MonticelloLive

     Another month has come and gone.  I’m even more appreciative that we’ve been spared the heavy rains after last Monday. 

     On that day I had to attend a Floodplain Management training session in Little Rock.  This class is required annually.  I had missed the Monticello session because it was scheduled during the Washington trip.  My other choices were sessions in Little Rock or Rogers.  I chose Little Rock.
     The class was scheduled from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., so it was a long day!  However, we were shown many pictures of the flooding at Hardy, AR, a couple of weeks ago to illustrate infractions of floodplain regulations and their consequences to private property. It was disheartening. 
     If you are buying or building, I’d encourage you to check floodplain maps and heed their recommendations.   Eastern Arkansas has had some dire problems and more may be in store.  We have been fortunate.
     Tuesday began with early trips to check the courthouse heat and then the shop.  I returned to the courthouse for the privilege of “swearing in” Mr. Reginald Glover after his reappointment to the Board of Visitors at UAM.
     Then I attended a disaster preparedness meeting at the National Guard armory. 
     The afternoon was busy in the office with routine office tasks and calls.  I also spent some time pouring over the floodplain maps.  
     Wednesday began at the courthouse and shop before going to Campground Loop
Road to check a huge beaver dam. 
     Returning to Monticello I attended the Southeast Arkansas Regional Library Board quarterly meeting.  (I missed the Farm Family meeting as both were scheduled at the same time.)
     At lunch I attended the monthly Drew Memorial Hospital Board meeting.  Reports and other business matters were handled.
     The rest of the day was filled with office work.
     Thursday began as usual.  Then I helped move a truck from S. 16th Section Road to the shop.  There we picked up one that had a flat fixed and moved it to Hwy 133.  The rest of the morning was filled with chores at the courthouse.
     Thursday afternoon I attended the Arkansas Biofuels Conference hosted by Congressman Mike Ross at UAM.  The meeting was formatted as a panel discussion with presentations relating to biochemical conversions to ethanol, management economics and the role of UAM’s Forest Resource Center in the field, biodiesel production already undertaken in Arkansas, issues in sourcing a biorefinery, and Range Fuels and their investments in the fledgling industry.  An interesting question and answer session followed.  The gist of the meeting was to encourage and enlighten Arkansans to become energy dependent.  
     Office work filled the rest of the day.
     Thursday evening we returned to hear Julian Bond’s presentation at UAM as part of the Rockefeller Lecture Series.  That, too, was interesting.
     Friday began by checking Longview Road and James Glennon Road, where we were putting more gravel down, and the widening on Old Warren Road.
     Then I returned to the courthouse to complete regular chores before leaving to attend a Delta Regional Authority meeting in Pine Bluff. 
     This meeting was held by the DRA to assess progress made, needs and proposals for “multimodal” projects in this part of the state.  Hopefully some good will come to the Intermodal Authority, highway projects and Yellow Bend Port from this meeting. 
     I returned to the courthouse to finish the day.
     Last Monday the grader operators bladed Florence Road, Tara Lane, Garnett Road, Ethel Lane, Mount Tabor Road, Brixie Road, Schultz Lane, Ken Lane, Ganderville Road, N. 16th Section Road, Wilmar Loop, Sanderlin Road, Stafford Road and Old Warren Road.
     Ditching was done and gravel spread on James Glennon Road.
     Widening continued on Old Warren Road.
     Green Hill Road was patched. 
     On Tuesday ditches were pulled on James Glennon Road, Gee’s Landing Road, Ben Loveless Road and Jones Loop.  James Glennon Road and Gee’s Landing Road were graded.  SB2 was hauled.  
     Shoulders were pulled on South Allis Road, Dickson Road, Sullivan Road and Boston Road.  Roads and pipes on other routes were checked.
     Four Mile Creek Road was bushhogged. 
     A bridge was replaced on Collins Line Road with a 42-inch pipe.  A pipe was unloaded on Florence Road. 
     Patching was done on Old Warren Road, Green Hill Road, South Wilmar Road, Florence Road and Jose Chapel Cutoff Road.
     Wednesday saw Loafer’s Lane, Puncheon Creek Road, Darnell Lane, Piney Creek Road, Selma Collins Road, Hayden Loop and Rabb Road graded.  Gravel was spread on James Glennon Road.
     Shoulders were pulled on Boston Road, Pleasant Springs Road and Garnett Road.
     Trees were pushed from Green Hill-New Hope Road.  Gravel was hauled.
     Beaver dams were cleaned on Campground Loop Road.
     North Grace Road and Old Military Road were bushhogged.
     Patching was done on Florence Road, Jose Chapel Cutoff Road and Jose Chapel Road.
     On Thursday Four Mile Creek Road, Grace Loop, Grace Road, Wilmar Loop, Barkada Road, Sanderlin Road, Dickson Road and South Allis Road were graded.
     Ditching was done on Longview Road and gravel spread.
     Some asphalt was laid on Valley Junction Road and Goose Hollow Road.
     Lucas Lane, N. 16th Section Road and South 16th Section Road were bushhogged.
     Selma Collins Road, Ables Creek Road, Loggy Bayou Road, Old Hwy 65 and streets in Tillar were patched. 
     Friday saw Loggy Bayou Road, Old Hwy 65, Young Lane, S. 16th Section Road, Old Warren Road, Stafford Road, Avery Road, Mack Hood Road and Cottonwood Lane graded.  Gravel was spread on James Glennon Road.  
     Widening on Old Warren Road continued.  SB2 was hauled.
     Hoover Lane, Wilson Lane, Old Hwy 13, Vincent Lane, Campground Road, Plantersville Road and West Mount Zion Road were patched.
     That concludes this week’s report.  Please remember to help keep Drew County beautiful!
     Have a great week!!