GRAVETTE — After hearing reports from various city departments: public safety, library, streets and utilities and planning department, the Gravette City Council discussed several items. Terry King is chairman of the Finance and Administration subcommittee.

Mayor Bill Howard informed the Council that Arvest Bank will apply all past and future monthly lease payments toward the final purchase price of the building the city is purchasing from Arvest. That former bank building was occupied by the city offices after the city entered into a five-year lease agreement for a purchase price of $230,000.

Jim Singleton, president of Arvest Gravette, wrote all past and future lease payments the city has made or will make "will be applied toward the stated purchase price."

Under that new agreement, the 22 payments already made, totaling $18,700, will apply to thepurchase price and if the agreement continues through the five-year term, the city will owe a balance of $182,000. No Council action was required.

In other discussion, Carroll Electric informed the Mayor they were not aware the city had passed an ordinance to collect a franchise for its in-city customers. Roll-Off Service said the $1 fee collected each month by the city is considered its franchise fee.

The City Council is considering a "petty cash" fund for each department which will eliminate the necessity of a purchase order for small items, a policy implemented by the Mayor several weeks ago.

Other City action includes the hiring of J. R. Gibbs to pursue collection of delinquent watersewer accounts totaling more than $140,000 that have accumulated over the past few years. These 429 account holders will be contacted, Mayor Howard said.

News, Pages 1 on 09/16/2009