Gravette council to consider pay raises for elected officials

GRAVETTE — A tentative agenda for the December meeting of the Gravette City Council includes several yearend items of business to be addressed.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, in the Gravette Civic Center. This is a change from the regular meeting date of Dec. 23 because of the Christmas holiday.

Among items for consideration will be an increase in pay for elected city officials, the first since 1955, according to city recorder/treasurer Mike von Ree. If approved, the salaryfor Mayor will increase from $750 per month to $1,250; the City Recorder’s salary will increase from $250 to $500; that of City Attorney will increase to $850 from the present $700 monthly salary.

Council members’ per-meeting pay will increase from $50 per meeting to $75, payable only if the member attends.

Other business items, subject to change, include:

◊Cox Communications bid for new service;

◊Close the 2009 budget;

◊An ordinance to appoint the city attorney;

◊An ordinance to rezone property for Kim Hendren on the north side of Highway 72east for construction of a new building;

◊Move the January Committee of the Whole meeting to Jan. 6 at 5:30 p.m. in the city hall.

This will be the last meeting for the current slate of city officers, including Mayor Bill Howard and council members Byron Warren, Forrest White, Terry King, Chris Beller and Brent Cannon. Tena Crose will return to her present council slot.

Warren, as newly elected Mayor, will move to that position, and council members will include Bill Howard, Larry Stidham, John Rambadt, Melissa Smith, Jimmy Denver and Tena Crose.