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Minutes for the City Council meeting on August 5, 1996
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PUBLIC HEARING -5:30 P.M. - A public hearing was held to close a portion of Gordon Street, beginning 140 feet West of its’ intersection with Fourth Street and continuing west until its intersection with McClure Street and a portion of Word Street between Fourth Street and McClure. Attorney Jon Coleman, represented Arkansas Glass Container Corp. Attorney Coleman stated Allen Street had been paved by grant money, and McClure Street had the drain listed the benefits of having Arkansas Glass Container Corp. located in Jonesboro. The company has grown from 189 employees since 1986 to 450 employees in 1996 providing Jonesboro with extra jobs, extra revenue by an increase of 4.5 million dollars for goods purchased in Jonesboro, and Twenty-Five Million Dollars spent in Jonesboro for Capital Improvements. Attorney Coleman gave reasons for Arkansas Glass Container Corp wanting to close Gordon and Word, the first being safety. Mr. Coleman expressed the danger of pedestrian crossing due to three shift changes a day and traffic created by receiving trucks on Johnson as well as shipping trucks through Word Street. The second reason given for vacating these streets was for security purposes. It was explained insurance requires fencing for this area. By fencing the area it would prevent harm to citizens who might wander too close to a furnace which is heated to 2700° 24 hours a day. A fence would help deter vandalism and theft. In closing, Attorney Coleman explained Arkansas Glass Container Corp was actually located in the old Industrial Park area, surrounded by other Industry.
Several spoke in opposition to the abandonment. Mr. Dan Oswald presented a petition with several signatures opposed to the abandonment. He questioned Alderman Wise to the number of ambulance calls in this area, and the importance of response time in critical situations. Councilman Wise responded by saying he had made about four runs in t...
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