Since medical marijuana was approved in Arkansas last November, Texarkana has been laying the groundwork on how to handle it, a city official told the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce Tuesday night.
"The voters (of Arkansas) approved, so we have to act," City Manager Kenny Haskin said. "Medical marijuana is a reality in Arkansas, so we are coming up with city policy to manage the new state of things. Our priorities are to protect the citizens of Texarkana, Ark., and arrange a safe, reasonable fair and balanced situation."
In other announcements, Dennis Lewis of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission announced that the Texas Legislature has made available $20 million for communities with military assets on a competitive basis.
"Communities and local authorities whose area has a Texas military asset can submit a bid for a grant from this pool of money," Lewis said. "Each bid will be evaluated according to need and a checklist developed for evaluating the requests. The funds will become available Sept. 1 at the beginning of the next fiscal year. Any community in Texas with a military base or other military asset is encouraged to apply.
Mike Malone, chamber president and CEO, said more progress had been made on the Interstate 49 project as funds become available for small segments. Construction has begun on a five-mile segment between Arkansas and Missouri.
"Also, there's a segment of I-30 that will be reinforced for heavy truck loads," Malone said. "This specifically was for Domtar to be able to run freight between here and the shipping ports in New Orleans, La.," he said. "This required a law to be written to allow this from the Texas Legislature. Gov. Greg Abbott signed it, and it is under way."
Malone also mentioned that bidding has begun for the State Line Courthouse beautification project, set to start in late July.
John Whitson, Texarkana, Texas, city manager, said Phase 1 studies had begun for locations of the three new fire stations.
"Basically, it is an environmental study," he said. "We will make sure the area is noncontaminated and has no issues in that department."