The city of Hermitage announced two upcoming community events. The city will host a farmer’s market on May 19, June 2, June 16, and June 30 at the Hermitage Community Center. The event will be from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
There will also be a salsa festival on June 2. It will be at the same time as the farmers market. Hermitage Mayor Tonya Kendrix said this was new to Hermitage, but she received positive feedback about it. Vendors and food trucks will also be there.
The city received a $15,000 grant for the farmers market. The city of Hermitage will purchase $15,000 worth of produce from local farmers. At each farmer’s market, about $3,000 worth of produce will be given to anyone who shows up with no restrictions. The Cooking Matters class, from the Arkansas Children’s Hospital will be set up at the farmer’s market. They will use the local produce to cook for the class.
Mayor Kendrix reported the city was working the county hazard mitigation plan. The Disaster Response Team continued their storm training.
The city council received three bids for a Ford F-150 truck that was no longer used by the city. Lee Ford submitted a bid for $500. Michael Herring submitted a bid of $600. Bubba Gardner submitted a bid of $700. The city council approved to accept the bid from Gardner for the purchase of the truck.
Mayor Kendrix told the city council the city’s Easter egg hunt event was an “absolute success.” She said Survival Flight was not able to attend the event. She said they were in discussions to come back in June.
Mayor Kendrix also updated the city council the sewer expansion project. The sewer lines would be extended down Farmville Road and Myers Drive. The draft plans was submitted to the Arkansas Department of Health. The mayor said the engineer felt they were in a good spot to submit the project for approval.
The city of Hermitage was awarded $2,000 from the Blue and You Foundation. With the grant money, the city will purchase an automatic external defibrillator, first aid kits, and NARCAN kits. The kits will be given to the officers.
The Arkansas Department of Health will deliver 400 kits of COVID prevention supplies to the city to give out.
Hermitage Police Chief Ben Poole presented his report to the city council. The Hermitage Police Department reported 16 total arrests for the month of March. Several traffic citations were given including one speeding, four for running a stop sign, one with no driver’s license, and one for drinking on the highway. Other violations in the month were: one violation of the vicious dog ordinance, one no seat belt violation, one failure to use the turn signal, three minors in possession of a vape pen, one for criminal mischief, one for fleeing on foot, and one for shoplifting.
The Hermitage Fire Department reported they had one meeting and one training day. Four firefighters and one junior firefighter provided mutual aid to the Warren Fire Department at the Warren High School fire.
The Public Works Department stated the water and sewer department passed all Arkansas Department of Health requirements. They also reported that some street signs had been repaired or replaced.
The next city council meeting will be on Tuesday, May 17 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Hermitage Community Center.
