Van Buren pushes Rena Road work; to seek pay raises in 2011 budget

story by Marla Cantrell
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At Monday night’s (Nov. 15) meeting of the Van Buren City Council, aldermen voted to approve up to $800,000 to secure land from property owners along a mile-long stretch of Rena Road, scheduled for widening.

Mayor Bob Freeman said the 53 parcels of land needed for the city’s right of way have been identified, an appraiser has been determining fair value, and an attorney has been retained to handle any legal matter that could arise. Crawford County Abstract is currently verifying the names of current property owners.

There are no houses in jeopardy due to the widening.

“Once all this work is complete, we’ll be able to start contacting property owners with our offers,” Freeman said. “We’d like to do that at the same time. … The city’s share of the Rena Road project is about $2.5 million. There’s about $4 million in federal funds.”

Continuing, Freeman noted: “It’s a slow process. Primary funding for the $6 million project can’t all come from Van Buren. We don’t have it. You have to get that through federal funding through the Highway Bill. That’s not a one-year project. It comes in federal installments. That funding goes to the state highway department, and standards and requirements from both agencies apply.”

The council voted to hire MAHG Architecture to provide design services for a safe room, at a cost of no more than 8.5% of construction, plus reimbursable expenses, that the city hopes to construct on the lot adjacent to the Van Buren Senior Center at 607 Knox St.

The 2,500-square-foot safe room would also be used for other activities at the senior center, and when further funding becomes available, the city will add on to the building.

But all this work is preliminary; the city is still waiting for final approval on the approximately $1 million grant from FEMA.

Aldermen also approved the purchase of a new police SUV, at a cost of $28,652, which is being bought with an Arkansas State Police Special State Asset Forfeiture Grant Award. The Ford Expedition will be purchased from Landers Ford.

Freeman set a special study session for Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., to discuss the 2011 budget. While not giving away much, the mayor did say he plans to give the 150 full-time city employees a 3% pay increase. Employees have gone without raises since 2008, when the economy tumbled.

Freeman said finding the money won’t be easy, and suggested one cut could be to nix the annual fireworks show, which would save the city $12,000.

Finally, aldermen approved a $100 Christmas bonus for non-elected, full-time city employees.