'Islands of county in a sea of city' possibly annexed

The Conway City Council will consider resolutions establishing the city's intent to annex what Mayor Tab Townsell has described as "islands of county in a sea of city" at tonight's meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Conway District Court building at 810 Parkway Ave.

These "islands" are described in tonight's agenda as:

Land west of Mill Pond Road and east and south of the Cresthaven subdivision;

Land west and north of South Donaghey Avenue and south of Spring Valley and Justin Place subdivisions and east of South Salem Road;

Land west of East German Lane and North of East Siebenmorgen Road;

Land south of Bill Lucy Road, 225 feet east of Trison Road and 330 feet north of East Siebenmorgen Road;

And land east of Makenna Cove subdivision, south of Lower Ridge Road and west of East German Road and North of Bill Lucy Road

"It's just a cleaning up of the islands and annexing the little portions of the county that are surrounded by the city," city engineer Ronnie Hall said. "By state law you can annex islands without a vote ... it makes the utility service work better. You don't have Arkansas Power and Light trying to service little islands inside the Conway Corp. service area."

Hall said these five annexations would "clean up" all islands of county.

"Other islands will undoubtedly be created as other annexations occur," he said, "but I think this cleans up the city, as far as islands go."

The council will also consider:

An ordinance waiving bids for the purchase and repair of traffic signal equipment for the Conway Street Department;

An ordinance appropriating funds for the Conway Tree Board to pay for expenses associated with the 2008 Arbor Day celebration;

Discussion of a possible ordinance amending the sign ordinance of the Conway Zoning Ordinance;

Bids for an articulated hauler for the Sanitation Dept;

Approval of a boat dock permit for property located at 54 Hwy 25;

Approval to sell sponsorships for the scoreboards that will be located at the City of Colleges Park;

A request for a recommendation from council concerning an unauthorized boat dock owned by Phillip Brown located at 26 Lakeview Drive;

A partnership with the Memphis Grizzlies to provide a youth basketball program with the Conway Parks and Recreation Department;

Amending the agreement with Carter and Burgess to include architecture services for the new fairgrounds;

An ordinance accepting a collection of the Arkansas Code for the City of Conway;

An ordinance appropriating funds for civil service expenses related to police testing for the City;

An ordinance waiving competitive bids for the purchase of two police vehicles (2008 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors totaling $46,824 including delivery) for the Conway Police Department;

Reclassification of Animal Welfare offices and managers;

An agreement with JESAP/DB Squared for a job evaluation and salary administration program.

An ordinance appropriating funds for a job evaluation and salary administration program for the City of Conway.

And an agreement with Energy Systems Group and ordinance authorizing the execution and delivery of a guaranteed efficiency savings performance contract for the purpose of arranging for certain energy system upgrade at city facilities.

(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached by e-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1238. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)