Manager Lawrence Blood informed the Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District Board that risk mitigation measures at a landslide on Stateline Drive were completed June 6 and it appears they are holding. Blood added that the bad news is the source of the water which has caused this problem for years is an underground aquifer, not a broken pipe, and they will have to watch the area during every heavy rain.
Blood said he was confident it is safe to open the road, and could always close it if weather was hazardous enough, but in the meantime he, the Public Works Director and the Fire Chief say it is safe.
The project entailed clearing away the debris from the slide and stabilizing the slope with large rocks.
Chair David Makidon said they would not know how the repair works until next spring, but contended the ground would absorb any rainfall now.
Commissioner Dan Kees stated, “I say open the road. Big rain events are unlikely,” but commissioner Linda Graves pointed out there was still a mass of debris lurking above the repaired area and she was concerned that the weight might shift. Blood pointed out that area is not owned by the district, nor is the area just repaired, they are unplatted lots.
Kees suggested they consider ownership of those lots since the district is paying to clean up the hillside.
“If it starts to rain, we’ll watch it,” Kees maintained. “If it starts sliding, we’ll close the road.”
The road opened Tuesday.
District manager’s report
- Because he had been asked a question about rabies, Blood explained SIDs do not have the authority to regulate cats and dogs, and Holiday Island must cooperate with the county for animal control. He said citizens could ask the Quorum Court for an ordinance regarding dog and cat control, but the county would have the financial burden of enforcing the ordinance. Nevertheless, the county and the Department of Health would be resources to go to if there were a case of rabies.
- Blood announced the marina fuel system upgrade would begin during the week of July 9.
- Holiday Island hosted 60 attendees for the Arkansas Waterworks & Water Environmental Association training conference recently, and elements of their water and wastewater systems were featured in two sessions.
- The road crew cleared 420 ft. of ditches and did brush-hogging and side-cutting for a week.
- The marina has LED bulbs, and Public Works bought new 600-lb. barricades because folks brazenly move some existing barricades to drive through hazardous areas. Blood said carefully placed cameras might help in identifying those who circumvent barricades.
- The 2019 budget must include air-conditioning upgrades.
- Thirty acres of fairways and tees must be mowed at least twice a week, and greens are holding up despite the hot weather.
AirEvac
Fire Chief Bob Clave announced Air-Evac is working out final details to establish a 12-hour per day base at Holiday Island that could be functional by mid-August. Depending on call volume it could become a 24-hour base.
Next meeting will be Monday, July 16, at 9 a.m., at the HISID office.