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Mayor Hays was on television last night emphasizing how the City follows their own rules and was quoted in the Wednesday Dem/Gaz story on page 3B by Jake Sandlin
This is a bit of a different animal. It's my intent that we follow our rules and that a request for variances is a fairly regular thing that a lot of projects do. We don't with knowledge violate our own rules.
Apparently that following the rule thing didn't extend to following the State Dept of Health rules and regulations on RV parrks. Of course the City may have had no knowledge of these rules, but if they had just visited with any local RV park owner/operator they would have been aware of these rules. The City was made aware of these rules today and elected to take a somewhat circular excuse for not following the Dept. of Healh RV park regulations. As a City official explained to me, the City didn't have to follow the rules since there was no building planned for the Park. But this conflicts with the Dept of Health requirements that a building with at least one flushable toilet and lavatory for each sex is required. So basically the City's position is to ignore the rules and keep proceeding with construction. Of course ignorance of the rules is not an excuse for ordinairy citizens doing business with the City so why should iignorance be the rule of the day when the City deals with State requirements?
Let's look at the details in the Dept. of Health regulations for RV parks'
Click on the Read More button below for more of this post
Click here for a link to a copy of the Arkansas Dept of Health regulations for RV parks that was supplied to me from Mr. Jimmy Ard. I talked with three different Dept of Health officials today verifying these are the regualtions and these regulations are applciable all RV Parks in the State. I have
marked important or applicable sections for your reference.
1. The plans must be submitted for review by the Dept of Health regardless. The plans
were NOT submitted as of today per my conversation with Mr. Voyles with the City and
according to the Dept of Health.
2 A building must be built with at least one bath and lavatory for
each sex at the RV Park. This is a BIG problem since the US Army Corps
of Engineers does not allow buildings to be built in flood way between
the river and flood wall
3 There is a ten foot spacing requirement between the RV's just like
the City ordinance that was waived by the Planning Commission.
According to the Dept of Heath, the City CANNOT waive State requirements. If the City has to meet State requirments there will be a lot less RV parking spaces and the some of the utility work done to date could be wasted.
4. There is no State special exemption for temporary RV parks and all RV parks must comply with the Dept of Health regulations.
A printable pdf file of the RV Park blueprint dated June 20, 2008 may be found here for your use and review. Based on my discussions with the State Dept of Health inspectors, they
rarely grant waivers and the plans are required to be submitted to the
State regardless of whether a building is shown on the plans or not. A state official was disturbed construction was proceeding without the review of the Dept. of Health and was sending an
inspector to the site either today or tomorrow. I doubt we have heard the end of this one yet.
Lesson to be learned.... There is always a bigger fish in the pond and if you ignore the rules of the pond you risk getting eaten!!!
A Disaster in progress...
Written by reader, on 10-07-2008 00:03
Even beyond the problem of the Mayor's
shorts coming down to his ankles over
this RV Park shove-it-down-the-taxpayer's
throats thing... I'm not sure everyone
is aware of the REAL problem that
is brewing... and the clock is ticking.
You have a disaster in-progress over
this RV thing.
The ENTIRE South Central Six-State regional
division of the Family MotorCoach
Association ( FMCA ) IS ALREADY COMING.
As far back as JULY of 2007, Area chapters of
the Six-State Rally regional club were announcing
to their members that the 2008 Six-State Rally
would be in North Little Rock and that ALL
REGISTERED ATTENDEES would be able to 'camp
directly on the Arkansas River'.
See this July, 2007 'Ozarks Prarie Sooners'
chapter newsletter where North Little Rock
is being announced as the destination for
the Septermber 2008 Six-State Rally...
http://www.opsrv.com/Newsletters/2007/jul07.htm
This is a full 3 MONTHS before the only 'documented'
contact with Mayor Patrick Hays which, supposedly,
didn't take place until October of 2007. There's
another mystery ( or lie? ) right there and it
begs the question... exactly WHEN did Hays actually
PROMISE these people the RV Park by the River?
Regardless... the dates are set and they are
already on the way. The Rally is scheduled for
September 24 through the 28th
( that's only 11 Saturdays away )
and both the
FMCA parent website and the South Central
regional site have been taking reservations
for the 'campsites' since January.
The FMCA website about this Rally...
http://www.fmca.com/areas/southcentral/sca_2008.asp
The South Central Area's 'Rally at the Rock' Website...
http://www.sca-fmca.com/rally.htm
So here is the disaster scenario...
There might be up to 700
( SEVEN HUNDRED! )
Full-size Motor coaches
( or more ) headed to North Little Rock in
September and they are ALL being PROMISED that
that will be able to 'camp' at the new RV Park
right there by the River.
NONE of the sites taking RESERVATIONS for the
Rally say there is any kind of 'limited capacity'
and certainly no mention that even if they ignore
ZONING laws and cram them in like sardines they
will only be able to fit 100 of them.
Also, NONE of the sites taking RESERVATIONS says
anything whatsoever about 'alternative camp sites'
in case the primary 'fills up'.
Nope. They are promising EVERYONE who registers
the same 'down by the river' campsite.
Last year's 2007 South Central Six-State Rally
was called 'Trailhead Rendezvous'
It took place at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in
Sedalia, Missouri, September 25,26,27, and 26, 2007
Here is the original FMCA page about that Rally...
http://www.fmca.com/areas/southcentral/sca_2007.asp
There were 593 ( FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY THREE! )
Motorhomes attending this
exact same Rally last year.
This was the SEVENTH TIME the Six-State Rally has
been held in Sedalia at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.
Here is a PDF file that reviewed the 2007 event...
http://www.nationalrv-centralstates.org/PageAttach/RashFMCA-Sedalia2007.pdf
Here's a page of photos from the 2007 Rally...
http://www.mytripjournal.com/journals/LarryDiannaTravels2007/Six-State-Rally-Missouri-State-Fairgrounds-Sedalia-Missouri-Missouri.html
If you look at the photos you will see that none
of these people expect to be 'crammed in like sardines'.
They EXPECT that they will have plenty of room to
deploy their awnings and their onboard dining tables
to enjoy meals with their neighbors. That's what
they EXPECT to do at a 'Rally' campsite.
Now... if you read the various sub-chapter websites
for the South Central Region you will discover that
since it was announced, they are ALL a-twitter about
the 2008 Rally in North Little Rock and they are
all saying it should be 'The best one yet' and is
'not to be missed'. The sub-chapter sites are
encouraging everyone to not miss out on this and they
have been telling their
members to invite EVERY Motorhomer they know to show up
for this event.
So THIS Year's Rally could easily EXCEED the (almost)
600 ( SIX HUNDRED ) Coach total of last year's Rally and easily reach
700 ( SEVEN HUNDRED ) Coaches ( or more ).
There are already several out-of-region Motorhome
chapters that don't normally attend the Six-State
Rally but who are also 'excited' about the North
Little Rock Rally and they say they are definitely
coming as well.
One example of entire out-of-region chapters
( usually dozens of Motorhomes unto themselves )
that say they ARE COMING would be...
"Coaches for Christ"
The travelling version of "His Hands Ministry".
http://www.hishandsministry.com/page5.htm
So where does Mayor Hays plan on putting them all?
Before you say "Well... we will just let them park
on the grass all along the RiverFront Park area"...
...think again.
THAT area has ALREADY BEEN PROMISED as well for
that weekend.
It will be the official site of the 2008
"Arkansas State Motorhome Show" which runs DURING
the Rally for 3 days starting on Friday, September 26
and runs through Sunday, September 28.
Over 100 ( ONE HUNDRED ) 'Commercial' Motorhomes will
be parked all over grass from East to West taking
over the entire Riverfront Park for all 3 days.
What a mess THAT, itself, is going to be.
Remember the damage caused to Riverfront park by
heavy vehicles tires in the soft grass?
You ain't seen nuthin' yet.
Wait until these 100 Huge
dobule-axle Motorhomes start tearing
up the park getting in and out of there.
There doesn't seem to be any information at any
of the FMCA sites about how many reservations have
ALREADY been paid for... but someone better find
out... and FAST.
If the attendance even comes anywhere NEAR last year's
number of 593 ( FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY THREE )
Motorhomes then you have a total disaster on
your hands.
Here is what EVERY MOTORHOME that has already or
WILL register is being PROMISED ( No exceptions )...
[snip]
* Parking
Camping in downtown North Little Rock
along the Arkansas River.
30amp electric provided.
Water Avaialable.
Trash and Waste Disposal.
5 nights camping included in Rally Fee
September 24 - 28.
Early days at $15 per night with
scheduled arrival.
Extended stay through October 2nd
available at $15 per night.
[/snip]
Is Mayor Hays going to pass some more
'emergency' ordinances to pull this fiasco
off such as commandeering the entire Alltel
Parking lot... or declaring that ALL Argenta
public Parking spaces are open to Motorhomes
for all FIVE DAYS of the Rally?
Did you know that almost ALL of these Rally
folks arrive with their own CARS in tow?
Look at the photographs from last year's Rally. They all come with their own CARS.
Since there's no way they will even fit into
the proposed RV Park with CARS sticking out
the back... where are they going to be parking
all those CARS for those FIVE DAYS?
Oh... and one more thing...
these people will officially be your
NEIGHBORS the moment they arrive.
Since January, when reservations were opened,
the South Central Regional Website says
that EVERY registered attendee of the Rally
will automatically be granted...
HONORARY NORTH LITTLE ROCK CITIZENSHIP.
Where was that little tid-bit in the City
Council Meetings? Must have missed it.
Even with all the clandestine operations just
to make this happen... it still looks like
total piss-poor planning and a total disaster
in the making.
Only way to prevent the disaster is to deal
with reality RIGHT NOW and either cancel the
whole thing and give them at least 11 weeks to find another place to go or figure out how the area is
going to actually cope with this.
Getting Hays to resign won't even solve the problem. It's already been set in motion.
I think he should resign, anyway, but that still leaves the oncoming disaster to be dealt with. |
Big Dam Bridge Bike Rally... Oh My!
Written by reader, on 10-07-2008 03:46
It's starting to look like there isn't a
think about this RV Rally weekend that
doesn't have the word 'Cluster' associated
with it.
Did you know that on the MOST IMPORTANT DAY
of this RV Rally ( Saturday, September 27 ),
when then most 'Rally' events are scheduled
for North Little Rock including Quilt shows
at the ( Non-existent? ) Art-Space Gallery
and the second day of the Arkansas MotorHome
Show in RiverFront park...
...and the very day these people are supposed to
be 'spending their money' in downtown Argenta...
...that's the day of this year's
'Big Dam Bridge 100' Cycling Event?
This is the day when all RV Rally attendees
are being promised FREE Trolley passes for
all the events on both sides of the River
and it's now the very day when all Trolley
Tracks will be covered with Duct Tape and
totally un-usable.
The Big Dam Bridge 100 Website at...
http://www.bigdambridge.org/BDB100/index.htm
has the following quote on it...
North Little Rock - Trolley rails to be covered.
Those RV folks ( Most of whom appear to be well
over 65 and won't be able to walk across the
River bridges ) are gonna be PISSED!
Not to mention how 100 in-place Commercial
MotorCoaches in RiverFront park and the
Arkansas MotorHome show in full swing is
going to possible jive with the BIKERS.
Good Lord... is ANYONE talking to ANYONE
there in North Little Rock.
This is becoming a disaster of EPIC proportions.
I sort of can't wait to watch this train-wreck
( From a safe distance, of course ). |
Spelling errors...
Written by reader, on 10-07-2008 03:51
Sorry about all the spelling errors.
Typing too fast this evening.
What I meant to say at the start of
the last post is...
"It's starting to look like there
isn't a THING about this RV Rally
weekend that doesn't have the word
'Cluster' associated with it." |
Written by One Who Cares, on 10-07-2008 05:33
Where will they put all of these R.V's. We have no place in our town to accomadate this many. Maybe our mayor can pull something out of his sleeve and perform some magic. I still say, he should be put out of office. |
Safe Haven...
Written by Big dog daddy, on 10-07-2008 09:05
If on those days any Argenta Residents want they could come on up to Levy for a Safe place to hang out. Im sure non of the brochures handed out will even mention Levy or how to get there. It should prove to be a Safe place to hideout until the rvers are gone. Maybe we could find somethng for ya'll to do those days. Theres always the (forgotten by the Mayor) Burns Park. You could hide there. |
Chamber Show
Written by ambotian, on 10-07-2008 09:47
I think those dates also coincide with the NLR Chamber of Commerce's annual vendor tradeshow and Taste-of-the-Town function. The vendors setting up tradeshow booths and attendee parking will eat up all the arena parking during those two days. |
You are right...
Written by reader, on 10-07-2008 11:46
Correctamundo, ambotian!
Not only do those dates/shows coincide,
they are listed as 'Events to attend'
on the South Central Six-State Rally
Website... so no hope of parking any
Motorhomes at Alltel on either day.
See The South Central Area's
'Rally at the Rock' Website...
http://www.sca-fmca.com/rally.htm
Two new pieces of information...
1. Still no official count of reservations
to date from FMCA but some sub-chapter
websites that are 'in the know' are now
estimating a new total Motorhomes number
for this upcoming North Little Rock Rally.
The new estimate is upwards of...
( Drum roll please )
900 ( NINE HUNDRED ) Full-size Motorhomes!
2. One of the events planned is a Women's
dinner on the Arkansas Queen. Seating capacity
for the Queen has always been limited to
250 and this was stated on the FMCA websites.
This dinner SOLD OUT over TWO MONTHS ago
so it's a definite fact that at LEAST
250 Motorhomes have already registered
for the Rally and they ALL have paid for
a camping spot 'On the Arkansas River'.
Even if only these 250 Double-axle Motorhomes
show up... you still have a disaster.
Estimates for viable parking spaces at the
whipped-up RV park are now coming in at
only 60 actual spaces or so, not even 100
as originally promised.
Someone needs to email Fred Kennedy, the
President of the South Central Six-State
Chapter of the FMCA, and let him know
there's still time to cancel this whole
darn thing.
I can small the tar cooking and the
feathers being gathered for P. Hays. |
Written by dumblonde, on 10-07-2008 19:32
Boy, howdy. This just gets more interesten every day. I bet no one here in NLR has contacted the SCA-FMCA folks to let them know of the true togetherness they going to have while they visitin' our beautiful city & that not all of them are exactly going to fit in that teeny tiny little space they've been promised. An I can already hear our illustrious leader, Mayor Hays, down on that there river welcomin' those nice folks to NLR & declaring that weekend SCA-FMCA Weekend with one of his little resolutions he likes to hand out to make himself look better. I can only hope that those nice folks with those expensive homes on wheels flush those itty bitty little toilets at the same time & it all backs up right into the Mayor's lap. I might just have to sit down there on the bank of the river to watch. |
Written by mooncat, on 10-07-2008 22:16
We have traveled and lived in a RV for years, and there is no way in he// you could get me to park my 'other home' in that hole of an area with that little space. I feel for our 'families' that come to NLR and attempt it. It will be a 2 trip visit---first and last. And the RVers guide wil rate them accordingly. |
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