The Wynne City Council has approved a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address drainage issues city-wide.
Wynne Mayor Jennifer Hobbs said she began talks with the Corps in 2019 soon after taking office.
“We were seeing a lot of flash flooding. We have for years,” Mayor Hobbs told KWYN. “I had started meeting with them to see if they could assist us in coming up with a plan. … We’re on the side of Crowley’s Ridge and water runs downhill. There’s nothing we can do to change that.
“We just want to know if there’s something engineer-wise that we can do to help alleviate some of the problems that we have across town.”
Mayor Hobbs said a drainage study is required before the city can apply for any grants to resolve any drainage problems. The estimated cost of the study is $300,000, and the city will be responsible for up to $150,000 of that amount.
In other news, the Wynne City Council approved repairs to the gate at the public works department; a resolution amending the 2023 general fund budget; a separate resolution adopting the miscellaneous general fund budgets for 2024; reviewed the 2022 legislative audit; and considered department reports.
Wynne Public Works
Public Works Director Jeff Hood said the department collected $3,043.50 for roll-offs (rental, hauling, disposal) during the month and picked up 400 cubic yards of leaves. A total of 465.2 gallons of gas and 2,475.7 gallons of diesel were used. The department hauled 546.32 tons of Class I and 173.66 tons of Class III to the West Memphis landfill at a total cost of $28,912.65.
Wynne Building Inspector
The building inspector’s office issued a total of 18 permits in January and completed 26 inspections. The office collected total receipts for the month of $3,493.64.
Wynne Fire Department
Fire Chief Kory Ward said firefighters responded to 82 incidents during the month, more than half of them were medical in nature.
Wynne Police Department
Police Chief Richard Dennis reported officers issued 82 citations, 255 warnings, and made 13 felony arrests during the month. Officers also responded to nine accidents, issued 125 warrants, and served 65 warrants. Total receipts for the month were $12,158.00 with the department using 1,467.5 gallons of gas.
