REDFIELD – Aldermen adopted a resolution Thursday evening in a called City Council meeting indicating the willingness of municipality to participate in a federal recreational trails grant program, City Recorder Rita Jackson said.
The resolution was scheduled for consideration at the monthly council meeting on July 3, but no action was taken because of a lack of a quorum. Aldermen John Jones and Darrell Hedden were the only aldermen in attendance. Thursday’s meeting was called because the deadline for grant application to be submitted is Aug. 1.
Mayor Tony Lawhon was authorized by the resolution to execute appropriate contracts and agreements to expedite construction of the walking trail if the grant is approved.
Redfield would be required to match federal monies with 20 percent of the project cost or establish and maintain a walking trail in F.P. Baugh Park under the terms of the grant proposal.
The city recently dedicated fishing piers at the two lakes in the park.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Because of the lack of a quorum July 3, third and final reading and approval or rejection of a proposed ordinance to regulate uses and activities in the public park was delayed until August.
The proposed ordinance, if adopted, would:
Establish a 20 mph speed in recreational areas;
Ban all-terrain vehicles and off-road vehicles, including motorcycles, in recreational areas without permission of the Redfield Park Commission;
Prohibit vendors selling, bartering or trading anything in the city’s recreational areas without approval of the commission;
Ban possession of alcoholic beverages in the park, swimming and bathing in the lakes, gasoline power motors, and trot-lines, yo-yos, seining and casting nets in the lakes;
Ban the discharge of firearms and trapping of wildlife except for nuisance animal control; and
Prohibit cutting of wood, vandalism, littering and the disposal of trash and garbage except in designated containers. Household trash and garbage could only be placed in dumpsters except during designated city-wide clean up dates.
Water Superintendent Chuck Croy encouraged Redfield residents at the July 3 meeting to conserve water because of drought conditions, adding the municipal department had adopted conservation efforts recommended by the Arkansas Department of Health to meet vital needs, including drinking water and fire protection.
Fire Chief Dennis McFatridge told aldermen minute cracks were discovered in two older air-packs during pressure tests. The age on the air-packs ranges from 5- to 27-years.
He also said the department is applying for a federal grant to obtain a thermal imaging device, noting the one the department has to search for fire victims was purchased in 2004.