Cherokee Village council approves state aid for Flathead Drive repairs

The Cherokee Village City Council voted Dec. 19 to approve Resolution No. 2024-18, authorizing the city to utilize State Aid Street Program funds for work on Flathead Drive. Council Member J. Tatum moved to approve the resolution; Council Member R. Tatum seconded, and a roll-call vote recorded five yes votes — Harrison, R. Tatum, Thompson, Ishmael and J. Tatum — approving the measure.

The resolution expresses the city’s willingness to participate in the state program and use state street monies for the Flathead Drive project. The council did not specify a construction timeline or detailed project budget during the meeting; Mayor Rose said in her report that Arkansas Department of Transportation engineers plan to close the northern bridge and the Flathead Drive/Cherokee Road intersection beginning June 1, 2025, for a period similar to the other bridge work. The council did not vote on the ARDOT schedule itself; the mayor presented it as informational context for local planning.

Votes at a glance: the council also approved the meeting agenda (motion by Council Member Ishmael, seconded by Council Member Thompson) and approved the Nov. 21, 2024 minutes (motion by Council Member Thompson, seconded by Council Member Ishmael); both passed with five yes votes. The meeting adjourned following a motion by Council Member J. Tatum, seconded by Council Member Ishmael.

Next steps: the resolution authorizes the city to pursue State Aid Street Program funds; staff or project managers must still present specific contract approvals, bid documents or project schedules before construction begins. The mayor’s statement about the June 1, 2025 closure indicates local traffic impacts will be coordinated with ARDOT and returned to the council or staff for implementation details.