The city of Crossett approved the finalization of the 2022 budget at their latest meeting held on Monday, Feb. 27.
Crossett City Council members also heard from Trap Shooting Team Coach Colt Craig about adding a variance to an existing city ordinance so that the team would be able to practice in the open field east of the Scott McCormick Sports Complex.
After discussing details related to safety, as well as any potential obstruction of regular baseball practices, the council approved the variance.
The variance will allow the team to practice shooting their clay pigeons in the empty field east of the baseball fields on Sundays from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. every Sunday, under Craig’s direct supervision.
Parks and Recreation Department Head Jeff Harrison will continue to work with Craig to ensure the safety of all individuals who utilize the complex.
Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Mike Smith wanted to be sure that the city planned to notify the businesses near the complex that the practices would be starting up, to remove the potential for misinterpretations of the team’s shots being fired off.
One of the main concerns expressed by city officials is the potential for the citizens of Crossett to misinterpret the variance to mean that they are allowed to use that space for a purpose similar to the team’s; for example, engaging in their own shooting practice.
Such actions are still not legal for members of the public as the variance only extends to the Trap Shooting Team, and only during the specified time frame each week.
Craig emphasized that he does not want, under any circumstances, to interfere with the baseball practices and games that already occur at the complex.
Craig simply wanted to secure a safe place for the team to practice, as the location they used to use will no longer be available to them due to the landowner’s child ageing out of the program.
The appointment of the board members of the new A&P commission was also approved.
Mayor Crystal Marshall named Chris Gill, Dan Pevy, Alyssia Wise, Laura Huntsman, Jennifer Griffin, and Nick Adams to the board. Gill was also named as chairman of the A&P board.
Marshall said there were some residency requirements that they were working through with the Tru by Hilton representatives in order to name someone from that business to the board, but that she did not want to hold up the other appointments by waiting on that issue before proceeding with the other appointments.
The city also honored former councilman Cary Carter for his service to the city of Crossett during his tenure on the board.
Marshall said the city is “indebted” to Carter for the time he spent serving the citizens of Crossett as councilman.
The council also passed Ordinance 2023-2 regarding residency requirements for employees of Crossett Fire Department.
The council had discussed the ordinance at the January council meeting at the request of Crossett Fire Chief Bo Higginbotham. Attorney for the City of Crossett James Hamilton wrote the ordinance up as the council had previously requested; the ordinance took effect retroactively to Feb. 1 of this year.
