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MINUTES FOR THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETING ON APRIL 20, 2022
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STORMWATER MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Date:
April 20, 2022
Location:
Municipal Center
First Floor Conference Room
300 South Church
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Time:
8:30 a.m.
Opening:
In Attendance marked in bold
Members:
Susan Merideth
Jeremy Bevill
L.J. Bryant
Charles Coleman
Woody Freeman
Jeannie Gillis, Co-Chair
LaGanzie Kale
Clint Jackson
Jeff Steiling
Matt Taylor
Rick Wyatt, Chairman
Officials & Staff:
Harold Copenhaver - Mayor
Derrel Smith - Director of Planning & Zoning
Craig Light - Chief City Engineer
Roger Gibson - Stormwater Manager
Marvin Day, Craighead County Judge
Melissa Dooley - ASU
Pam Alexander, Keep Jonesboro Beautiful
Tracey Cooper - Secretary
Michael Morris, Engineering Department
Chris Rogers, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. via phone
Greg Baugh - 8:44 a.m.
John Easley - 9:02 a.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Wyatt called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes for the March 16, 2022 Stormwater Management Board Meeting
Motion to approve the minutes was made by Bryant and seconded by Freeman. The minutes were unanimously approved.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
With no one to discuss VR-01-22 present, Wyatt added VR-02-22 to the agenda and ask for discussion. Chris Rogers with Kimley-Horn explained he is asking for a variance for the filling of the ditch in front of a proposed Jiffy Lube at Parker Road and Harrisburg Road. The lot frontage there is an existing drainage ditch in ArDOT right of way on the south side of Parker Road that is in a floodplain. Filling of the ditch to meet city requirements would be a challenge. ArDOT plans to leave the ditch as an open channel and put sidewalks along the street.
The request is to leave the ditch open, regrade, and clean out the ditch.
Wyatt visited with Brad Smithee, his concern was the limited space in front and back of where improvements are going to be made, and there being no room for the sidewalk. The banks would be steep and hard to maintain. His opinion was enclosed the ditch and put sidewalk and curb or open ditch with no sidewalk and curb.
Light met with Rogers and ArDOT and one of the solutions was to raise the flow line of the existing ditch. This is not on the plans. Rogers stated that raising the ditch would pull up water and will cause water to back up. It could be raised maybe two feet but the ditch gets very flat. Raising it two feet the slope will still be 2:1. This does not address ArDOT’s concern with the back slope of the sidewalk they are proposing. Light questioned why a pipe could not be installed and filled over the top of the pipe and not all the way up. How much fill would it take to get to the 3:1 side slopes? Rogers answered four to five feet.
Bryant questioned if this variance should be delayed. Light stated the variance is to not pipe the ditch in. Bryant just wants to make sure other businesses aren’t impacted negatively. Light stated if the pipe was installed if would satisfy the City and ArDOT would get at 2:1 slope. Rogers stated they could do a hybrid pipe/ditch but it could not be fill to the top. Rogers ask if an additional variance would be, required if a pipe was installed along the frontage and filled a 1/3 of the way. Light answered no. Rogers stated they would work with the City regarding this option. Bryant made a motion to deny the variance for an open ditch. Freeman second. All vote aye. The variance was denied.
Greg Baugh stated he is asking for a variance to not enclose the side ditch along his property at 951 Scott Street. Baugh stated the lot is large and he wants to replat it to build two houses. He stated that the side ditch would not have to be enclosed if it served 100 acres or more. It serves 94 acres. He stated that enclosing the ditch would restrict the water flow instead of improving it. Baugh stated all of the frontage would be enclosed. Easley stated a triple 4x4-box culvert is required to enclose the side ditch at a cost of $320,000.00. Light stated the flow of the ditch is high because of the steepness of the terrain and he has concerns about putting anything on the lot because of safety issue. Light stated that the previous structure was not close to the ditch but if split one of the structures would located close to a ditch that carries a large flow of water. Bryant made a motion to grant the variance to not require the ditch to be enclosed based on the closeness to 100 acres. Coleman second. All vote aye. The variance was granted.
V. OLD BUSINESS
VI. OTHER COMMUNICATION
Steiling questioned if cleaning the ditch to handle more water flow was an option. Light stated he would have to build the section to be maintainable. Steiling ask if there is any leverage with ArDOT regarding enclosed structures in their right-of-way if they are torn out. His concern is requiring a developer to spend money to install something that will be torn out and not replaced. Light stated it is ArDOT’s general policy to replace all improvements that are torn out.
Wyatt stated the bus tour of drainage areas in north Jonesboro has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 18th. The Board will meet in the conference room for a short meeting and then begin the tour.
Wyatt stated he and Coleman met with the Mayor regarding a dedicated income stream for stormwater. Coleman stated he would like to get a list of projects from Light and schedule another meeting with the Mayor.
Wyatt ask if the City does any inspections outside of the City. Smith answered they could go as far as a two mile radius but they do not.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENTS
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Wyatt adjourned the meeting at 9:35 a.m.