-2, Mitchell and Schneider voting No.
The two alternatives
The two sites visited by aldermen were 25 Norris St. and the downtown fire station across the street from the courthouse. The Norris site is currently Dr. Charles Beard’s office, and primary renovations would be to remove some walls to open into a spacious meeting room. Berry envisioned there would be seating for at least 40 attendees, and there would be two offices and a kitchen on the main floor and a large basement space for more offices or storage.
Estimated remodeling cost of $29,665 included $11,450 for relocating the capability of live cable broadcasts. Berry mentioned there is no requirement for the city to have live broadcasts.
He also said Eureka Springs Hospital wants to rent the Norris site, with no improvements for offices, for its staff.
The other site was the downtown fire station. Half of the floor space would be occupied by a fire truck, and Berry penciled in seating for 24 beside the fire truck. The is concrete, and the space would need an ADA-compliant bathroom, electrical upgrades, air-conditioning and ceiling fans and miscellaneous touches. Estimate for the remodel was $30,440.
Berry mentioned during the council meeting the fire station would take more rehabbing, but costs were comparable, and the investment to move live broadcast capability there would be much less.
Berry added that the Community Center might still be a third option.
Mitchell suggested they work toward eliminating one option and make plans for the other. He contended the Norris site had more long-term capability for developing what they were looking for. The building had space for meetings but also “a massive basement space.” He considered potential of the Norris site to far outweigh rent the city might receive from the hospital.
Schneider admitted both sites had their pluses, and 25 Norris looked awesome now, but the fire station could look awesome once it is renovated. So for her, it came down to what was best for citizens. She saw the fire station as very convenient with plenty of parking, and across the street from city offices. The biggest thing for her was the live broadcasts because so many people depend on watching them. As she saw it, as one “looking out for the people,” the fire station had the whole nine yards.
Berry reminded council both sites could be set up for live broadcasts, and he agreed with Mitchell’s point they should pick a site soon.
Alderman Terry McClung asserted the Norris site had more potential. He said regarding the downtown fire station, “It is a fire station and will remain a fire station,” with fuel odors and other fire station qualities and activities. He said Norris would serve council better, but wanted a decision either way, and moved to vote on a location at the first meeting in October.
Alderman Bob Thomas observed the sketch for remodeling the fire station showed the bathroom would have to go right behind where city council would be sitting and in full view of the camera recording the meeting which, to him, would be distracting.
Vote on McClung’s motion to decide on one site or the other at the Oct. 9 meeting was 3-3, Mitchell, Thomas and Peg Adamson voting No. Berry broke the tie with a Yes, so the motion passed 4-3.