Public works committee forwards five sidewalk easement and utility resolutions to council

The Jonesboro Public Works Committee recommended that the City Council consider five resolutions: four authorizing the city to accept permanent construction easements to construct and maintain sidewalk improvements on Wood Street (resolutions 25-039, 25-040, 25-042 and 25-043) and one requesting that City Water and Light provide free utilities to city-owned property at 1700-1 East Washington Avenue (resolution 25-045). All five items were forwarded to the full council without recorded roll-call tallies.

Details in the resolutions as introduced: - Resolution 25-039: Accepts a permanent construction easement at 1507 Wood Street (described in the draft as containing 808 square feet). The mayor and city clerk are authorized to accept the easement, and funding is from the capital improvement budget. - Resolution 25-040: Accepts a permanent construction easement at 1503 Wood Street (described in the draft as 3,183 square feet) for a purchase price listed in the draft as $3,183; the draft states the offer has been made and accepted and that funding will come from the capital improvement budget. - Resolution 25-042: Accepts a permanent construction easement at 1511 Wood Street (described in the draft as 1,227 square feet); funding from the capital improvement budget is noted in the draft. - Resolution 25-043: Accepts a permanent construction easement at 1505 Wood Street (described in the draft as 875 square feet); funding from the capital improvement budget is noted in the draft. - Resolution 25-045: Requests that City Water and Light provide free utilities to the city-owned location listed as 1700-1 East Washington Avenue; the draft states the city affirms the ultimate use is a governmental or proprietary function under state law.

Resident Patty Lack asked why offer amounts differed among the properties and noted the four easements are on the same side of Wood Street; the committee replied that differences likely reflect property size and price-per-square-foot calculations. Patty Lack: "So 1 must be a lot bigger than the other 1? Yes. Okay. Thank you." The committee made individual motions and seconds to forward each resolution to full council; each passed in committee and will be placed on the council agenda for final action.