ROGERS -- Aldermen approved a $2.8 million contract with Decco Inc. to widen and improve Monte Ne Road from New Hope Road to Gum Street, which marks the beginning of major changes coming to the east side of the city.
"We started a conversation about spending money to develop the east side of town right after I was elected," said Mayor Greg Hines.
At A Glance
Council Action
Rogers’ City Council met Tuesday and approved:
• Creating of a Public Art Commission to govern display of public art on city property.
• An $18,530 contract with New World Systems for additional software for the Police Department.
• A memorandum of understanding with Fayetteville and Bentonville related to a data sharing system.
• Accepting a $15,393 grant from the Arkansas State Department of Health, Trauma Systems to buy trauma-related medical supplies.
• A $91,748 contract with Crowder Construction to move a sewer line at Veterans Park.
• A $256,810 contract with J&L Concrete for storm and sewer work at Veterans Park and other locations.
• A $73,875 contract with J&L Concrete for work at Veterans Park.
• A $359,896 for software from City View of Victoria, B.C., Canada allowing departments to share data.
Source: Staff Report
The improvements to Monte Ne Road is one of many projects directed Rogers east side, Hines added.
"We have a prosperous west side but the east side needs some help to develop economically. We are spending at least $25 million over the next couple of years to improve the infrastructure, develop a sustainable economic development plan and create a new vision for Lake Atalanta," Hines said.
Gateway Planning was hired by the city to provide the information and tools city leaders need to have a stronger economy downtown, city officials said.
"To sustain downtown I honestly believe we need more people living and working downtown. People create commerce and where there is a need business will develop," Hines said.
Walkability is also essential, Hines added.
"That one of the reasons we are building trails, a bike park, a dog park and renovating Lake Atalanta. This is the best opportunity we have to create walkability downtown," Hines said.
Lake Atalanta was once the center of outdoor recreation in Rogers, according to those who lived here when the park was a gathering place for families and teenagers, with a pool, restaurant, roller skating rink and miniature golf.
"The glory days for Lake Atalanta was a couple of generations ago. We need to meet the needs for a new generation. We think the renovation of Lake Atalanta will be a draw not only for those who live on the east side but the west side of town. The beautiful spring-fed lake is a jewel and we want the jewel to shine as brightly now as it once did," Hines said.
"There is a lot of potential on the east side of the city," said Lorrie Madden, executive vice-president of Arvest Bank at the intersection of Walnut and Second streets.
The focus on the east side of town is good for the whole city, she added.
"I've read and heard that a vibrant downtown is necessary if a city is going to remain strong economically. I'm excited about all the activity on the east side. We have a strong economy on the west side, which is good for the whole city. The same is true of improvements on the east side," Madden added.
Northwest Arkansas is already well-known nationally. Anything Rogers does to improve the quality of life will help attract top employees to the area as well as businesses, Madden said.
"The residents placed their confidence in the city leadership in 2011 when they approved extending the 1 percent sales tax that allowed the city to issue $135.4 million in bonds for these and other improvements," said Betsy Reithemeyer, alderwoman.
"The enhancements on the east side should revitalize and renew, not only the downtown, but the whole city," Reithemeyer said.
Other road improvements on the east side are either under construction or slated for construction in the near future, said Lance Jobe, a city engineer.
"The work on Veterans Park improvements is well under way. Gum Street is being improved to connect to a roundabout west of the baseball/softball fields in the park. Veterans Parkway will also connect with the runabout as will a new street to connect with First Street. All of which will improve connectivity in that area," Jobe said.
New soccer fields are also under construction at Veterans Park.
The next major street project will be widening First Street from Olrich Street to a roundabout connecting Oak and Arkansas streets with Monte Ne Road, city planners said.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department reviewed the roundabout joining those streets and suggested the city increase the size to handle the largest tractor-trailer rigs. State officials also asked the city to make the roundabout two lanes rather than the designed one lane.
"The roundabout will accommodate what the Highway Department calls an Interstate a 73.5-foot tractor-trailer. We don't anticipate that size rig using the roundabout very often the next several years." Jobe said.
City officials aren't adding a second lane to the roundabout. Traffic studies indicate the single lane will handle the expected traffic flow for several years.
"We have no idea when the state is going to design a route for the eastern corridor through Rogers. It might be take two years or 10 years to determine a route through Rogers. If the state wants to use First Street as part of the eastern corridor the decision can be made at that time whether the roundabout needs to be bigger," Jobe said.
NW News on 08/27/2014