clear water tank and treatment facility complete with enhanced filtration. For a city of 7,500 people, Woods is clear, an $8 million investment in water infrastructure is a very big deal. The project is fully funded, and the city is now moving through the bidding and preconstruction stages.At the same time, Trumann is upgrading its sewer ponds and collection systems, and systematically locating and mapping aging water and sewer lines—many of which were installed decades ago without comprehensive documentation. A merger with Trumann Rural Water has brought an additional 1,100 to 1,200 customers into the city’s water system, extending service all the way down to the community of Payneway, about ten miles to the south. As the city contemplates future commercial and industrial growth, having a reliable, well-managed water system is non-negotiable. Woods likes to remind people that while electricity and fiber optics are vital, it is water and sewer that determine whether development can happen at all. You can live without electricity for a while, he notes, but you cannot live without water. For many residents, turning on the tap is something they take for granted. His administration’s job is to make sure that remains possible. Beyond utilities, the city has improved communications infrastructure for law enforcement, giving local police direct, real-time connectivity with the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office and other first responders.Three different providers offer fiber-optic internet service within the city limits, a rare level of connectivity for a community of Trumann’s size. On the electrical side, Craighead Electric and Entergy are upgrading power poles—replacing 70-plus-yearold infrastructure to better carry aerial services and withstand modern loads. SELLING THE CITY, NOT DISCOUNTING IT Unlike some larger cities in Arkansas,Trumann does not own its own combined water and light system, which limits its ability to offer major utility incentives. State rules also restrict the kinds of tax breaks that municipalities can extend directly. Instead of relying on incentives, the city focuses on “selling Trumann” to prospective businesses and residents. That pitch is increasingly compelling. Crime has dropped dramatically, with the city recording a 25 percent reduction in the mayor’s first year in office and a further 28 percent decrease in the second. A brand-new high school, a new elementary school, and upgraded sports facilities—including a standout football stadium and revitalized baseball and softball complex—underscore a serious commitment to youth and education.Trumann’s Walmart has become something of a regional magnet in its own right, drawing shoppers from places like West Memphis, Marion, and South Jonesboro.They come not only to avoid traffic in larger centers, but also because the store takes pride in staying clean, well-stocked, and customer focused. For Woods, progress is about looking forward rather than dwelling on the past. The city is working continuously to remove blight, improve services, and prepare for the next wave of growth. Infrastructure upgrades are designed not as temporary fixes but as long-term solutions that future leaders can build on. 193 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 CITY OF TRUMANN, AR
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