DECATUR — Council members decided, at a Nov. 5 meeting, to use a $1,500 Walmart grant to upgrade the lights in the community room to brighter energy-saving models.

The new fixtures will hold bulbs that use 28 to 33 percent less energy, according to public works director James Boston. If the city buys the lights this year, they will qualify for a $648 rebate from Empire Electric, he said.

The rest of the building and the library has already been upgraded to the energy-saving models, Boston said. The community room has a total of 35 light fixtures and the cost of the project will be $2,115, minus the$648 rebate, bringing the total cost to just under $1,500.

The city had planned to use the grant money to repaint the community room, city administrative assistant Kim Wilkins said. Mayor Bill Montgomery suggested postponing painting the room until next year and Wilkins pointed out the community room was booked solid until January so it would be difficult for painters to work in the room before then anyway.

In other business, the council voted to approve the proposed 2011 budget for the District Court of Benton County West. Decatur, Gentry, Highfill and Benton County all pay for a portion of the court’s expenses. The budget will be presented to the Quorum Court for final approval.

News, Pages 13 on 11/17/2010