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Mayor Copenhaver praises storm response, announces emergency medical dispatch rollout and Ridge Athletic Center groundbreaking
Summary
Mayor Harold Copenhaver on April 15 highlighted the city's response to recent storms, said the E911 team implemented emergency medical dispatch in March, announced assistance to nearby Hardy and Lake City, and noted the groundbreaking for the Ridge Athletic Center sports complex.
Mayor Harold Copenhaver used the April 15 Jonesboro City Council meeting to update the council and public on storm response, emergency dispatch improvements and local events.
Copenhaver said recent record-breaking storms tested the city's drainage system and staff. He credited city departments and crews for keeping waterways clear and said, to his knowledge, no primary structures suffered significant water damage. The mayor said the city will document any reports of flooded homes and is assessing additional improvements.
The mayor announced that in March the city's E911 team implemented an emergency medical dispatch (EMD) program that allows dispatchers to provide life-saving instructions by phone, including CPR, first aid and childbirth assistance. Copenhaver proclaimed April as Emergency Dispatcher Week and said the city held recognition activities for the dispatch staff.
Copenhaver said Jonesboro sent resources to assist nearby communities after storms and flooding, naming Lake City and Hardy; he said the city would send crews to Hardy to help with cleanup because that city lacks the necessary equipment. He also recognized the work of Jonesboro first responders during recent events.
The mayor noted community cleanup efforts: the recent West End neighborhood cleanup collected more than 12 tons of trash and 144 tires. He also said the mayor’s youth advancement council has 99 enrolled students for the coming year and that a spring community fair was held at Northside Park.
On capital projects, Copenhaver said the city held a groundbreaking for a new sports complex, to be named Ridge Athletic Center (known locally as “the RACK”). He said the facility will include indoor competition gyms, swimming and diving, volleyball and outdoor swimming and predicted it would be the largest facility citizens have invested in; he reported that two buildings on the site had been demolished following the groundbreaking.
Copenhaver closed by noting opportunities for residents to sign proclamations in the lobby and by encouraging use of city parks as the weather warms. The mayor also reminded the public of a town-hall meeting scheduled Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Allen Park.
