BELLA VISTA — A portion of Dogwood Drive damaged in spring 2011 storms will be resurfaced, after aldermen agreed Monday night to a contract for repair.
The City Council voted to allow the city to contract with N.E.C. for the project estimated to cost almost $84,000. Once finished, 75 percent of the cost will be reimbursed by FEMA and 12.5 percent will be reimbursed through state funding. The city will be responsible for the remainder of the cost.
Mayor Frank Anderson said there will likely be some street closure once the project begins.
The city will also purchase a new ambulance. When the Bella Vista Ambulance Service dissolved in December 2011, money was donated to the city with an understanding the city would purchase an additional ambulance in 2013.
The city will purchase a 2013 model, paid for in 2012, to save nearly $7,000 in costs due to new emissions standards taking effect next year. The cost of the ambulance is $194,000. Adding a new ambulance will make six available for rotation on a quarterly basis.
Aldermen also voted unanimously to adopt a new policy and procedures manual for the Police Department.
An ordinance amending the city’s sign code was passed after its third reading, as well as an ordinance requiring the use of a collection service contracted with the city for removal of solid waste.
During the public input portion of the meeting, Carolyn Dodd, a resident, addressed the mayor and council about potential upcoming changes to trash pickup in her townhouse complex. Anderson informed Dodd the city will contract with the collection company for whatever method of pickup the Townhouse Association board requests for each specific area. The board has until the end of the year to make changes, he added.
Anderson told the council the Property Owners Association board is still in the process of discussion regarding the lease agreement of buildings housing the police and fire departments. The leases expire at the end of December. Anderson said he will begin to examine costs to construct new facilities in the city to house those departments, in case the POA board decides not to extend the lease agreement.