The Eureka Springs City Council voted 5-1 Monday, Nov. 9, to reject a proposed moratorium on selling city-owned property, with most members favoring case-by-case decisions.
Council member Harry Meyer proposed the moratorium, citing discussions about creating a housing authority and the potential to use city property for housing.
“It would be prudent not to sell any more city property until we decide,” Meyer said.
Other council members said property sales are too infrequent to warrant a moratorium.
“I understand what Mr. Meyer is trying to do, and I appreciate that, but it’s such an infrequent thing, ...” said council member Steve Holifield, the city’s mayor-elect. “I think we go by case-by-case as presented.”
Meyer said the city needs a better understanding of its property inventory before making sales.
Council member Rachael Moyer, who has advocated for a more detailed inventory, said she shared Meyer’s concern but wanted to retain flexibility to consider individual requests.
“In some cases, because of the landscape of the city, I think it’s a pretty easy call,” Moyer said.
“What are you going to do with two feet of land right there? But in other cases, it takes a closer look, and I like having the ability to do that. But, I do appreciate you bringing the concern to the table.”
In a separate discussion about city property and an online mapping system, the council referred the issue to the planning commission. Members requested more information about which properties are vacant, have buildings or adjoin one another.
After a nearly hour-long budget workshop, the council approved financial adjustments presented by finance director Michael Akins, including money for the Black Bass Dam repair project.
Projected revenue in the budget’s nondepartment category increased from about $6.24 million to $7.9 million. Akins said the revisions include $1.2 million in revenue and $1 million in expenses for Black Bass Dam.
“We’re hoping to break ground on it this year, so that’s why I went ahead and added that in there.” Akins said. “We’ll see what happens. If it doesn’t spend, we don’t have any bills on it, then we’ll carry those over to 2027.”
The council also discussed paying $3,000 a month to have a Pinnacle IT Services employee work regularly from the city. The employee would handle city technology needs and take Pinnacle support calls at other times. The city’s payment would cover part of the employee’s salary.
“It would cost us a lot more money to have a full-time person,” Akins said.
Akins also clarified the salaries budgeted for the city clerk treasurer and deputy clerk. Michael Carey will receive $12,000 annually when he takes office as clerk treasurer in January, with financial responsibilities being transferred to an employee position.
The deputy clerk, who works under the mayor, is budgeted at $20 an hour. The elected clerk will maintain records, take minutes and attend council meetings.
“The deputy clerk falls under the direction of the mayor,” Akins said. “The clerk is the elected position, and the reason why we kind of did that was because we kind of got into an issue when the elected person stopped working, the business stopped, the taxes stopped, the everything stopped. So, we moved all that stuff to an employee so that if that happened again, we could put in a new employee.”
Public works director Simon Wiley presented his regular report, including annual water loss figures.
Moyer requested a rolling 12-month water loss report.
“I believe the city council had asked for that to be provided on a monthly basis, and I think that’s really important …,” Moyer said.
Wiley said he gives the council the same reports he submits to the state and would need to rebuild his spreadsheet to provide a rolling average.
The council approved a resolution authorizing the sale and conveyance of city-owned property at the Queen Anne Mansion site for a public bicycle path. The property also will be rezoned from agricultural to commercial as part of the agreement.
The council approved an ordinance vacating part of an unnamed alley adjoining lots 6 through 17 in Block 2A of Riley and Armstrong.
The council approved a temporary downtown entertainment district for the New Year’s Eve Bash with a Splash.
Meyer cast the only opposing vote after questioning police chief Billy Floyd about armed officers patrolling rooftops during the event.
“Are we going to have guys on the roofs with guns?” Meyer asked.
Floyd replied: “If the property owners will allow us up there, yes.”
“And guys walking around with automatic rifles,” Meyer said.
“Semi-automatic,” Floyd replied.
The council increased the approved amount for leak detection services from $30,000 to $32,500. Mayor Butch Berry said the previously approved amount needed updating.
Members also approved Katherine Lopez’s nomination to the historic district commission.
Council members congratulated Holifield on his election and thanked Berry for his 12 years as mayor. Berry’s term ends Dec. 31.
Council member Terry McClung also thanked voters for approving a 1-cent sales tax and water and sewer bond issues.
Holifield said 998 of the city’s 1,249 registered voters cast ballots.
“That’s a huge number,” he said. “I really appreciate everybody coming out to vote.”
Holifield thanked Berry for a respectful campaign and his service to the city.
Berry, who opted out of a runoff with Holifield, said the two will work together during the transition.
“He and I will be getting together and working together in the next six weeks to make this transition go smooth…,” Berry said of working with Holifield.
Meyer, who lost his bid for a fifth council term to city advertising and promotion commission chair Shira Fouste, also acknowledged the election.
“Well, you won’t have to put up with me next year,” he said during his comments. “The voters have spoken and that’s the way that goes.”
Berry thanked more than 25 city employees from the fire, emergency medical services, public works and police departments who helped direct traffic and protect children during Halloween activities along Kingshighway.
Council member David Avanzino praised Eureka Springs Hospital after three recent interactions with its emergency department.
“It is phenomenal the change that has occurred in that hospital for the better,” he said.
Avanzino and council member Susane Gruning also discussed ethical standards for elected officials.
“I just want to remind everyone of that, and that we conduct ourselves in a manner that is appropriate, and that we keep doing that without breaking any sort of code of conduct. I hope that makes sense.”
Gruning said she had requested guidance from the city attorney and clerk’s office about the city’s code of ethics.
“I did ask … for guidance on the Eureka Springs Code of Ethics for elected officials and where we can find it, and I do think it’s helpful to maybe review and remind ourselves what we represent by being on the council,” she said.
During public comments, planning and cemetery commission member Michael Welch invited residents to help restore The Auditorium’s basement floor.
A preservation boot camp will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, through Saturday, Nov. 21. Volunteers may participate for a few hours, one day or all three days. No restoration experience is necessary.
The project is hosted by Main Street Eureka in partnership with the Eureka Springs Preservation Society, the city building department and the city advertising and promotion commission.
“It would be helpful if you signed up in advance so that you can get a head count,” Welch said. “But if not, just show up.”
The council reminded residents of a workshop at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, to discuss results of the downtown entertainment district trial.
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