FYI - Prairie Grove, Arkansas
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FYI
February 2021
FYI City of Prairie Grove
Solar Field to Flip the Switch In 2020, the City signed a contract
with Entegrity Energy to establish
solar electricity and place some of
In 2019, the Arkansas Legislature ganizations. The amendment set up a the solar arrays on City Property. In
adopted revisions to the 2001 Ar- provision that allowed municipalities to return, Entegrity will provide totally
kansas Renewable Energy Devel- purchase electricity from a private renewable energy sufficient to oper-
opment Act, that made solar part- solar company without assuming the ate a large percentage of City fa-
nerships with private companies an risk of owning the equipment. cilities, while also selling that elec-
option for many Government or- tricity to the City at a significant sav-
ings over its current cost. Currently,
the price per KW is close to .10 per
KW, and the contract price for the
Solar power starts at .056 per KW.
There are small percentage increas-
es in price over the span of the con-
tract to account for normal price in-
creases as well as degradation of
the solar panels with do lose a small
amount of efficiency each year.
The savings are only part of the
benefit. With the solar project in
place, the City will help reduce car-
bon foot prints and rely more on
sustainable power sources.
Entegrity was prepared to “Flip
the Switch” Friday the 12th, but frig-
id temperatures delayed the cere-
monial start.
FYI
Projected Project Estimates
Bond Election
• water $2.5 M
• Drainage $2.6 M On Tuesday February Only 3.7% of the regis- results.
9th, the Prairie Grove tered voters turned out on
• Wastewater $6.2 M voters turned out in small a dreary day, but all nine Once the results are certi-
numbers to vote on a bond issues were passed. fied, bonds will be sold,
• Streets $3 m likely in March, and money
local tax initiative, but
The individual project will be available for pro-
• Fire $750,000 those that turned out
votes ranged from 78.49% jects. Each project will be
overwhelmingly ap-
• Parks $600,000 up to 86.05% approval in its own bank account.
proved the bond issue
based on the election night
and its projects.
Past Tax Issues have Been successful
The City has put to the voters a future park and library needs.
number of bond issues over the years the lake. There were procedural
problems with the first vote and the In 2005, as the City faced Regulato-
and there is no record of a vote ever
issue had to be revoted, but it passed ry changes to its wastewater permit,
failing.
both times. funding was needed to build a new
In the 80’s one of the first bond WWTP. The original sales tax was
issues, a general obligation bond was In 1998, another General Obliga- replaced with a new 1% tax which
passed to fund fire improvements, and tion Bond Election was passed and was combined with ARRA funds and
dedicated 3 mils of property tax. funded the tornado sirens as well as Revenue Bonds (increase in sewer
the Construction and remodel of a rates to pay back) to fund the $9
A few years later, in1988-1990: the large addition to the library. 3 mils
million dollar project.
first Sales Tax Bond election was of property tax was dedicated to that
passed (3/4% for bonds and 1/4% bond issue for repayment. In 2012, the 2000 bonds were re-
for pay as you capital improvements) funded and replaced funding water
and financed a sewer line around the In 2000, a new tax was passed to line rehab, sewer line rehab, Viney
east side of Prairie Grove, drainage fund the construction of the Aquatic Grove Road drainage improve-
and street improvements on Cleve- Park. Along with that 3/4% tax, a ments, and road improvements.
land Street, and a new water tank at 1/4% tax was passed to be used for
Sales Tax Update
Sales tax in January started out the year right,
with a collection of $63,621/1% compared to
$51,504 in January 2020. This represents a
whopping 23.5% increase compared to last
year.
This fast start to 2021 bodes well, as 2020
exceeded 2019 by 17.5%. Sales tax bonds
are scheduled for 25 year payoffs, but as rev-
enue increases from year to year it allows
those bonds to be paid off much faster than
scheduled.
Page 2
February 2021
Building update
New Home Construction permits
remained low in January but overall
there were still 38 permits issued, 25
of those being mechanical permits
(plumbing, electrical, HVAC).
4 permits were issued for new
single family homes and one permit
for a 4-plex. There were 7 permits
for remodels and additions.
The 4-plex is located on S. Mock
Street. The single family homes
ranged from 1552 square feet to
1889 square feet.
Development Update
They still need Health Department has withdrawn their request, after
Wakefield Park Subdivision, on Approval to start the utilities. engineers determined environmental
Wayne Villines Road, is well under- wetlands on the property made it
way, and have been busy installing Wagnon Springs, and Snyder less than desirable to develop.
utilities. A sewer tie in on Parks Grove, both on South Mock Street,
have been going through the process The Highland Townhouse Develop-
Street is completed and they are
of getting their plans approved. ment, located on Heritage Parkway,
now working on tieing in water lies
The City’s engineer has signed off on submitted its LSD plan to the City
and completed utility installations.
Snyder Grove but both Subdivisions Council on the 12th and will proceed
Prairie View SD off of Richardson are awaiting approval from the with engineering approval. The De-
Road, has been released to start Health Department and are going velopment includes approximately
excavation and dirt work. Mt. View through a lengthy approval process 67 townhouses in the development.
SD, on Butler and Parks Street, has with that agency.
just a few corrections to their drain-
age plans, but are close to starting. The Bulter Road South Subdivision,
Trees Damaged in Muddy Fork Park
A number of trees were damaged a few weeks
ago, along the natural trail at Muddy Fork Park.
The trees, all 3” diameter and smaller, appeared
to be cut with a hatchet or ax and discarded
along the trail. Approximately 10 trees were
damaged.
Signs are being ordered for the trail, advising
against this sort of activity as well as signs to post
by the river, as well as a number of warning signs
related to the river.
Page 3
February 2021
City of Prairie Grove
FYI
• Chuck Wiley Completed Basic Water Treatment on February 8-10th, through the SAU Tech Arkansas
Environmental Academy, virtual class.
• Jason Arnold will begin classes this month to upgrade his water distribution license to a D2 certifica-
tion.
• Brian Crigler completed and passed his water Distribution Grade 2 test in December and is licensed by
the Arkansas Depart of Health. Crigler was promoted to Water Dept. Field supervisor position.
• The Arkansas Water Works and Water Environment Association Annual Conference has again been
postponed this time until October of 2021. The conference canceled last year, for the first time in 87
years, and is being moved from April to October this year. Larry Oelrich will receive the 2020 Hall of
Fame presentation at the formal banquet along with the 2021 recipient, who has yet to be named.
Lots going on for City staff
City staff has stayed very busy this winter with new pro- At Muddy Fork Park, crews have been readying for
jects and just the usual repairs and maintenance. A num- the dog park to get underway. Trees have been
ber of water leaks have plagued the water department cleared, and grass seed will be put down in coming
on old and new water lines. One leak on Graham Street, weeks. Tables and benches will be ordered soon for
has been postponed for repair as crews are trying to de- the park. Crews will construct much of the equipment for
termine how to control the flow of water while a major the dog park in house, and a decorative fence will be
replacement is needed to replace a “tee”, where three installed around the facility.
lines come together.
At the lake, crews have installed a new chemical feed
At the maintenance facility, a new Pole barn expansion line from the chemical feed building to the clarifier as
is underway, which will allow much of the recycling activity well as treated the lake by boat for an unusual winter
to take place at the facility. Instead of having the baler algae that has been plaguing taste and odor.
downtown, solid waste staff can now process aluminum at
the maintenance yard after they get the baler moved.
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