At the Jan. 8 meeting, Eureka Springs City Council reversed its decision to move forward with a plan to lease space for city meetings at the Community Center, and at the Jan. 29 meeting, aldermen agreed in a 4-2 vote to begin plans for moving meetings into the city-owned 25 Norris building once it is vacated at the end of March.
Now it is another month and another reconsideration. At its Feb. 12 meeting, council voted to revoke the Jan. 29 decision for 25 Norris. Alderman Melissa Greene moved to reconsider the previous vote, which simply meant re-opening the discussion, and vote on her motion was 5-1, alderman David Mitchell voting No. Greene said she had heard from constituents who had concerns about the move, so she was representing their wishes for council to have a fuller discussion.
Alderman Mickey Schneider again urged aldermen to consider fixing up the narrow space in the downtown fire station for city meetings and rent out 25 Norris. She said her plan would provide a rent-free meeting space downtown and revenue for the city from Norris, but alderman Terry McClung noted the although move to the Auditorium lobby was supposed to be temporary, he could not concur with Schneider about the fire station, which he considered too small and unaccommodating. Plus, there is a fire truck in there.
Alderman Bob Thomas suggested they find out what interest Eureka Springs Hospital has in leasing 25 Norris since it is directly across the street from their front door, and Schneider added the Community Center has refurbished the room council already considered but pulled away from, so it would be available.
Alderman David Mitchell pointed out that contrary to comments made about council’s decisions, aldermen toured the Community Center space, the Norris site, and the fire station while continuing to meet in the Auditorium lobby. He proclaimed council did “a certain level of due diligence, no lack of transparency.”
Thomas remarked they needed to have all their options for meeting space laid out – pros and cons of each – so aldermen could compare.
In the meantime, Schneider moved to revoke the vote on preparing a move to Norris Street for the moment. The vote was 3-3, McClung, Mitchell and alderman Kristi Kendrick voting No. Mayor Butch Berry voted Yes, so the motion passed.
Berry made clear the vote meant council was not ruling out Norris Street, but merely reconsidering.
Thomas moved to have a workshop to consider their options, and vote on his motion was 3-3, Kendrick, Greene and Mitchell voting No. Again Berry voted Yes to approve the motion, so his office will set up the time and date for the workshop.