Turrell mayor offers State of the City

Turrell mayor offers State of the City

Cooper reflects on two years in office

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The roads have been repaved. Litter is being picked up. The city has a new water tank. Ground has been broken on a new city park. Overgrown lots have been mowed and cleaned up. Children and adults are connected to the Internet and are checking out books thanks to a new library. And even dogs are on leashes now.

Those are just a few of the accomplishments which were highlighted by Turrell Mayor Dorothy Cooper in her State of the City Address to residents.

“A lot has been accomplished,” Cooper said. “I’m just extremely happy for the community. Turrell looks completely different in only two years time of being in office as mayor.”

Cooper said it was disheartening to see how her hometown had changed when she came back to live in 2011.

“Paper and trash was everywhere. Grass on vacant lots stood taller than the houses next to it. Stray dogs walked the streets barking at the human beings as they walked by,” Cooper said. “Crime and fighting in the streets were at an all time high and getting worse by the day.”

Cooper said she started by getting out each day and picking up litter on her own. Then, in 2011 God spoke to her about the need for a library in Turrell since the city no longer had its school.

After four years and over 50 meetings and being told no by officials, the library finally opened in November 2015. “Many adults since then have utilized the facility for seeking employment,” Cooper said. “Many children also have checked out books and now have a place to go after school two days a week.”

And after years of promising a group of young boys that she would get a basketball court built and trying to raise money on her own, the city broke ground on a new community park which was paid for through a state grant.

“It does my heart good to announce Turrell was approved for the $45,000 grant to build the very first community FUN Park,” Cooper said. “This is a total of $55,000 in grant funding that the city does not have to pay back. Excellent!”

The city’s water problems have also been resolved.

Cooper secured $201,500 for a pneumatic water tank, generator, and new parts for its well — $150,000 of which does not have to be paid back.

“One of the main problems the city was facing when returning in 2011 was the well to the water would shut down, sometimes days at a time leaving the city without water,” Cooper said. “Once in office I immediately began going to meetings with the powers that be across Arkansas seeking funding to fix the almost eight year old problem.”

Cooper also pointed out that the state spent $250,000 to overlay all of the city’s streets; 28 of 36 vacant lots have been cleared of tall grass; new apartments are being built; and that all of the city’s delinquent taxes have been paid.

“In fact, all of the city’s bills are being paid on time compared to when not when first coming to office,” Cooper said.

Looking ahead to the next two years, Cooper said the biggest challenge will be to fix the city’s sewer pond which is expected to cost about $500,000.

“I’m still working on it,” Cooper said. “I have met face to face with County Judge Woody Wheeless. He has been out. State Representative (Monte) Hodges has been out. Senator Ingram has been out. (U.S.

Senator) John Boozman and Congressman Rick Crawford have sent representatives

out. And also, I

spoke to the Governor when he was in Jonesboro about the situation as well. So I have spoken to all of our leaders and am doing the best I can. It is going to take a lot of money to get the pond fixed. I’ve learned to be patient. But we have got to get this thing fixed as quickly as possible.”

By Mark Randall