LINCOLN -- City Council members were told at the Aug. 11 meeting a low-water bridge being built at Lincoln Lake is in its final stage of construction.
Work on the bridge was delayed because more rain fell than usual during the late spring and early summer months, which had lake water at too high a level to build the bridge.
Alderman Doug Hutchens said it had been a challenge getting concrete for the bridge too but it was looking good now.
A $26,000 grant to build the low water bridge at the lake was obtained by the city through the Northwest Economic Development District's General Improvement Grant fund.
Hutchens suggested taking larger rocks out of the channel and placing them along either side of the bank when the bridge is completed.
"We have quite a bit of rock," Hutchens said. "If we need more we could use limestone rock, something that matches with what we have out there. We need to armor the bank to keep people from driving through the water -- that's what wore the bank down before."
Changing the subject to another project, Hutchens asked how engineering was coming on a sidewalk near South Park -- if the drainage issue had been solved.
The plan had been to build a sidewalk to South Park from South Main, according to Chuck Wood, city business manager. A problem with flooding had halted the project until the problem could be solved. Work finally began last week on the project.
Wood said asphalt work had been done on East North Street and repairs had been made on County Avenue but paving on Kirk Lane and a fresh overlay on East Rogers Street had not been done yet but should be done soon.
The council approved a resolution for a change order to the contract with APAC-Central Inc., the company doing the street work. This change order was for additional pavement work at the newly located police offices. The contract would increase by $3,348 and the work would provide a parking area, as well as paving the alley that intersects with Main Street at the police department location, according to Wood.
Moving from street work to ditches, Alderman Troy Myers asked couldn't the city do something about the overgrown ditches.
"The ditches along 62?" asked Hulse.
"Yes," Myers answered.
Hulse then nodded toward Steven Parker, city attorney.
"The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department has the right of way off [U.S.] 62," Parker said. "The city can't cut the ditches."
Hutchens remarked that a resident couldn't even take a weed clipper and cut along the ditches.
Wood said the city had called the Highway Department a couple of times but it had not responded.
"It wouldn't take us long if we could do it," Hulse said.
"It wouldn't take them long if they would do it," Wood commented.
Mayor Hulse reported the soccer league had been a success for its first year. "We're proud to work with the schools on this program and help our youth."
Hulse said Paul Crouch, soccer coordinator and coach, told him 84 kids signed up last year and he's looking to double the numbers this fall.
Rhonda Hulse, water department manager, said soccer applications would be available Aug. 18, the first day of school.
"It's been very popular with the kids and they are excited," she said. "It really is a good program."
In other business, the council approved paying the monthly bills.
Hutchens reported July sales tax distribution was $18,747 with the library receiving $5,624 and parks and recreation $1,406. The capital improvement balance totaled $468,938.
"We're back up in sales revenue, which was good," Hutchens said.
Rhonda Hulse told aldermen the city should hear by next month if it would get a $50,000 grant on new air packs for local firefighters. The grant application was through the Rural Development Authority.
The next Lincoln City Council meeting is set for 7 p.m., Sept. 8 at City Hall.
General News on 08/27/2014