Eureka Springs City Council met Monday evening where all aldermen were present, but City Attorney Tim Weaver was not. Mayor Butch Berry started by announcing that the Planning Commission has a new vacancy due to the resignation of James Mitchell, and all other commission positions are currently full.
Ordinance #2287, to vacate the alley east of Alamo, was read and unanimously approved for its second and third readings. Joe Gunnels’ renewal application for tram tours was unanimously approved for a two-year term.
A first, second, and third reading was unanimously approved for the application for rezoning 1 Planer Point from residential (R-2) to commercial (C-2) for property owner Eureka Springs Community Center Foundation. The house at the end of the road in front of you when you’re at the Equity ATM was gifted to the Community Center and will likely be used as a tourist lodging once its sale is complete. Alderman Bob Thomas asked what the rush was on pushing this rezoning application through and alderman Terry McClung stated that the property sale is pending, and this will advance it forward. McClung stated that the Planning Commission has considered this and pre-approved the rezoning with Chair Ann Tandy-Sallee’s signature on Sept. 24. The rezoning approval is Ord. #2288.
Wrapping it up
The agenda item for the discussion of the downtown entertainment district was removed by Mayor Butch Berry, but Thomas stated that at the next meeting he intends to bring forth discussion of a permanent entertainment district for downtown.
And finally, two agenda items were added without public notice: 1) Approval of the Parks Department to receive financing from Equity Bank for the purchase of vehicles and 2) Cancelling a council meeting in November. Council allowed both additions.
First, Parks received council’s approval to accept financing from Equity bank for a loan amount of $63,958 to be paid in 60 months with 2.91% interest. Parks Director Justin Huss said he received bids from other banks but those bids were not presented to council.
The second additional agenda item approved the cancellation of the City Council meeting originally scheduled for Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.