The Carlisle City Council appointed longtime community volunteer Tina Hillman to fill a vacant council seat Tuesday, Aug. 18, while also moving forward with grant applications for park and wastewater improvements.

Hillman was selected from six people who submitted statements of interest in filling the Ward 1, Position 2 seat. The vacancy was created by the Aug. 5 resignation of Caleb Swears after he moved from Ward 1 to Ward 3. Under state law, council members must reside in the wards they represent.

Following an executive session, the council voted unanimously to appoint Hillman to serve the remainder of the term. She was immediately sworn in and took her seat for the remainder of the meeting.

Several of the applicants addressed council members before the executive session.

Hillman said she has lived and volunteered in Carlisle for more than 24 years. She has a degree in early childhood education and helped start and teach in the Carlisle ABC pre-K program. She currently serves as director of Shelby Senior Food Pantry, which she said serves more than 100 households of senior citizens.

Hillman also pointed to her experience securing grants, including funding for a new playground while she was a pre-K teacher.

“My goal is to support our community during this brief transition,” Hillman told the council. “I’m ready to jump in on day one and do the work needed to help finish ongoing projects.”

After being sworn in, Hillman thanked the council and praised the other residents who sought the position. She will serve the remainder of the term, which ends Dec. 31.

CITY PURSUES $1.5 MILLION WASTEWATER PROJECT

The council later approved resolutions needed to pursue two grants that city officials said together could provide $1.5 million for wastewater system improvements.

One application seeks $500,000 through the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program, while another seeks $1 million through a water and wastewater treatment facility grant program administered by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission. Officials said neither grant would require matching funds from the city.

The council unanimously approved resolutions authorizing the city to proceed with the applications. The $500,000 resolution authorizes the mayor to submit the application through the Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program. 

PLAYGROUND GRANT MOVES FORWARD

The council also approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a FUN Park Grant through the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Municipalities with populations of 7,500 or fewer are eligible to apply for grants of up to $100,000.

City officials said feedback received during a public hearing and through social media and emails led them to focus the application on improvements at City Park. The proposal calls for a separate play area designed for babies and toddlers.

Mayor Jon Plafcan said in an interview Thursday that the area would be fenced.

“There will be seating around that for the parents to be able to watch their children while they play. You’ll have older kids playing on the big equipment, as well as the little kids playing on the little equipment. So it’s just a safer environment for them,” Plafcan said.

The city has not previously applied for a FUN Park Grant, he said. The deadline to submit the application is Friday, Aug. 28.

CITY TAKES ACTION ON PROPERTIES

The council also approved a series of resolutions condemning properties around Carlisle that officials said had not been brought into compliance despite previous notices.

City Attorney Mike Stewart explained that after a property is condemned, the city can pay to clean it up and assess the cleanup costs against the property.

In another property matter, the council authorized Stewart to continue efforts to acquire an interest in a vacant property on East Lily Street near the city’s maintenance facility by redeeming $614.71 in delinquent taxes.

Officials said the property could be used to store gravel and other materials now kept on rented property elsewhere in the city. Moving the materials would place them adjacent to the maintenance facility.