The Mountain Home City Council approved a three-month trial partnership with North Arkansas Transportation Services which would offer free transportation within the city limits during their regularly scheduled meeting Thursday night.
First on the agenda though, was revisions to a service agreement with engineering company, Garver. Kirby Rowland presented revisions involving the wastewater plant improvements and southwest collection system along U.S. Highway 62/412 West.
Currently, the contractor working on the improvements had a 550 day contract in which they are now 120% beyond contract time and has only completed 59% of the work. It is to the point the contractor will have to start liquidating damages for failure to staff the job. The ordinance presented was an amendment to a contract the city has with Garver, an engineering firm, would administer the project to help see to completion and hopefully meet the goal date of March 2023. Over recent months, funds have run low to cover the expenses to oversee the contractor. The amendment would allow Garver to continue to represent the city to make sure the job is completed.
The hourly costs to oversee the project are being tracked and they would be submitted as lucrative damages to where the city would not lose that money and withhold it from the contract. Rowland stated when they were onsite on Thursday, there were only two men working on the project and said it doesn’t look like they are putting in the effort they should. City Attorney Roger Morgan said this is a example of why it was important to have an engineering firm on site to observe, otherwise the city would have gotten a job they would have struggled with. Rowland commented that the city has bent over backwards to help him but they never responded.
Rowland also presented an amended agreement for the southwest collection system project near the ASUMH Technical campus on U.S. Highway 62/412 West. This project would serve the technical center and further expansion along the corridor which would not only include water collection, but sewer as well, which will be needed to complete the expansion work on the campus. The amended agreement include working with subcontractor Consolidated Land Services, with surveys and designing of the final project.
The council unanimously approved both amended agreements as presented.
The council then heard a presentation from North Arkansas Transportation Service (NATS) to create a partnership between NATS and the City of Mountain Home. The partnership would allow free transportation within the city limits during their business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 – 4:40. Currently NATS provides transportation to anyone who needs it within the city limits for $1 per one way trip on their city route and $3 per one way trip with their dial-a-ride service. The goal of the partnership would be to service more citizens who need transportation services, whether that is to work, medical appointments, grocery stores or other errands. All rides would need to be scheduled in advance, and NATS proposed a 3-month trial period. Proposed monthly costs would be $1,250.
The council voted unanimously to the partnership with a three-month trial start date of December 1. This would be the first partnership of its kind with NATS.
The council then approved a resolution to remove a building located at 510 East 1st Street. It has been over two years since the fire in the home and contact with the owners have proven unsuccessful. City Attorney Morgan says they will have to serve the property owner and they will have 30 days to respond before removal can begin.
In addition, the council approved moving funds from the carryover fund for the Christmas lights and approved the resolution to destroy city records due for destruction. A member of the council will be present for the destruction with Shred-It.
The final item on the agenda was setting universal park operating hours for all parks within the city limits. Recently there has been issues with vandalism in the late night hours and the ordinance will have all parks open from 5 in the morning until 10 at night. Those in violation would be considered trespassing and could face a fine no less than $100 to not more than $300. There are opportunities for varied hours with special permits by the mayor’s office.
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