Editor’s note: This is part of a series of profiles of the alderman on the Bryant City Council.
By Martin Couch
Bryant Ward 2 alderman Chris Tipton used to live in Sunset Meadows and moved to the Westpointe subdivision where he made lots of friends who were flooded.[more]
“I remember watching trash cans floating down the road,” Tipton said. “There have been flooding issues for my neighbors and my friends.”
Tipton was then part of the Bryant Athletic Association and was called by several people to run for City Council.
“That’s kind of where that came from,” he said. “I got involved, but I had no idea. I had never been to a city council meeting. I was real surprised.”
Tipton and his family moved to Bryant in 1996.
“I thought I was moving into a small town with a small school,” he recalled. “The growth here since 1996 has been amazing. That’s what we’re seeing now is growth pains with the issue of flooding and streets. I love being in Bryant and helping people, but since ‘96 the growth has been tremendous.”
Tipton is partial to the Bishop Park construction that will be the newest major site for baseball tournaments in central Arkansas.
“With my background in the BAA and athletics, that’s one of things I’ve liked seeing come to Bryant,” he said. “I’d also like to see Midtowne get completed and finish out with the city. I want it to still have a small town feel, but still offer everybody things here in Bryant, instead of having them drive to Little Rock to get it.
“I’d also like to see more jobs come to the area and see the airport take off,” he added. “The school system already brings people here and when I moved here, that was one of the things I checked on. Bryant has a great school system and its reputation brings in more people. And if the airport area grows it will bring even more in.”
Regarding running for re-election in November, Tipton said, “I’m leaning towards yes, because the flooding issues aren’t taken care of yet. The bridge off of Highway 5 and the water coming out of the ditches at Meadow Ridge and Sunset. I feel like I’d be leaving something undone, but I don’t want to look up one day and see I’ve been there for eight terms. I want to get it done and work on flooding and streets.
“The other day we finally got Independence and Providence paved for the first time in six years,” he added. “The flooding issue is 60 to 65 percent done. Before I walk away, I’d like to say I did what I said I was going to do.”
