The Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors will consider a host of consent items tonight, including allowing city staff to submit a reimbursable $29,301 grant application to the Arkansas Highway Transportation Department to construct a sidewalk.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. inside the board room at City Hall on 216 Walnut St. The meeting is open to the public and includes a portion where people can make comments.
The grant will help build a sidewalk on East 42nd Street from Nix Creek to Pinson Drive. The project consists of extending the hiking/biking/walking trail from East 42nd Street to Pinson Drive, according to agenda materials.
This project was chosen because of the extensive land holdings the city has in this area, which was a requirement of the grant. This project also helps to create a connection of the Nix Creek Trail System and Trice Elementary School to surrounding neighborhoods.
The city proposes to budget for this expense in the Fiscal Year 2017 Public Works Street Division Capital Outlay line item of the budget for the required 20 percent match.
The grant will be sent in about June 1, and City Manager Dr. Kenny Haskin and staff recommend board approval, according to agenda materials.
In other business, the board will consider granting permission to the Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. Texarkana Area Chapter #278 to hold a Memorial Day Walk from 11:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. on May 30. The walk will begin at Fifth and Laurel streets and will proceed west with a police escort on Fifth Street to Wood Street/State Line Avenue, around the Downtown Post Office on the south and west, then north on Wood Street to the Korea/Vietnam Memorial, where a memorial service will be held.
The board will also consider a resolution granting permission to allow Diva Maintenance to hold a Catfish Festival from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. July 1 and July 2 on East Front Street.
The festival will offer a variety of Cajun food, live music, food vendors and activities for children and families.