BELLA VISTA — City leaders agreed to go ahead with attempting what Alderwoman Becky Morgan called one of the most important projects the city can take on.
During the regular meeting Monday night, the council unanimously voted to apply for three grants assisting with city street improvements.
The grants are through the federally funded Surface Transportation Program-Attributable program, which is managed by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.
Chris Suneson, city planning director, said the funds, which total about $6 million for Northwest Arkansas area, are meant to be used for more highly traveled streets in the region. The grant would pay 80 percent of the project, with the city responsible for the remaining 20 percent.
There are three potential projects outlined for the funding. Mayor Frank Anderson said it’s not likely the city will get all three, but there is no harm in applying. Requests must be submitted by Jan. 3.
The three projects include expanding the Mercy Way intersection with Bella Vista Way, and adding lanes to that road going west to its intersection with Lambeth Road, meaning this project would entail bridge work. Anderson called this “the big” project, and said there is about $50,000 in the budget that would almost cover the 20 percent city-paid portion; the city would need about $7,000 more.
That money already in the budget would be enough to cover one of the two other projects, which are improvements to U.S. 71 from Sunset Drive to Little Sugar Creek and from Little Sugar Creek to the Missouri state line.
Suneson called the projects a long-term investment in the city’s infrastructure.
Alderman also voted to approve a 2014 budget of $11.3 million, and to approve amendments to the 2013 budget, to include a $6,000 adjustment for an overage in the Waste Management department, due to a budgeting error last year.
The group voted to renew the city’s contract with the Bella Vista Animal Shelter to pay an increased amount of $50 per cat and $100 per dog to the shelter, as well as a monthly amount of $1,000. Anderson estimated this will cost the city $82,000 next year.
Three other resolutions were passed to renew contracts for $25,000 to the Bentonville-Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce for marketing and promotion of the city, the Bella Vista Property Owners Association for 75 cents per bill per month for trash billing services and the Architectural Control Committee for shared building expenses.
Only the contract with the chamber was disputed, with Aldermen Larry Wilson, Jerry Snow and Allen King voting no. Anderson voted in the positive to break the 3-3 tie and pass the resolution.