At the March 25 meeting, Eureka Springs City Council swore Susane Gruning in to represent Ward 1 Position 2, and David Avanzino for Ward 2 Position 1. Both votes were unanimous
Director of Public Works Simon Wiley updated progress on city water leaks saying that pipe replacement at the Inn at the Ozarks corner should be wrapped up by the beginning of next week. Concrete will be poured and the road tarmacked and smoothed, meaning the metal plates will be on the road for a while longer.
Avanzino asked if signage could be put up to warn bikers of the metal as he has seen several near accidents, and Wiley said he would look into it. Wiley said that work would continue at Planer Hill on lines that supply the Queen Anne and Equity Bank.
Public Works will also be working on a leak that had been repaired but has started leaking again on Main Street near the Transit Depot and city hall. Wiley said the line will have to be completely replaced.
Alderman Steve Holifield asked what the percentage of water leaks currently is, and Wiley replied that in January it was high, but numbers were different in February because of a new cycle, so next month they will “have better numbers.”
Alderman Terry McClung asked about upgrades to water meters because he had heard from several constituents who were being overcharged. Wiley admitted there were issues with some meters, which had “slipped through the cracks” because when the antennae were installed some were set up to be read by the gallon and others by the hundred gallon. He also said that not all of the antennae had been installed because the contractor stopped working on the project. Wiley said all the antennae are being set up to read by the gallon, and 400 to 500 new antennae will be installed “hopefully by the next billing cycle.”
Council then moved on to new business, starting with an on-demand transit system proposed by alderman Autumn Slane. Transit’s Ken Smith explained the proposal as an evening service available to anyone in town where, to be cost effective while still providing service, instead of running full routes anyone can call in to be picked up like an Uber or a taxi.
ORT has been successfully doing this program since the Covid lockdown. Council approved a pilot program that will run Fridays and Saturdays from 6 – 11 p.m., although he said they might go to later times if it goes well.
Smith said this would meet community needs, particularly for employees of businesses that, due to parking in downtown, are asked to park on the fringes of the city, or people who find themselves marooned at the Passion Play after trolley service ends. It will cost $6 per person per ride. The driver will accept a credit card or cash, and drivers are not allowed to take tips.
The service will be limited to the fixed route system of the city limits. As the four vehicles: two Dodge handicapped accessible vans and two small buses are state owned, all numbers and money will be reported to ARDoT.
The pilot program will start with two employees. A driver will pick people up and drop them off at only one destination. Given the size of the vehicles, drivers will only need a regular driver’s license not a CDL.
If the pilot program goes well, they will set up a contract with the VIA app, eliminating the need for a dispatcher as people will use the app to contact the drivers, this is the cheapest system available which ORT has been using, but it costs $600 per month per vehicle, ORT pays $12,000 a year, but they make enough revenue that it not only covers the cost, it provides revenue to the city as well. There will be a publicity campaign to make people aware of this new service. Council approved the pilot program.
Res. 855, creating an entertainment district for Blues Fest on Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. was approved.
Res. 856, creating an entertainment district for Spring Fling at Pine Mountain Village from April 18 – 21 was approved, as well.
During Public Comments, Ferguson Stewart announced that there will be a meeting about running broadband cables from Berryville to Eureka Springs on Thursday, March 28, at 9 a.m. in the Aud.
There will also be a Masonic Breakfast on April 20 from 8 – 11 a.m., to raise scholarship money for two Eureka Springs high school students, and R.J. Josephine invited people to the 3rd annual All Fool’s Day Parade on April 1 starting at 2 p.m.