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Mayor Rose updates council on ARDOT bridge closure, fire ARPA funds and community volunteer work
Summary
At the Dec. 19 meeting Mayor Rose noted ARDOT plans to close a northern bridge and the Flathead Drive/Cherokee Road intersection starting June 1, 2025; she also reported the city passed its legislative audit and outlined fire department ARPA spending and Village Pride volunteer contributions.
Mayor Rose used the Dec. 19 Cherokee Village City Council meeting to provide several community updates, including infrastructure, fiscal and volunteer items.
On infrastructure, the mayor said Arkansas Department of Transportation engineers plan to close the northern bridge and the Flathead Drive/Cherokee Road intersection beginning June 1, 2025, and estimated the closure will last about the same time as the other bridge work. The mayor presented the schedule as information for local planning; the council did not vote on the ARDOT timeline.
On fiscal oversight, Mayor Rose reported the city received official notice from Legislative Audit that Cherokee Village passed the audit covering Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2023; the audit is posted on the city website.
On emergency services funding, Mayor Rose said the Fire Department had $232,944 in ARPA allocations, of which $210,047.59 has been spent, leaving a balance of $21,896.41. Chief Kai Dienst is waiting on a final invoice; the mayor said the remaining balance may be carried over into the 2025 budget as a fire-department ARPA line item.
Mayor Rose also acknowledged the Village Pride Committee’s 2024 volunteer contributions — including 356 maintenance hours, 216 beautification hours and 577 special-project hours across trails, parks and special events — and thanked volunteers for community work.
Department reports on file included animal control, community service, district court, planning and zoning and public safety. Chief Monte Lane of the Police Department reported donating a 2012 vehicle to the Arkansas Third Judicial Drug Task Force; the task force will repair and de-identify the vehicle, and the police department said proceeds contributed to a $5,000 grant to purchase new body cameras. Betty Stokes, Welcome Center director, delivered a year-end report noting 222 visitors (including one international visitor), souvenir sales and proceeds donated to the city for a new floor at the Cherokee Village Animal Control Office.
Mayor Rose concluded the meeting by recognizing Council Member Robert Smith and past Council Member Chuck Kristopeit for their years of service. The council adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
