Eureka Springs City Council sprinted through most of the Nov. 22 agenda with only a short break in speed made when discussing a resolution to partner with the Arkansas Department of Transportation for a roundabout at the intersection of Hwys. 62 and 23.
In Public Comments, Pat Matsukis voiced concern over multiple items such as lack of working streetlights downtown and a lack of a Parks Master Plan. Regarding the roundabout, she questioned how a roundabout would fit in the designated area, referencing the grade of road now, and the roundabout would need to be flat. She also referenced a lack of sidewalks for student-walking traffic in the area.
Mayor Butch Berry said that the conversation about the intersection had begun with ARDOT when a plan to install a streetlight was on the table. He said at the time, the cost of any infrastructure project in the area was cost prohibitive – a roundabout was too expensive, added with maintenance costs of a streetlight.
Berry said that recent tax changes were allowing the city to now put in a roundabout with ARDOT funding most of the cost. He said a roundabout would cost around $3 million with the city needing to only front $250,000 or around a seven percent match. The cost would include installing a retaining wall to flatten the area needed for the roadway.
Berry assuaged concern from aldermen Terry McClung that the amount the city would be responsible for may go up as design and construction costs rise by saying said the partnership with ARDOT was a fixed price. Alderman Melissa Greene questioned if tourists would find the roundabout confusing and Berry said that tourists from major cities like Dallas and Kansas City would know how to navigate them.
Berry provided council with a preliminary map, an overlayed satellite image of the intersection. The roundabout would require an expansion of right-of-way on the northeast side of the intersection, and the building of a retaining wall to support construction. Plans are subject to change, and Berry gave an estimate of it being completed in 2024. Resolution #812 passed unanimously.
Other Items
- Aldermen approved using funds from the American Rescue Plan to reward employees who worked full-time from April 1 – Dec. 31, 2020. The bonus would amount to $1.50 per hour worked to the maximum of $3,500 per employee. Department heads and elected officials were not included, and the amount allocated was $93,000 of $218,000 received.
- Lottery drawing for 2022 food truck sites were drawn with the only contested sites being along Hwy. 62 with only two slots and three sites vying for them. The sites drawn were Gotahold Brewing and Hobbies and Homesteads, with the Community Center being the third undrawn site. On the next agenda, though, aldermen will be discussing expanding the number of food truck sites along that highway.
- Resolution #811 to hold a public hearing on Dec. 13 regarding vacating a portion of Paxos St. passed unanimously.
- #2315 revisions to city code on music festivals passed its third and final reading.