At last night’s meeting of the Batesville City Council, the council unanimously voted to support the completion of the Future I-57. Currently known as Arkansas State Highway 67 that runs from I-40 at Little Rock northbound through the state and into Missouri, and then continuing to Chicago, Ill.
Councilman Tommy Bryant shared information and insight to what the completion of an infrastructure project like the Future I-57 could mean for Batesville and other areas of rural Arkansas.
“Large companies want to be within 50 miles of an interstate,” said Bryant. “Currently, we’re 100 miles from the nearest interstate in Little Rock.”
A copy of the Batesville City Council’s resolution supporting the Future I-57.
Bryant noted an I-57 would be a “huge economic development for rural Arkansas.”
Bryant went on to talk about how this would alleviate some of the heavy trucking traffic on I-40 along with bringing larger companies to rural Arkansas. Larger companies could mean more employment for Arkansans in rural parts of the state. Specifically, those located within 50 miles of the Future I-57.
In other business, council member Ronda Bryant’s resignation was accepted Tuesday night by the council, and she was recognized for her 10 months of service to the Batesville community. A lifelong resident of Batesville, Bryant will be relocating to northwest Arkansas in the Springdale area.
Ronda Bryant (left) accepts a memento from Batesville Mayor Rick Elumbaugh at last night’s Batesville City Council meeting. The council member is moving to northwest Arkansas.
“Batesville will always have a huge part of my heart,” said Bryant, after accepting a memento signifying her time with the city council from Mayor Rick Elumbaugh.
The council then went into executive session for roughly five minutes to discuss a personnel appointment to the planning and zoning commission.
Upon emergence from the meeting, the council motioned and approved the re-appointment of Steven Lewis to another five-year term on the commission.
The next Batesville City Council meeting is scheduled for June 18th at 5:30 p.m. in the Batesville Municipal building.
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