Putting pen to paper : The Bentonville City Council is expected to approve a contract to get conceptual design for community center going.

BENTONVILLE — The city of Bentonville has found the firm it believes can get the conceptual design of a new community center, to be erected on the southwest side of the community, rolling.

At its regular meting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Community Development Building, 305 S.W. A St., the Bentonville City Council will consider city staff's request to enter into an agreement with Barker Rinker Seacat for the programming, feasibility and conceptual design for the community center. The contract would be for $177,040, according to the meeting agenda.

"The first step of this will be a huge public-input process, but we believe we've found the company that will help us put all this information together," said Parks Manager David Wright. "We're probably five to six weeks out from a public meeting on this, but if this contract is approved on Tuesday, we'll probably start putting together public survey questions on Wednesday. We really want to get this ball rolling."

Earlier this morning, they entered into a purchase agreement for land near the southwest corner of Arkansas highways 12 and 112, on the community's southwest side. A chunk of this land will be used to construct the community center, for which there is funding available through a voter-approved bond.

With a portion of that land purchase, the city also plans to construct a softball complex or other outdoor parks and recreation space deemed necessary through publicinput and other studies. So on Tuesday, the council is also expected to approve an agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group in the amount of $36,660, for the concept master plan for the 35 acres at the site of the new community center.

Other items on the council agenda include:

◊Non-action item: City financial report;

◊Non-action item: Report from Beaver Water District;

◊Non-action item: Economic development report;

◊Rezoning request at 602 S.E. Eighth St.;

◊Lot split at 602 S.E. Eighth St.;

◊Public hearing and ordinance for alley vacation at Gilmore Park;

◊Contract with Bonds Excavation to construct a slope and road bed along Northeast A Street;

◊Declare certain items as surplus to be sold at public auction;

◊Resolution certifying the rate of taxation leviedon real and personal property in the city of Bentonville;

◊Set public hearing regarding the placement and amount of liens to be placed on certain properties for mowing and remediating unsanitary and unsightly conditions;

◊Land-lease agreement with Trust and Transit LLC for a 7,200-square-foot hangar and associated private parking area located at the Bentonville Municipal Airport;

◊Bid award of $46,410 to Fleming Electric for the purchase and installation of new lights for the tennis courts at Brightwood Park;

◊Agreement with Jacobs Engineering Group in the amount of $206,660 for the concept master plan, construction documents and construction oversight for renovations of Phillips Park;

◊Resolution to approve the Selective Traffic Enforcement System;

◊Resolution in support of Meth Awareness Month for October.