Even-odd schedule to remain voluntary
Posted on Tuesday, August 8, 2006
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/38188/
BENTONVILLE — After Tuesday night, residents won’t have to fear losing their water meters because the Bentonville City Council has no plans to make an even-odd watering schedule mandatory.
However, the City Council still has the option to make it so if residents don’t keep up with voluntary conservation measures.
At Monday’s meeting of the council as a Committee of the Whole, Mayor Terry Coberly said residents have done a good job of listening to her requests.
“ When the citizens of Bentonville understand what the problem is, then they pitch in and help. I don’t think we have to go to mandatory if people keep doing what they’re doing, ” she said.
In July, Coberly and Rogers Mayor Steve Womack urged residents to observe the voluntary schedule, in which those with even-numbered addresses would water their lawns on even-numbered calendar days, and those with odd-numbered addresses would water their lawns on odd-numbered calendar days.
When the city peaked its usage last week, topping more than 28 million gallons in one day, both mayors decided to bring language to their water conservation ordinances that would make the schedule mandatory.
While the Bentonville City Council is still expected to approve the amendment, a move to mandatory conservation isn’t likely.
After the meeting, City Utilities Director Britt Vance said he’s been making the rounds in Bentonville and asking businesses to observe the voluntary schedule.
The city will vote on the amendment at its regular meeting at 6 p. m. today in the council chambers.
The council also discussed the following items:
• Approval of the 2007-2011 Capital Improvements Plan — Coberly noted that recently approved impact fees for the city’s Parks and Library departments were not included because they had not been approved when the CIP was completed. Alderman Rod Sanders requested that improvements for concession stands in Memorial Park be included, as well as improvements for concession stands in Phillips Park that are already included in the CIP. The CIP is scheduled to be on the council’s consent agenda for its regular meeting tonight.
• Making changes to the city’s sign ordinance to allow for scrolling, as well as multiple messages, in addition to a time and temperature stamp — Alderman Scott Comiskey reported that the pastor of a local church contacted him with concerns that his sign was in violation of the ordinance. The council decided to bring the ordinance to City Staff Attorney Camille Thompson to provide empirical data regarding the effects of flashing signs on traffic, as well as to change the language in the ordinance.