The Conway City Council raised the minimum wage to $13 an hour for part-time employees and $15 for full-time employees at their June 28 meeting.
Council member Andy Hawkins led the meeting, as Mayor Bart Castleberry was not in attendance.
The financial report for May showed an 8% increase in property tax revenue and a 17% increase in sales tax revenue compared to last year.
CFO Tyler Winningham said, “With inflation being what it is, this may not be the case for next year.” But the city of Conway did take in a little over a million dollars in revenue for the month. The motion to approve the monthly financial report passed 7-0.
The ordinance for a new private club permit and liquor license passed 6-0-1 abstained (David Grimes) for the Rouge Roundabout, which will be located at 804 Chestnut St. The club plans to create a Conway-crafted experience, featuring craft beers and food according to their Facebook page.
The city will be gaining 55.91 acres to be developed for residential purposes, located north of Empty Trail, west of Orchard Park subdivision and south of Cresthaven subdivision phase four.
UCA will be seeing a new Catholic campus ministry at 1919 South Boulevard by H & N Architects. A conditional permit for religious activities passed 7-0.
The Public Safety Committee had numerous items on the agenda. The police department will be adding $69,399.08 of reimbursement funds to replenish expense accounts and $18,447.19 has been appropriated for the purchase of a new vehicle. It is accepting $24,756.00 from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant to be used for purchasing large equipment and another $12,378.00 to be used for smaller equipment.
Four patrol officer positions were added, two will be school resource officers for the Conway public schools, while the remainder will be tied to health and wellness. The department’s agreement with the schools was renewed for the 2022-2023 school year, and it hopes to have the two new resources officers trained and ready by January 2023.
The resolution to enter into an agreement with counseling associates to implement the Connect and Protect Grant for the Conway Police Department, which would allow healthcare workers to accompany officers when dealing with the mentally ill passed 7-0.
The position of non-uniformed fleet maintenance technician will be receiving an $8,000 pay increase, mirroring that of the Conway Fire Department. All ordinances and resolutions passed 7-0 for the police department.
Rickey Gully, a social media marketer for the city council, received a key to the city on behalf of Mayor Castleberry, presented by Felicia Rogers. Steve Floyd of the Conway Rotary Club presented Brian McClain of Conway Parks and Recreation with a certificate of appreciation for his work at Cabin Settlement Park. The park received a $1,000 reimbursement that will be used for updates and maintenance around the park.
Other business included:
● Economic Development Committee’s franchise agreement with Conway Corp. and the use of the electric plant was extended to 12/21/2050. It increased their monthly lease payment from $10,000 to $16,000 a month to make up for lost revenues in the city, both passed 7-0.
● The ordinance to create a new assistant director position for the permits and inspections department passed 7-0.
● The city accepted the lowest bid for phase two of the Markham Jump Street Project from Fureigh Heavy Construction for $1,782,413.57. Phase two will tackle the roads from Walnut St. to about 150 feet past Bruce St., passed 7-0.
● The public art master plan, which lays out a roadmap for further development of the city’s Public Art Program over the next 10-15 years passed 7-0.
● A moratorium or temporary ban on the issuance of sign permits for billboards and certain types of freestanding signs for the next 90 days passed 7-0. This will affect freestanding signs which are more than 12 feet tall and located within 1,000 feet of the interstate.
● A conditional use permit for the automobile body shop located at 1215 Thomas G Wilson Dr. passed 7-0.
● An ordinance to appropriate insurance funds received by the Parks and Recreation Department passed 7-0.
● Consideration to rezone from R-1 to C-2 for the 3.88 acres located east of Bill Bell Lane at the intersection of Acuff Lane was tabled until July 26.