The Mountain Home City Council approved a rezoning request Thursday evening from Baxter Regional Medical Center (BRMC) that will allow construction of a new oncology facility adjacent to the current hospital campus.The vote was unanimous to approve the rezoning of the properties located at 704, 708 and 712 Broadmoor Street and 701 and 703 Long Street. The rezoning is effective immediately with the emergency clause enacted.Attorney Ted Sanders told the council an oncology facility would be constructed on the land that would house doctors’ offices and a clinic to be operated by Highlands Oncology, based in Northwest Arkansas. The facility will include all new equipment and bring additional cancer treatments to the area.The facility will replace the current cancer-treating services provided by CARTI (Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute), which will end its services to the area after completion of the new facility. Sanders also told the council that Drs. Dmitriy Zak and Bruce White will move to the new facility.
Sanders says construction on the facility will begin as soon as the houses currently located on the property are relocated.
The council voted 7-1 to approve a private club permit for Brick Oven Pizza Company of Baxter County, which will allow the establishment to serve hard liquor and cocktails, in addition to beer and wine, if approved for a liquor license by the Arkansas Beverage Control. The restaurant will be located at 1023 U.S. Highway 62B East, on the former site of the Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce.
In an effort to spark homebuilding in Mountain Home, the council approved a pair of resolutions presented by Mayor Hillrey Adams, which will wave fees for water and sewer tapping and building permits for new single-home construction. Adams told the council the move will allow a builder to save approximately $2,000 during construction. The resolutions will wave the fees for the next 18 months. New construction must still be permitted and inspected by the city.
The council approved authorizations for the Water & Wastewater Department to purchase a half-ton truck, a utility truck and lift station scada equipment. Funds for the items came from the capital R&R fund account.
In old business, the council heard the third reading of an ordinance addressing the removal or razing of a nuisance property located at 1207 Rossi Road, the former location of the Circle A Adult Mobile Home Park.
Property owner Jamie Mann addressed the council for a second time concerning his efforts to take steps to clean up the property. Council member Jim Bodenhamer complimented Mann on the recent efforts in cleanup and asked him about a plan that was mentioned at the second reading of the ordinance.
Mann informed the council he did not have a plan per se, but would continue his efforts to bring the property within code.
City Attorney Roger Morgan advised the council members they could pass the ordinance after its third reading, and he could give Mann more time by delaying the filing of a condemnation lawsuit. Morgan said that move would avoid the council having to repeat its three-reading process.
Bodenhamer moved to adopt the motion, but the council voted the item down with council members Bodenhamer, Jennifer Baker and James Whalen voting in favor of the ordinance and Bob Van Haaren, Paige Evans, Don Webb, Wayne Almond and Eva Frame voting against it.
Baker said after a brief period of time to allow Mann to make progress, the council should begin the process once more.
Council member Eva Frame told the media she will not seek reelection to her Ward 4, Position 2 seat this year.
“I’ve been honored to serve the citizens of Mountain Home as a council person for the past 11 years,” Frame says. “I will always be grateful I was given this opportunity.”
Frame adds, “I am excited to pass the baton on to the next candidate who has a passion for representing all citizens of Mountain Home.”
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