GENTRY — A change in budgeted line items will mean additional sidewalks in Gentry on East Main Street and on South Collins.

By moving $120,000 from a budget line item where it was being saved up toward a sidewalk railroad crossing on east Main Street and putting it into the budget for the building and repair of sidewalks, council members hope to extend sidewalks on one side of East Main Street and one side of South Collins to make it possible for pedestrians to walk to Arkansas Highway 59, to the Little Debbie Store, Gentry Bank, the ChickenCoop and Dollar General, or south on Collins to the new Walmart and the sidewalk system along the new section of Arkansas Highway 59.

Mayor Kevin Johnston said the city could save the money and wait for additional state or federal money to become available to complete a rail crossing or use the money to build connecting sidewalks everywhere but on the rail crossings. He reasoned completing more sidewalks would provide increased public safety and put the city in a better position to receive grant money for the rail crossings if the other portions of sidewalks are completed.

Currently, Johnston said, people use the sidewalks to the tracks but then have to walk in the street to reach Arkansas Highway 59. Having connecting sidewalks would provide added safety for pedestrians, Johnston said.

The council approved the line item change unanimously, increasing the current amount budgeted for sidewalks to $144,000.

Council member Jim Furgason said he supported the idea but also thought the city should replace or repair some sections of existing sidewalks which are unsafe.

Johnston assured Furgason that the city was beginning to make some of those needed repairs and would continue to do so.

News, Pages 5 on 06/08/2011