Sunday, January 23, 2011

Excellent plan completed in 2005 could have reduced flooding in the Town Branch Neighborhood, but it was rejected by growth-oriented officials of the University of Arkansas and now school officials are expanding Fayetteville High School in a way that may make the problem worse

Please click on individual images to ENLARGE view of sample pages of the plan prepared at considerable expense by cooperating organizations. Several good plans were drawn but ignored.
The main reason for the downstream flooding is apparent in the photos below illustrating how much water rushes down the campus tributary of the Town Branch of the West Fork of the White River.
The solution is to remove parking lot 56 and use the absorbent soil that, before paving and construction, allowed runoff to soak into the ground where is fell.


The total-marsh concept was the one that could have made the most difference. But restoring a large former prairie to something like its previous watershed-protecting state wasn't on the UA plan.
 The UA provided much of the expertise that went into the planning process, but the UA athletic department destroyed the existing housing and built more athletic facilities and parking spaces in the area, preserving only a portion of the land for tailgating parties and protecting some absorbent soil but maintaining it as lawn rather than encouraging native wetland plants to help cleanse runoff and decrease runoff. Adjacent street and most surface runoff from the hills to the east, west and north continues to be piped directly into the Town Branch. Beaver Lake, Northwest Arkansas' main source of drinking water, is the final recipient of that unfiltered water.
For a copy of the whole plan as a book or on a CD, contact the University of Arkansas' Community Design Center.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Minutes of November 2010 meeting of RNCIC plus announcement of upcoming meeting January 8, 2011

REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORPORATION

PO Box 4221
Fayetteville, AR 72702



Vice-President Ron Butler called the meeting to order at 10:30.

Recited Pledge of Allegiance

Harold Crivello offered the prayer



OLD BUSINESS

1. Beverly Swaim moved, 2nd Harold Crivello the approval of the minutes. Minutes approved.

2. The Financial Statement was presented and an update on all donations given. Beverly Swaim moved 2nd Lorna Sterrett approval of the statement as presented. Motion passed.

3. Jeremy Johnson with UA student Veterans will be helping distribute brochures at Chili’s.

4. Discussed 5K run fundraiser. Beverly Swaim reported on donations for “goody bags”. Ron Butler reported recruiters are also donating items for the goody bags. Wesley Stites reviewed race day needs: registration help, 3-4 people, water point setup/support, 3 6’ tables and chairs for tables, driver for pickup of stragglers.


NEW BUSINESS

1. No new business presented.



ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Everyone please take a few minutes to write a letter to the editor regarding the cemetery. Bring copies of your letter to the next meeting. IF WE DON’T DO THIS, WE WILL BE IN THE SAME SHAPE NEXT YEAR.

2. The VSO office is located on the County South Campus close to the jail. Everyone feel free to stop by and see the new location. They are there to help all veterans

3. Memorial Day 2011 planning meeting will be held Saturday, October 16th at 10:00 a.m. at the AL.



The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m.



Respectfully submitted,





Peggy McClain, Secretary





NEXT MEETING Jan 8, 2011 10:30 a.m. at the Fayetteville American Legion Post 27