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Mountain Home’s Street Department has submitted its 2022 Year End Report to City Council. The report covers a full review of completed projects, current projects and all associated costs.
The report also details new equipment and vehicles purchased in 2022 by the Street Department. A total of four new construction vehicles were purchased throughout the year. New vehicle purchases have been difficult due to supply chain issues, and the department is still working to replace several of its older vehicles.
The department purchased a new dump truck for $104,522.35, a new cold plane miller for $448,000, a new backhoe for $49,537.60, and a second backhoe for $125,537.50.
The department was able to complete a trade-in deal for the first backhoe, resulting in a lower price. The department also purchased two solar message boards for $15,757.00.
Mountain Home’s Street Department had a busy year last year, doing work on many of the city’s parks alongside regular maintenance and several full street rebuilds. Here’s a breakdown of what the department accomplished.
Completed Projects
Copper Park Ballfield
Crews began construction at Cooper Park on April 6, 2022, to set and pour a new foundation and backstop at Cooper Park. That work was completed by May 13.
The project cost $10,002.34.
Ozark Avenue Extension
Last March, a 50-foot strip of land was purchased at the end of Ozark Avenue. Work began after the purchase to develop it into a connection section for the newly developed west end of Ozark Avenue. That strip of land now connects to North Cardinal Drive, where crews poured a new curb and sidewalk from Ozark to Arkansas Avenue. New curbs and gutters, along with new asphalt, was put in to connect both sections of Ozark Avenue for complete access from Commerce Drive.
The project was complete on Aug. 11. Costs for the project were $39,810.26.
Cooper/Louann/Demetree Rebuild
Design work for these rebuilds began in November of 2019, with construction beginning Sept. 1 in 2021. New drainage culverts, curbing, guttering, sidewalk and asphalt went into all three streets. The project was completed in Oct. of last year.
Total cost for these projects ran $667,956.29.
Keller Park Ballfields
Work at Keller Park began in Dec. of 2021. Street Department crews installed new culvert pipes around each ballfield to alleviate drainage issues in the fields. Concrete was also poured throughout the outer perimeter of the fields, making it convenient for walking, and increasing accessibility for handicap visitors to the park.
Concrete pads were poured for the bleaches, dugout floors and batting cages. The park also received new sidewalks. Concrete curb and guttering were also poured from the entrance of the park to the parking lot, which also received a fresh round of new asphalt.
The project was completed Oct. 13 of last year. This project cost $417,465.05.
Hickory Park Grant
Crews began work in Feb. to build a new driveway and parking lot for the city’s new all-inclusive playground. The driveway entrance/exit was built at the back of Hickory Park, off Dyer Street.
Crews also built a parking lot that features two islands to provide lighting for the lot. A concrete pad was poured for the park’s new bathrooms. Roughly 104 yards of concrete was poured during this project. Concrete steps were poured at the back of the new playground to connect with the rest of the park and new concrete barricades were built for safety.
The Street Department also installed six new horseshoe pits near the entrance at Dyer Street. Work was finished by Oct. 25. This project cost $336,234.21.
Overlays
Several streets throughout the city were contracted for overlays last year. Those include Barbara Street, Kathleen Street and Demetree Street. Spring Park subdivision had many of its streets complete, including Atkins Street, Bluemont Avenue, Sierra Drive, Woodcret Street, Spring Park Drive and Springwood Drive.
Crews also completed some shorter streets with cul-de-sacs, beginning at Richwood Drive and continuing with Madison Avenue, Ouachita Avenue and Newton Avenue.
This project cost $495,162.05.
Current Projects
McCabe Park
In 2015, the McCabe Family donated approximately 42 acres of vacant land at the west end of the 62/412 Bypass and Highway 62 West. The donation was designated for the specific use of a city park.
Since this generous donation was accepted by the City, the Street Department has installed new fencing for the proposed park, built and completed two entrance roads along with an access road to the three ponds that are on the property along with a parking lot.
New culvert pipe was placed along with curb and guttering, and sidewalks were installed along the roads. In 2020, a ½ mile walking trail was built and paved, in 2021, a 2,505-foot mountain bike trail was built in the wooded area south of the recreational trail.
Currently, the Street Department is waiting for approval from ARDOT to continue the walking trail/bike path to connect with the walking trail at ASU Mountain Home.
McCabe Park Trails/Bike Path Phase 2
The McCabe Park recreational trail continues to grow. In October, brush and trees were cleared beginning at the back side of McCabe Park at the mountain bike trail. This new clearing and project will be the continuation of the walking trail/bike path which will go to the 62/412 Bypass and continue to connect with Arkansas State University’s trail. Fencing was put up to separate the pasture and a 5-bay box culvert has been built at the creek.
The Street Department is waiting for contact from ARDOT for a scheduled pre-construction meeting to continue this project.
New Fire Department
Work began on November 2, 2020, at the new Fire Department location at Highway 62, west of County Road 28. Trees were taken down and piled, brush was burned, and crews have been hauling fill and rock to the site from various projects and from the street shop. The site is just about filled, and work will begin soon.
All expenses will be reimbursed to the Street Department by the Fire Department.
Clysta Willet Park 2022
This project began July 11 with a Street Department crew doing the same upgrades as the Keller Park project.
New drainage culvert was installed for proper ballfield drainage, concrete pads were poured for the bleachers, the dugout floors were formed up and poured back with concrete, as were the batting cages. Sidewalks were poured to make this park handicap accessible also. The crew had been pulled off this project until the turf was installed. Crews returned in Dec. to install more drainage culverts and finish up concrete work.
This project will be completed before the start of baseball season March 1, 2023.
Access Road to Community Center/Aquatic Park
On Oct. 20, the Street Department began working on the access road that will lead to McCabe Park’s new community center/aquatic park. The road was cut in down to the creek, rock and base have been placed and rolled to pack.
The construction crew has started building a 2-bay box culvert to cross the creek.
Russell Lane
Rebuild work began Jan.7, 2022, at the Breckenridge Subdivision starting with new drainage culvert, then pouring curb and guttering, and sidewalk. The construction crew worked their way to just past Driftwood Lane and completed that section of road, except for the new asphalt which will be put down when the whole project has been completed.
At this time, they are working from the curve on Russell behind Baxter Lab, putting in new drainage culvert, curb and guttering and a sidewalk will follow, ending at the intersection of Highway 201 North.
