TEXARKANA, Ark. -- Rezoning land near Four States Fairgrounds to accommodate a local church's large construction project is the sole action item before the Board of Directors at its first meeting of 2024.
The request is for approximately 70 acres at 4000 Arkansas Blvd., where Harvest International Ministries plans to build a "comprehensive campus," according to meeting documents.
At present, a gate bearing a "HIM," or Harvest International Ministries, logo stands at the entrance to the property.
The project includes construction of a praise building, prayer pavilion, worship center, event building, tent pavilion and maintenance building. The site also will have 29 single-family housing units accessible from East Broad Street, according to the campus master site plan by Mississippi-based McCarty Architects.
Given the scope of the project, the Board will vote on an ordinance to rezone the land from Central Business and Limited Manufacturing to Planned Unit Development.
The consent agenda for the meeting includes a resolution that would authorize City Manager Robert Thompson to enter into a multimillion-dollar contract with KAJACS Contractors of Little Rock to relocate a waterline.
"The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department is reconstructing the section of U.S. Highway 71 beginning at the north end of the Red River Bridge and proceeding north approximately 7,000 feet. This will require the relocation of this 42-inch transmission main that runs from the Millwood Water Treatment Plant to Texarkana," according to a summary of the resolution.
KAJACS submitted the low bid of $4,249,500. Three Texarkana companies also vied for the contract -- Kampco with a bid of $ 5,504,185.48; RBIS ($4,644,635); and Belt Construction ($ 5,091,790), according to meeting documents.
City directors also will vote on a resolution to appoint Ward 6 Director Jeff Hart as assistant mayor on a one-year term. Hart will succeed Ward 1 Director Terry Roberts.
In January 2023, the Board adopted an ordinance renaming the position of vice mayor to assistant mayor, and adjusting the term from two years to one.
The ordinance also established a sequence for the appointment. Starting in 2023, the assistant mayor's position is rotated among directors in the following order: Ward 1, Ward 6, Ward 2, Ward 4, Ward 5 and Ward 3.
In other business, five city employees will receive service awards during the meeting.
A 35-year award will go to Donald R. Crittenden, Texarkana Water Utilities. Alton Kirkland at the Police Department will be presented with a 20-year award.
Five-year awards will go to Kristen Beach Coker and Jason Shores at the Police Department and Lenor Teague at the Animal Care and Adoption Center.
The board also will consider --
a resolution authorizing and directing the city manager to renew a long-standing, annual agreement with Texarkana Housing Authority to have two police assigned to special patrols and enforcement operations on Housing Authority properties. In return, the Housing Authority will pay the city $130,000 for salaries and other purposes.
a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract for $229,943.80 with RBIS for rehabilitating the sewer main on East Broad and East Third streets. The project includes replacing/relocating approximately 372 linear feet of 12-inch sewer main and installing three concrete manholes. RBIS was the only bidder.
The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 216 Walnut St.
City residents who would like to speak during the 50-minute public comment portion of the meeting must submit a citizen communication card, which will be available at the meeting. Comments will be limited to five minutes.