Crawford County, Van Buren leaders talk 2009, look ahead

story by Marla Cantrell

Crawford County Judge John Hall and Van Buren Mayor Bob Freeman didn’t need a crystal ball to know 2009 was going to be a lean year. The two planned for it, shaved costs where they could and got a lot done.

The two elected officials recently shared with The City Wire their thoughts on 2009 and goals for 2010.

Both listed maintaining services while avoiding staff layoffs as one of their biggest accomplishments in 2009.

“We were wise enough not to go out there and anticipate on 2008 numbers because we knew the economy was going to slow down,” Hall said. “We didn’t have it to spend, so we didn’t have to worry about it.”

Levee Certification (city and county)
Freeman and Hall had until April to get the 20-mile levee system along the Arkansas River inspected and certified. It was an effort both said required their combined forces.

“The mayor contributed his $167,000 and the levee board paid $25,000,” Hall said. “I got $200,000 worth of grant money from the state and the economic development commission and others. We did it and we paid for it.”

Without the certification, businesses in Van Buren’s Industrial Park would have been required to buy flood insurance based on the worth of their property. Hall said the added cost could have crippled future growth and sent some of the established businesses packing.

Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority (city and county)
“The need for an intermodal authority came from a study the city of Van Buren had done about 10 years ago, looking at the freight needs and the means in our region,” Freeman explained.

This year the Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority was formed. It is made up of representatives from Fort Smith, Sebastian County, Van Buren and Crawford County. The group was organized to improve infrastructure to accommodate future growth.

“It could be a catalyst for the largest economic boost that this area has seen.” Hall said. “It just depends on what and how it’s handled and what they can make out of it. We expect to see more traffic, more business. We expect to see probably immediate results, meaning in the next two years.”

Hall said Chaffee Crossing will lead the way because it will have the new section of Interstate 49 nearby and has land set aside for industries to move in. But then the growth should move across the Arkansas River to Crawford County, Hall added.

“We have a lot of land over here that’s good for development,” Hall said. “I just think it will be good for all the people and industries in the area.”

Other county accomplishments
• An addition to the county jail, which was built in 1989, was completed in May. The expansion cost more than $250,000 and increased the number of beds from 66 to 88. Overcrowding had been a chronic problem at the jail, and at one point a court order was issued to stop the problem. Voters twice voted down an initiative to build a new facility, once in 2003 and again in 2005.

• Another change for the county was the acquisition of the former National Guard Armory building. In May, it became the headquarters for Department of Management.

“We’ll be able to monitor storms,” Hall said. “There’s a big vault and they’ll be able to be in there if they need to be. It will be a permanent control center for any kind of disaster that might happen.”

• And there are now 12 more miles of hard-surfaced county roads than on Jan. 1. That number would have been higher if rains hadn’t stalled work for most of the summer.

Other city accomplishments
• Van Buren received a federal grant of $117,000 in 2009 to hire three new firefighters. The additional emergency workers have already been sent to the training academy in Camden.

• The 28th Street project was completed, which solved the flooding problem in that area of the Industrial Park. The city’s contribution was $1 million.

“It would be on the local news every time we had a heavy rain.” Freeman said. “It was the spot to go to to see flooding. No more. Twenty-eighth street is out of the water. It’s all been repaired.”

• The King Opera House reopened in October, a year after a fire shut the theater down.

• The city also won the 2009 Shine Award from Keep Arkansas Beautiful and was named a 2009 Volunteer Community of the Year.

2010 Goals
Freeman already has goals outlined for 2010. Topping the list is the completion of the Van Buren Library. The Rena Road widening project is also a top priority, as is adding a planning coordinator to the city staff.

Hall and his staff are working to bring in federal grants for several upcoming projects. Road work will continue – some of this year’s work was delayed due to wet weather. He also plans to keep a close eye on spending, just like he did this year.

Freeman and Hall believe the economic outlook could improve in 2010, but they’re not banking on it. Their budgets reflect that restraint. The judge and mayor plan to be ready when the economy finally improves. Not everything is about today.

“Some of the things we’re working on now, I will not see come to fruition while I’m in office,” Freeman said. “That’s okay. We’ve got to look to the future. We’ve got to plan for tomorrow.”