Street improvements move ahead in New Bloomfield

Aldermen also approve park improvements, rate hikes for pavilion use and residential trash service

The New Bloomfield Board of Aldermen received a progress report Thursday night on street improvements throughout the city financed by a $365,000 general obligation bond issue approved last year.

Don Fischer, a representative of Allstate Consultants of Columbia, said the street improvement project has been delayed by recent heavy rains.

The board approved a 40-day extension of the contract to complete the project.

Allstate Consultants has been hired by the city to supervise the citywide project. Most of the work has been done by Higgins Asphalt Co. of Tipton.

Fischer said major work in the project involves the area near the Elm Street and Route J intersection in the city.

Earlier, the city also made water main improvements in the city, including Elm Street.

The new city work includes stormwater improvements as well as grading and asphalt overlay work on numerous streets. They include Chevy Chase Lane, Elm Street, Mulberry Street, Cedar Street, Elwood Circle, Poplar Street, Park Street, Chestnut Street, Willow Drive, Oak Street, Country Club Drive and Joshua Street.

In other action, the board approved a proposal to purchase 90 yards of state-approved playground oak mulch to add six inches of protection around playground equipment installed in John B. Wilson Veterans Park, located between the New Bloomfield City Hall and the New Bloomfield Fire Protection District headquarters building.

City Supervisor Mike Rieken also recommended asphalt in the park be treated with two coats of protective sealant to prolong the life of the surface.

Rieken said the cost of the mulch and the sealant was $2,700 and the board approved the plan.

The board also directed City Attorney Mark Warren to revise an ordinance relating to rental of the new pavilion erected recently in the park near the playground equipment.

The pavilion was built by Lexington Development, LLC at a cost of $11,723. It also includes electrical outlets.

The board agreed the new ordinance should set a flat fee of $25 per day to rent the new pavilion. The board ordered that the ordinance also should include a statement that if the area in and around the pavilion was not cleaned by the user, a littering charge will automatically be brought against the person who rented the pavilion.

The board has approved an ordinance increasing the monthly rate for trash service and administration fees. The charge was increased $1.50, making trash service costing $13.82 per month for each trash receptacle.

The board also approved the purchase of a $329 portable breath tester for the New Bloomfield Police Department. One intended use of the device is to enable officers to press charges against youngsters under age 21 who have been drinking.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.