Several state officials and representatives from three counties came together Monday for a reception to honor new Highway Commissioner David Haak of Texarkana.
State Rep. Ben Gilmore and Nita McDaniel, Monticello Economic Development Commission executive director and Southeast Arkansas Regional Intermodal Facilities Authority (SEARIFA) board member, arranged for the event at the University of Arkansas at Monticello Fine Arts Center.
By Tim Kessler
Saline River Chronicle Contributor
Among those present were:
- State: Gilmore, state Reps. Howard Beaty and Jeff Wardlaw; Shane Knight, Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District; Arkansas Department of Transportation Director Lorie Tudor and ARDOT District Manager Drew Haggard; John Lipton, former state House speaker and highway commissioner, and present SEARIFA board chairman and Bradley County Economic Development Corp. board member; his wife, JeNelle Lipton, Bradley County Historical Museum board member, Warren GFWC member and Bradley County Chamber of Commerce board member.
- Bradley County/Warren: Bradley County Attorney Ricky Roper; County Judge Klay McKinney; Dr. Bob Smalling, SEARIFA board member and BCEDC chairman; Devin McDiarmid and Morgan Meeks, BCEDC board members; Warren Mayor Gregg Reep.
- Drew County/Monticello: Monticello Mayor Jason Akers; McDaniel; Tim Kessler, SEARIFA board member; Tommy Maxwell, Maxwell Hardwood Flooring; Ron Echols; Todd Smith, Commercial Bank; Kimberly Barnes, Drew Central School District; Wayne Owen, Commercial Bank, 20 For The Future; Philip Starks, Interfor; Clarissa Pace, Monticello City Council; Mike Akin; his wife, Susan Akin, SEARK Concert Association director; Benny Ryburn III, Commercial Bank and Ryburn Automotive; Jeff Weaver, UAM vice chancellor for advancement; Dave Dickson, Union Bank.
- Ashley County/Crossett: Mike Smith, Crossett Economic Development Commission.
Akers and Gilmore gave the welcome. “He cares about South Arkansas,” Gilmore said about Haak.
Haak said he first met Lipton in 1999. He is a Texarkana native and former member of Arkansas Economic Development Commission and Arkansas Waterways Commission.
“One of the things I wanted to do is get out and visit the areas I represent,” he said. Haak said he had driven along about 85 percent of the roads in his district. “We need good roads here,” he added.
Lipton said the 1991 highway improvement program was at the time the largest such program in the state. He said $200 million in federal funds came to the 4th Congressional District through U.S. Rep. Jay Dickey. “We need the interstate in South Arkansas,” he said, referring to I-530 and the I-69 corridor.
“Roads are economic development. Good roads will hopefully bring economic development to South Arkansas,” Haak said.
“I-530 was designated as the I-69 connector,” Lipton said. Tudor said the proposed Great River Bridge at Helena is now projected to cost $2 billion.
Haak said on his first day as commissioner, he found rising road construction costs were shocking. “Roads are a lot more expensive to build than I ever thought of,” he said, adding interstate improvements from Texarkana to Fort Smith alone would cost about $5.5 million.
Haak said since the state of Louisiana wants extensive interstate improvements up to the Arkansas state line, it would be important to bring in new U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana to work together on Louisiana and Arkansas interstate projects.
“We have to use Washington as much as we can because that’s where the real money will come from,” he said. “I think we need to use all that leverage we can.”
Knight suggested looking at the interior infrastructure, working with county judges and mayors to see how they can offset the costs of larger projects.
“What we want from you is your commitment that you’re going to help us,” said McKinney.
Haak admitted of the I-530 project, “This is the first time I’ve heard about it.”
Some of the local groups are working on a joint resolution to be presented to Haak at a later date, outlining area priorities.