By Ray King
The Pine Bluff City Council on Monday approved the operation of a bar serving alcoholic beverages in the downtown entertainment district.
The bar will be located at 201 S. Main St., in the location formerly occupied by Hot Rods, and will be owned by Gabrielle Mixon and Sylvia Grady.
Councilmember Bruce Lockett told Deltaplex News why the legislation was necessary.
The council also approved an ordinance regarding the franchise fee that Summit Utilities Arkansas will pay the city for providing natural gas service within the city limits.
In 1981, the council approved an ordinance that called for Arkansas Louisiana Gas (ARKLA) to pay a franchise fee, and later CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. d.b.a. CenterPoint Energy Arkansas Gas Company succeeded ARKLA and assumed the rights and responsibilities under the agreement.
An agreement has not been reached between CenterPoint Energy Arkansas Gas Company and Summit Utilities Arkansas Inc., to take over providing service and paying the franchise fee which is $4.25 percent of the company’s total revenue.
The ordinance was read three times and approved without dissent.
