Norphlet’s city council gathered for its monthly meeting on Monday, March 8 at town hall.
The meeting began with several city department reports courtesy of Norphlet Mayor Jim Crotty.
The first report was for the Water and Sewer Department. Crotty explained work that was done on several leaks in the city.
“We were lucky [with the weather], we didn’t have anything freeze… In the middle of it we had a leak. It was out in a creek and [we] shut it off and had to get down in the creek and fix it… We had another leak in a creek this past week on Steel Road and replaced 15 feet of PVC. We had to order some adapters to go from clay pipe to PVC, now we’re letting it dry out and will fit it in,” Crotty said.
Crotty also gave a report on the ongoing city project of replacing water meters.
“We are replacing meters. We probably have 30 or so changed out and, weather permitting, we’re going to get started and get most of them by summer. We have around 300 to do,” Crotty said.
The next report given was for the Street Department. Crotty told the council about several upcoming projects.
“We have a few places at the intersection of Front Street and Pure Street where eventually we’ll have to dig it out and put new culverts in. I’m going to wait until mid-summer where we can get everything ready. A couple have collapsed and I can see a couple of small holes in the middle of the road. I did talk with the county ditch diggers who have that trencher… We can work something out with the county to clean ditches one or two days a week as soon as it dries out,” Crotty said.
Crotty also informed the council about a letter from the State Aid Street Committee informing the town it has been selected for funding on a repaving project for sections of Ball Street, North Texas and Cary Lane Road for $300,000.
The council next voted unanimously to accept the monthly financial report as well as the annual financial report for 2020.
Following department reports, the council discussed two bids presented by Crotty for the proposed project of refurbishing the former Mason Lodge located at 101 N. Vineyard in Norphlet.
The city now owns the building and has put “about $15,000” into exterior repairs currently, according to Crotty.
The proposed project calls for the building to be refurbished and turned into a community center and town museum with memorabilia particularity from the pre-consolidation Norphlet School District.
Crotty presented two bids for interior refurbishment work in the building. The first bid was for $23,600 from B&B Mechanical and the second bid was for $20,900 from Advanced Home Care.
“I think we can say $25,000 total [for the project] and I think we could get $10 or $15,000 in donations within a year,” Crotty said.
“I fully think we should do it. There’s so much history here… There’s a lot of people who are interested in Norphlet and it means a lot, there are a lot of memories. I think it would be a good thing to pursue,” said council member Rebecca White.
Council members discussed further uses for the future community center including class reunions and other events.
“I love the idea and know my Dad would love the history aspect of it. But as a younger person, I’m thinking birthday parties and things for our younger community, for the kids. We have to make it inclusive or we couldn’t do it at all,” council member Chance Evans said.
The council unanimously accepted the bid from Advanced Home Care for $20,900.
The next Norphlet city council meeting will be on Monday, April 12.