14 2020
THE POLK COUNTY
December 30, 2020
2020 in Review
Pulse
Weston honored Mena’s Benny Weston was recognized as Superintendent of the year and gave his acceptance speech and charge to the audience at the recent AAEA 2020 Superintendent Symposium. Closing the event was Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson who spoke to the state superintendents.
Project progress continues
Mena InterMountain Municipal Airport underwent many projects in 2020. Taxiway B paving operation was completed. Progress was hampered by rain, labor shortages attributable to Covid-19 and a heavy backlog of other construction projects throughout the state facing the same obstacles. Taxiway B is now near completion. PAPIs, a navigational aid, have been moved and additional work includes taxiway lighting at the intersection, striping and drainage work .
Hatfield Solar Garden Goes Live! The solar garden project for the City of Hatfield has been completed and is now operational. Hatfield Mayor Linda Deaton reported the energy that is generated by the solar garden will power the city’s library, City Hall, the Hatfield gym and auditorium, the Hatfield city shop and the Hatfield volunteer fire station. The project did not cost the City of Hatfield anything to construct. Mayor Deaton said the city entered into a lease/purchase agreement. The solar garden was designed and installed by AREA Solar, Inc. The basic lease agreement will take 15 years to complete then the solar garden will be the property of the town of Hatfield. Deaton stated they started working on the project in January, but due to a wet winter and the COVID-19 pandemic, the project wasn’t completed until April 17th.
