WYNNE — The city of Wynne has been awarded a grant through the Arkansas Department of Environmental Management for a retention pond to help with drainage in the city.
The Wynne City Council voted last night to hire Crafton Tull as the engineers for that project. Crafton Tull is also the company hired by the city to put in the road connecting Falls Boulevard and Lemons Street by Evolve Bank.
Wynne Mayor Jennifer Hobbs said part of the land being acquired by the city for the street will be used for the retention pond. The city has received up to $300,000 in grant funds for the project, which is estimated to cost around $400,000.
Mayor Hobbs said the pond will help alleviate flooding in the adjoining neighborhood and should also help to slow down flooding along Falls Boulevard, which can then extend into other parts of the city.
Hobbs said Wynne Public Works cleans out ditches regularly. However, some of the flooding is due to backed-up ditches in the county as well as the L’Anguille River.
In other news, the Wynne City Council approved a resolution to update the parks budget and an ordinance to lease and finance a roll-off truck. Mayor Hobbs said the lease is up on one of the city’s roll-off trucks in February. She said River City Hydraulics has approached the city about getting a new truck early. The price is expected to increase significantly in January. Hobbs said the city’s monthly payment is expected to go up about $25. The company has also extended the warranty for another six months.
Jerry Brewster, former Wynne Public Works director, also addressed the council, thanking the city for providing assistance to him in the city of McCrory following a storm last month. Brewster said the damage from the storm was similar to a tornado. He requested the city send a knuckleboom truck to assist in the cleanup, and the city was able to help out.
The monthly reports were also given for Wynne Parks & Recreation, Wynne Public Works, the Wynne Fire Department and the Wynne Police Department.
