WARREN, Ark. – The Warren City Council convened yesterday at the Warren Municipal Building for their monthly meeting, discussing various matters pertaining to the city’s administration and infrastructure. Aldermen Angela Marshall, Dorothy Henderson, Joel Tolefree, and Emily Moseley were present, while Aldermen Memory Burks-Frazer and Latanza Atkins were absent. Mayor Gregg Reep presided over the meeting.
The council commenced the meeting by approving the minutes from the previous month’s gathering. Following this, they turned their attention to the City Clerk’s report, which was heard and duly noted by the attendees.
One of the key issues discussed during the meeting was the approval of a temporary street closure request for the upcoming 713 George block party event. The council unanimously granted the request.
Afterward, the council members entered into an executive session; however, no action was taken during this private deliberation.
Mayor Reep took a moment to welcome the staff from AHF flooring plant, who were special guests to the meeting.
Police Chief Shaun Hildreth then presented his report, revealing that the police department is currently facing a shortage of three full-time officers.
Following Chief Hildreth, Fire Chief Chuck Moore provided an overview of the fire department’s activities for the month of June. He reported that the department responded to a total of 22 calls, including one extrication incident. The fire trucks underwent pump testing, and various equipment was also evaluated to ensure optimal functionality.
Sanitation Manager Rob Johnson addressed the council next, informing them of the ongoing efforts to address properties that have fallen into disrepair. Johnson reported that letters were sent to several property owners regarding their unkept properties. Mayor Reep acknowledged the progress made by the city in addressing dilapidated properties, emphasizing that there is still much work to be done.
Johnson further shared updates on the status of Bryant’s Building, stating that cleanup is still some time away due to various issues. An adjacent church required some repairs as well, but it was deemed structurally sound by the engineer recently consulted. The city is currently awaiting approval from the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to resume work on the project. The goal is to complete the cleanup by September 1.
The severe storm that occurred on July 4th caused damage to several buildings along Myrtle Street, as reported by Johnson. Additionally, the Sanitation Department currently faces a shortage of one commercial driver’s license (CDL) driver.
Street Foreman Monty Hearnsberger shared the department’s activities, which included ongoing efforts to clean out ditches. The Fire Department also joined in to assist with cleaning out culverts, demonstrating a collaborative approach to maintaining the city’s infrastructure.
The Street Committee proposed putting out bids for the repaving of several Warren streets, including Lynn, Park (from Hickory to Tate), Stepps, Maple, Bailey, Cedar (from Gannaway to the Claycomb home driveway), JC Moss (from Central to Sturgis 1647), and the intersection near the School District Bus Barn on the north end of Seminary.
During the meeting, the Mayor provided an update on the ongoing research for the Cultural Center renovation. Architects are planning to study the sewer system beneath the building to identify any potential leaks. Furthermore, they intend to excavate a hole at the southwest corner of the structure to closely examine the foundation, ensuring the necessary repairs are made for the building’s stability.
The council unanimously voted to approve the payment of bills for the month of June 2023, ensuring that the city’s financial obligations were met.
The meeting concluded with the announcement of the next council gathering, which is scheduled to take place on August 14 at 5:30 pm.