Benton to Consider $16K Historic Downtown Grant during May 12th meeting

Benton’s Community Services Committee will meet Tuesday night to discuss accepting an additional $16,000 grant to help fund a historic district survey project after bid costs exceeded the original grant amount.

The meeting begins immediately following other committee meetings that start at 5 p.m. at Benton City Hall, 410 River Street.

The Benton Community Services Committee will meet Tuesday, May 12, 2026, in Council Chambers at Benton City Hall, 410 River Street. The meeting is scheduled to begin immediately following other committee meetings that start at 5 p.m.

Committee members include Chair Evelyn Reed, Vice Chair Ann Spencer-Cole, and staff liaison Jason Lyon, Director of Community Development.

The primary item on the agenda is consideration of an ordinance and resolution related to the city’s Certified Local Government (CLG) Historic District grant project.

According to meeting documents, the City of Benton previously received a $17,000 grant through the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (AHPP). This grant was to be used to complete an Arkansas Resources survey of the Historic Downtown District and provide training for one Historic District Commissioner. The Benton City Council accepted that grant in 2026 through Resolution 13 of 2026.

City officials later issued a formal request for bids for the survey work. However, proposed costs exceeded the original grant amount. The AHPP subsequently amended the grant award to provide an additional $16,000 to cover the project costs.

The proposed resolution before the committee would:

Accept the amended CLG grant award in the amount of $16,000,
Approve a contract award for the downtown historic district survey,
Amend the city’s FY2026 General Fund budget by increasing revenues and expenditures by $16,000,
Authorize the mayor and chief financial officer to execute related documents and accounting actions.

The name of the contractor and final contract amount had not yet been inserted into the draft resolution included in the agenda packet.

The agenda notes there are no April 14, 2026 meeting minutes for approval.

Under other business, committee members will review the April Development Review Committee monthly report.

The meeting agenda also includes discussion items and adjournment.

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