By Terry Schrimscher, For The Tribune
SPRINGVILLE — The Springville City Council met for the second regular meeting of April on Monday night, April 18, with most of the agenda items discussed in the work session prior to the meeting.
The Council discussed plans for repairs to Purple Heart Blvd. Councilmember Herbert Toles addressed concerns over the road in the April 4 work session. Toles asked the Council to approve ditch work and paving to repair holes in the road caused by erosion.
Several members of the Council expressed concerns that making repairs to the existing damages would only prolong the problems and require the same repairs to be done later. Councilmember Wayne Tucker, who had a long career in highway engineering, said the city could open itself up to litigation if the work is done improperly.
“If you go in there and start fooling with it, you need to do it right, or you need to leave it alone,” Tucker said. “You’ve got a lot better chance in court if you don’t mess with it than if you go in there and improve it and don’t do it right.”
Tucker was concerned with the paving problems but also with striping, signage, and width, which could contribute to future accidents.
The Council did not add the request to the agenda. Mayor Thomas directed Earl Peoples, Director of Public Works, to get some pricing and engineering plans for repairs to the road and cleaning the ditches.
Parks & Recreation Director Rick Hopkins brought a request to the Council to move a temporary, seasonal position into full-time employment with the city. The position currently held by Josh Miller would be moved into employee status from contract work and reallocate funding in the budget accordingly. The Council approved the request.
The Council authorized Mayor Dave Thomas to enter into a real estate purchase contract for land owned by Dr. Barry McCleney. The land, located directly behind the Grandview Medical Group clinic on Hwy 11, will be held by the city for overflow parking and potential future building use. The land is priced at $100,000.
In the April 4 meeting, City Attorney Hill recommended creating a new management position to oversee the Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve. The Council asked for the creation of a job description and pay grade to be assigned before considering the creation of the position.
Near the end of the meeting, Mayor Thomas announced the resignation of Planning and Zoning Director Maranda Nolen.
In other business, the Council approved a request from Chief Wayne Walton to hire two new, full-time police officers. The funding is already factored into the current budget.
The Council also approved $16,095 for software for public works. The software will replace the current billing software, which the existing vendor is no longer supporting.
The city also approved a resolution accepting $1,022,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding which will be designated as compensation for lost revenues and added to the general fund.
The next meeting will be held on May 2.