How will the Harkrider roundabouts affect traffic throughout the city?

Is the question Mayor Townsell and the four aldermen who approved the request from Hendrix College for a roundabout along Harkrider Street at Winfield and Siebenmorgen Road. In a decision that is destined to bring more apologies by city council members it’s doubtful that this was considered.

If you take a look at the map you’ll see that once these roundabouts are completed there will be no effective way to transverse through the city without using I-40 and/or Donaghey. We wonder if the State Highway Department figured that into its plan.

In studying the maps we see several problem areas that will occur, the interchange at I-40 & Hwy 65, the light at Hwy 64 & Hwy 65 (the Wal-Mart entrance), and the stretch of Hwy 64 in front of Lowes. More traffic in these areas will be an inevitable result and will be catastrophic for drivers in those areas.

If you feel as we do then make you voice known by contacting our state representatives (since Harkrider is a state highway). Tell them that we do not want our tax dollars used to pay for the wants of a college, ask them to intervene and kill the project at the state level. A contact list is provided below:

Rep. Betty Pickett
1903 College Avenue
Conway, AR 72034
Phone: 501-329-5862
pickettb@arkleg.state.ar.us

Rep Sandra Prater
9202 Sayles Road
Jacksonville, AR 72076
Phone: 501-988-0695
praters@arkleg.state.ar.us

Rep. Robbie Wills
Phone: 501-730-4677
willsr@arkleg.state.ar.us

Rep. Preston Scroggin
59 Marshall Road, South
Vilonia, AR 72173
Phone: 501-796-8710
scrogginp@arkleg.state.ar.us

Senator Gilbert Baker
17 Cooper Lane
Conway , AR 72034
Phone: 501-327-8653
bakerg@arkleg.state.ar.us

The Vote was 5 to 4

Recently we told you about the proposed roundabouts on Harkrider at Winfield and Siebenmorgen Roads, now we found out how the voting laid out. Voting for were aldermen Andy Hawkins, David Grimes, Adam Weeks, and Jack Bell; voting against were aldermen Sandy Brewer, Mary Smith, Theodore Jones, and Shelia Whitmore. In what was said to be a very heated discussion Mayor Tab Townsell cast the deciding vote to approve this request.

As we understand it this project is still in the planning stages but has already received the go ahead from the Highway Department. In researching roundabouts in the United States we have found that some work very well while others have failed miserably, it all hinges on the design and application of them.

Roundabouts USA, a company for the creation of roundabouts, list the appropriate conditions for roundabout installation as well as the special design conditions that require special consideration, they write,

Appropriate conditions for roundabout installation:

· Locations with high delays
· Locations where traffic signals are not warranted
· Four-way stop intersections
· Intersections with more than four legs
· Intersections with high left-turn flows
· Intersections with unusual geometry
· Intersections with changing traffic patterns
· Locations where storage capacities for signalized intersections are restricted
· Intersections that are important from an urban design or visual point of view

The following conditions require special design attention and hiring an experienced designer:

· Locations where there is insufficient space for an acceptable outside diameter.
· Locations where it would be difficult to provide flat (2% or less) entries into the roundabout.
· Maximum grade greater than 4% around the circle,
· A high number of pedestrians, a high percentage of large trucks, intersection junction at the top or bottom of a grade, and the close proximity of adjacent signals..

In the roundabouts proposed by Hendrix College we see only one appropriate condition, aesthetic. The whole rationale for this project is to beautify the campus and to make it more pedestrian friendly. The latter is not what roundabouts are designed for and is one of the pitfalls that require special attention to design.

We have found a roundabout design that will closely resemble the finished project; at least it should considering how it has been described. Clearwater Beach Florida has had a roundabout for quite some time now and according to the local press it has been hailed as a two-lane circle that is more of a demolition derby than traffic control noting that they have nearly one accident a day. In a St Petersburg Times report last year it was noted that after 5 years it’s finally starting to grow on people.Take a look at these pictures and try to imagine driving down Harkrider with two of these in your path. That is if you even make it there after having to wait in line as traffic piles up at the yield signs and/or accidents that will occur.

We have to say that this is an issue that needs to be rethought especially since it is not needed for traffic management.

More departures at the Log Cabin Democrat

A reader of our blog sends us this message about more departures from the Log Cabin Democrat.

An update from the LCD, gone since your update - Business
reporter Rob O'Conner leaving at the end January and photographer Tony Reyes leaving Jan. 4 to go to the NW Arkansas Times in Fayetteville.

Jan. 2005 Staff

Managing Editor - David Keith(Gone - left without job)
Replacement: TBA

City Editor - Becky Harris (Gone - Went to work for ILS)
Replacement: Rumor is they have hired someone from a weekly in NW Arkansas

Assistant City Editor - Colleen Holt (Still there)

Lead Designer - Dean Wheeler (Gone - Fired in cost saving move)
Replacement: Krissie Files (Gone - to Hot Springs paper)
Replacement: on staff since Oct. 1

Page designer: Nick Walker (Gone: to Ark. Dem-Gaz).
Replacement: 20-year-old with no newspaper experience.

Reporter: Kevin Jones (Gone: went to become editor of the Trucker Magazine in LR)
Replacement: December grad of UCA.

Reporter: Tammy Keith (Gone - left without a job):
Replacement: TBA

Reporter: Rob O'Connor (Leaving at the first of the year):
Replacement: ?

Reporter: Rachel Parker (Still there)

Reporter: Kody Ford (Gone - job in NW Ark.)
Replacement: Jeremy Glove(Still there)

Reporter: Jennifer Thomsen (Gone - Fired in cost-cutting move.):
Replacement: Position eliminated.

Lifestyles editor: Carol Rolf (Still there)

Sports editor: Philip Seaton (still there)

Sports columnist: David McCollum (still there)

Sports desk (Part-time position): Chris Murray (still writes but not desk):
Replacement: TBA

Photographer: Tony Reyes (Leaving in January):
Replacement: TBA

Photographer: Landon Kramer (Gone - went into insurance in NE Ark.):
Replacement: part-timer.

As a citizen of Conway, We should be concerned that the corporation that owns the LCD keeps taking from the community and not giving us much back in return. It seems to get worse. It looks like the newspaper industry is going to fall victim to corporate greed.

Remember when radio stations used to have a local flavor and actually give local news updates and actually break in during severe weather and let you know what's going on. Corporations take over and bam, you get computer fed crap. Just ask those people what they were listening too when they were driving down the interstate during the tornadoes the first of December. I am sure they were getting local weather updates. Not.Thanks to people not caring about radio that's what happened.

Newspapers are heading down the same road. Get ready for it! It's
Coming . . . spoon fed crap from large corporations. . . Yuck!

"It's Coming . . .Spoon fed crap from large corporations"
Some would agrue that it is already here...

Here we go Roundabout the mulberry bush

Special interest priorities win out again as mayor Townsell cast the deciding vote approving two new roundabouts that will have a dramatic affect to Harkrider.

Recently we told you about the mayor’s apologetic letter to the city’s police and fire departments for cuts to their budgets due to an 'unhealthy' cash reserve. Mayor Townsell said,

Of course, I took hard line with any new expenses and the departmental budgets took a pounding. Fire Department had it new people gutted. Its new medical testing program was dropped as well as the paramedic effort and most capital. Police was also lost their six new officers, two new motor cycle cops and cycles, four of eight requested squad cars and four of six requested detective cars. That police total alone is right at a half a million dollars. CEOC's requested dispatchers were all cut. Overtime was trimmed to lower levels for the major departments and will have to be managed during the year by those departments. Planning and permits were left at current levels but they have need of more resources - people and otherwise. No new personnel changes were recommended this year. None! It was a budget that left a lot intact but crimped expansion.

Interesting to note is the CPD total cut from its requested budget is about the same amount of money the city will be out for the roundabout. But this will not be all the city will have to cough up to fund this dream plan for the Hendrix campus. More money will be tossed at this enormous project that will benefit mainly the school.

In September the Log cabin reported the next phase of the college's plan will be the construction a new Wellness and Athletics Center with a 400-meter cushioned track that will be lighted and include artificial turf infield.

Once again we see the Mayor and the city’s aldermen’s thirst for new development while ignoring the necessities of public safety and security. Not to mention the shear traffic headaches that this roundabout will cause as motorist find alternate routes around this pending debacle.

We have nothing against Hendrix College and its visions of expansion as long as it doesn’t adversely affect the everyday life of the people of Conway and Faulkner County. This project however does and needs to be presented to the public of a vote. Besides isn’t the city’s time and money better spent insuring the safety and security of all its citizens and not simply that of a select few? Kudos to Alderman Sandy Brewer and the others who voted against this project, although we don’t know who they are.

Note to LCD reporter Rob O’Connor, thanks for the apparent reading of this blog, its nice to see that one day after noting the lack in running a story about the 14% increase in sales tax revenue you seen fit to address that issue. Now if you could just print who votes for and against issues before the council, some of your readers might find this information important.

I say we make Alderman Brewer an honorary Black Dog for his efforts…

A dismal turnout. . .

The city of Conway got one of its Christmas wishes early this year as voters narrowly approved the re-bonding issues in yesterday’s election. In what can only be described as a dismal turn out the votes were as follows:

Conway Tax, Question 1
100% Reporting
For, 1,341
Against, 1,001

Conway Tax, Question 2
100% Reporting
For, 1,331
Against, 978

Conway Tax, Question 3
100% Reporting
For, 1,366
Against, 944

It’s really hard to say what caused the people’s apathy about this issue, Vivian, a local forum member, says, "One precinct worker told me that hers had 1200 registered voters, and as of closing time, 69 voters had voted. The one next to her had 30. That is really sad and we should be ashamed of it." One could speculate it had something to do with timing of the publication citing extreme budget cuts. If that were the case then the Mayor and his staff deserve a round of applause for intimidating and misleading the voters to the point of apathy.

But the city got what they wanted, a "new" tax with more money to spend. As Hula, another local forum member put it,

More money to spend, but we are always broke,
More promises, but we are always broke,
More taxes, but we are always broke,
More houses built, but we are always broke,
More un-necessary street projects done, but we are always broke,
More citizens, but we are always broke,
More shopping, but we are always broke,
More shooting range, but we are always broke,
More CALEA, but we are always broke,
More shotguns, but we can't find the others.

We will have to wait and see if the city’s leaders live up to this assertion when it comes time to beg for more taxes as hint at by Mayor Townsell.

Make your voice heard

Today is the day to exercise your right to vote. On the ballot are several bond issues that will affect us all. We have told you how we feel about the tax rededication for the city of Conway, now is the time to let the city’s governing body know how you feel. Get out and vote if you haven’t already.

Does anyone else find it odd that Mayor Townsell swears up and down that the tax rededication has nothing to do with the upcoming budget for 2006 then has the LCD publish only the budget bad news the day before the vote? I don’t remember seeing the 14% increase in sales tax revenue in the LCD, do you? Is the publication of the apparent budgetary woes just simply blowing smoke up our nether region to get the rededication voted in? It does make one wonder, doesn’t it.

On another note, added to the Blog is a form to email us your thoughts. Entering your name and email address is strictly optional. Look for it on the right hand side below the weather module. We are still working on the ability to allow files to be send via this form and will let you know when it’s completed.

Don’t forget to get out and vote, make your voice heard. . .

No new tax my eye. . .

Who is Mayor Townsell trying to kid in his media push for a rededicated tax touting “A way to fund city work with no new taxes”. Sure it’s true the tax is already being collected but that will end in three years however the rededication will extend that tax for another 10 years so this tax will be “new” for the extra 7 years.

Speaking of new taxes did any of catch Mayor Townsell’s hint at future new taxes the may be put on the table in 2006? In his memo Townsell says,

Other sources could be explored. Planning and permitting fees can be looked at so that new development can pay fees that cover the operational costs to the city to regulate that new development. Certainly, in boon years like we've had, building and development fess should pay these costs - not street and roads but salaries and operational budgets. Business licenses could be considered, Liquor taxes, etc. Nothing though can be counted just yet but may in 2006.

While most of these “other sources” of revenue are aimed at new development there is the hint that other new taxes will be asked for in the real near future.

One has to wonder though why the city is already collecting these fees for new development and use them to help fund the projects slated for the new tax, after all the new development in these “boom years” help create the need for these projects. But instead of doing what the Mayor is hinting at we are asked, even pleaded with, to extend a tax for 7 extra years.

It’s really a matter of priorities, for years the city has seen phenomenal growth yet very little has been done for the city’s infrastructure. Now we are being asked to fund their neglect with a new rededicate tax with hints to other new taxes planned. The city’s leaders need to get their priorities straight.

Weeks' doting narrative and Tab's memo

You may remember the publication of the various police reports and court orders in the matter of Alderman Weeks’ divorce that surfaced after his re-election in 2004. To recap Weeks escaped charges of alleged spousal abuse, many incidents of violation of a protection order, and an alleged charge of residential burglary in and around the time of his campaigning for office.

But in true good ol’ boy fashion that seems to plague our local government no criminal charges were levied and Alderman Weeks however the divorce court found him in contempt for violation of the protection order and kept that order in effect. This order forbids Weeks from being anywhere near his ex-wife and specifically names the campus of Hendrix College as one of the place he is not to be.

Many times in his official capacity Weeks has continued to violate this order as he has on this occasion. But instead of the profile reporter asking him why he was violating a court order we get a doting narrative into a “stay-at-home dad” who would do anything for a developer. The reporter goes on portraying Weeks as the loving father and mentions the alderman’s now 6 year old daughter, would this be the same daughter that, according to police reports, saw her father push past her mother while calling the mom a “F’ing C” as he allegedly stole items from their home in Dec. 2004?

Clearly this “interview” was just another campaign tool used by the Mayor and his crew to get the people to vote for the tax rededication. Recently we came across another tool used by the Mayor, intimidation.

In an email memo to Police Chief Randal Aragon and Fire Chief Bart Castleberry Mayor Townsell explains how he failed to deliver his end of an apparent understanding the three had together. Townsell says,

Randall & Bart,

I am sorry that I have put you in a bad position. You have followed through from our conversations and I didn't deliver all I said I was going to do. Obviously, I wanted the bad news now rather than later if I was going to fail to deliver.

Townsell goes on to explain how the city’s general fund reserves have dropped to under $1.5 million or less that 8% in the reserve, which led him and the finance committee to cut the departmental budgets. A loss in personnel and new equipment at both departments was the result of these cuts.

Townsell blames the apparent budgetary problems on the cost of the special census and a raid of the general fund for “economic development”. The bottom line being the City Council created the problem, if there really is one. Keep in mind the city has shown an increase in revenue due to a 10.5% and a 14% sales tax increase that would tend to negate the Mayor’s assertions.

But Townsell insists there is a problem and says that he can guarantee that major capital projects will never be funded if the rededication fails,

I CAN guarantee however that the major capital projects will not, can not be funded in the foreseeable future if the rededication fails. That guarantee will not fail in either good or bad budget years. The projects will not get done in any year.

In essence the citizens are being asked to pay for the city’s overspending on special interest projects designed to MAYBE bring in additional revenue or lose out on projects for our police and fire departments.

Here’s our suggestion, vote “NO” on the rededication and tell Mayor Townsell and the special interest loving Alderman to find a way to fund these projects or come election day we will find other representation.

I hate it when . . .

I hate it when you are just about ready to post an article and the power goes out.

At least I do all my composing in Word, it saves my work automatically. I'll have to wait until tonight to post it though.

Look for more on the Weeks interview along with more on the Mayor’s campaign for the rededication of the sales tax.

Lobbying for votes, isn’t the Governor currently in hot water for doing that in the upcoming highway bond vote?

More to come on this subject tonight. . .

Conway Alderman says he’d "bend over backwards" for developers

In an interview on the campus of Hendrix College, Alderman Adam Weeks told Profile reporter, Mark Hengel, that he would "bend over backwards" for developers looking to locate a business in downtown Conway.

Hengel caught up with Alderman Weeks at the Burrow on Nov. 13 while he was campaigning for the upcoming vote on a tax rededication that will cost Conway shoppers around $2 million per year for the next 10 years. The redirected tax revenue has been reported to fund a new police station east, to improve the city’s fire stations, and to improve the city roads.

The Log Cabin recently printed a small note that says Conway Fire Fighters Local 4016 support the rededication saying, “This sales tax rededication truly is the capital improvement workhorse for the Conway Fire Department.” No one can doubt that these departments do need the money and Conway’s roads could also benefit from additional revenue but do the shoppers and storeowners need to foot the bill when Conway has seen record increases in revenue the past two years?

Isn’t it time for Conway Mayor Tab Townsell and the City Council to stop the practice of “bending over backwards” for developers and focus the increased revenue already available to the needs of the CPD, CFD, and the city’s roads?

On Dec 13 lets send a message to the city leaders and vote to keep $14 million dollars in sales taxes for your future purchases from Conway merchants.

Voters asked for a sales tax rededication

On Dec. 13 th Conway voters will be asked to rededication an existing half cent sales tax that would fund improvements to police and fire departments. While the money to help these departments is needed one has to wonder is this tax rededication the best approach to meet this need.

This past Saturday, Dec. 3, KATV reported Conway tax revenue increased 14 percent this year and a 10.5 percent increase last year. With this kind of growth in the city’s tax base would it not be better to use the recent win fall to increase the budgets in these departments and to fund these improvements?

The current tax was originally projected to be paid off by 2013, but a growth in sales tax collection has shortened the pay out time to about 2009. If passed, the refinancing will extend the collection to about 2016.

Do Conway citizens really need to extend this tax another 7 years or would it not be better to use the revenue already available? The choice is up to you. . .

Winds of change

Talk on the local forum circuit has hinted big changes are on the way at the Log Cabin Democrat. For quite some time some of the LCD's readership have noted more and more "soft news" stories and a sometimes-convenient lack content at the local political level. One forum member says reading it makes him feel like he's reading a paper aimed at 9-year olds.

Rumor has it that the Stephens Media Group is looking to buy the LCD, the buy might involve taking possession of the LCD in exchange for turning over possession of some other news holding to the group which currently owns the LCD. Local forum member Alex Kienlen says,

If this package comes together it would put the LCD as part of a big push into the Sunday Paper advertising game by Stephens, to expand out later, as Stephens would be able to sell ads across all its news holdings.

This would put Stephens in holding papers in a ring around Little Rock as a zone play, with Sunday being the non-zone playday?

This coupled with more talked of some major employment turnover at the LCD this week and rumors of long time employees David and Tammy Keith leaving the paper would seem to bolster this idea.

Could this be true? Is change really on the way? Will the people of Conway and Faulkner County be singing praises at this apparent buy-out or will we curse the day when we begged for change?

Only time will tell. . .

Welcome to another Black Dog Society Project

What is the Black Dog Society?

The Black Dog Society is movement, if you will, for change. We the people of Conway have the power to put into office leaders that will respect and honor our views. It is not a negative movement but rather a positive one for the future of Conway.

How do I become a member?

If you have disagreed with anything the Mayor or City Council has done then you already are a member.

How can I help?

Currently we are putting ideas together but for now you can tell all your fellow Conway citizens of this site. If you want to donate you time or money, or you have some suggestions, email us at

black_dog_society@yahoo.com

Vive le revolution !