Greenbrier homeowners seek help

GREENBRIER A larger than usual crowd filled Greenbrier City Hall during the City Council's regular meeting Monday night. A group of homeowners from the Weston Circle area appealed to the council for help regarding several issues affecting their neighborhood.

According to group spokesman Steve McCune, the recent excavation of a nearby hill has resulted in excess water run-off and sediment deposits that filled yards and garages in the area. The sediment also blocked the road at times. McCune showed the council several photos detailing the damage caused by the dirt and water running through the streets and onto private property.

McCune said that the homeowners have contacted Jerry Coney of Zelcon Construction about the problems, but no action had been taken to rectify the situation. After receiving limited cooperation from Coney, the homeowners filed a complaint with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, who conducted a routine compliance inspection on April 22.

The ADEQ found several violations, including failure to record rainfall totals and maintain the silt fence.

"We know Mother Nature has a lot to do with this," McCune said, "but we just want some help to get this fixed. We just want our lives back."

One resident pointed out that even on days with a short rain, debris such as plywood would float down the street.

In addition to the problem with run-off and sediment, the homeowners also told the council that the dump trucks that hauled dirt out of the area drove down the residential streets beginning at 6 a.m., often at a high rate of speed. "We have kids out there waiting for the bus," McCune told the council. "We would like to be able to get our kids on the bus before the trucks start running. We need to know the kids are safe."

Mayor Melton Cotton promised the group that he would put a stop to the trucks taking routes that took them through residential streets. "I'll have that taken care of," Cotton said. Council member Marianne Freeman noted that this had been a problem that had been addressed several years before during an earlier addition to the subdivision. "We've already handled this once," she said. "They know they aren't supposed to be using those streets." Coney was not present at the meeting.

McCune also requested help from the council in reducing the speed of drivers who use the subdivision as a short cut. "We have four T intersections with no stop signs," McCune said. "Maybe a stop sign at each of those intersections could slow traffic." The council agreed to look into placing the stop signs at the suggested intersections.

In other business, the council approved an increase in health care premiums for city employees. To keep the same level of benefits, rates will increase by 8.5%. Insurance agent Rick Wilbanks said that medical inflation was hovering around 10%. The council was given the choice of raising premiums or decreasing benefits. Insurance for the city employees will cost the city $8,961, up from $8, 260.

The council also approved a resolution granting retirement benefits for the city's volunteer firefighters. Also approved was a rezoning request from R-1 to C-2 for 114 N. Broadview. Realtor Byron McKinney requested the rezoning after receiving an offer on the property contingent on the zoning change. The land will be used for a medical clinic expansion and possible drug store. It was pointed out to the council that all property surrounding the lot was zoned C-2.