GRAVETTE -- The Gravette City Council Committee of the Whole meeting was held last Thursday with all council members present. Written reports were submitted by all department heads.
Fire chief David Smith presented changes which he proposes to the employee handbook regarding fire department sick leave and fire department vacation time. They will be placed on the agenda for the Jan. 23 council meeting.
A resolution authorizing Mayor Byron Warren to apply for a $200,000 grant for the Gravette Public Library will also be on the January council meeting agenda.
Water/sewer department manager Corey Reardon presented the proposed contract with Morrison-Shipley engineering firm for sewer upgrade work to be paid from the 3/4 cent sales tax fund. This contract will be on the council meeting agenda.
Council members will approve the 2014 meeting schedule and holiday calendar at the Jan. 23 meeting. Committee of the Whole and council meetings will be on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month except in November and December. Holidays will be taken as set forth in the employee handbook.
Business manager Tracy Sewell presented December financial reports. She noted the general fund was short $13,551 but part of that was a loan to the street fund. The street fund now has a surplus and can repay that loan. Year-end closing of the 2013 budget will be done soon.
There was $2,000 more revenue than expenses in the cemetery fund. The possibility of turning cemetery maintenance over to a private contractor was discussed. Mayor Warren noted the house adjacent to the cemetery is city property. Council members were in agreement that it would be a good idea to pursue the idea of renting that house to a person who could be caretaker for the cemetery. A written contract would be drawn up and approved by the council.
Warren reported that the Subway restaurant was opening this week and noted that Subway stores show an average of a quarter million dollars a year in revenue. Councilman Terry King reported a candy store will be opening in the former El Bohemio restaurant location on Main Street.
Councilman Richard Carver had done some research and reported that the city's surplus funds were being categorized correctly. Business manager Sewell said they were using guidelines published by the legislative audit.
Streets/parks/cemetery department manager Tim Dewitt noted the city needs to pursue getting written confirmation that the Russell Cemetery west of town is a county cemetery and maintenance is not under city oversight.
Warren reported that the city's new trash cans are ready and will be delivered about Feb. 1. Deffenbaugh proposed changing trash pickup day from Tuesday to Thursday after the new cans are in place.
Mayor Warren said he was meeting with the holiday lighting contractor on Friday and expected a reduction in the city's bill. A meeting on updating the city's website is scheduled for this week.
Corey Reardon reported 250 of the new water meters are in the ground. Meters were read by both the old and the new systems for this month's billing. The new automatic readings are going really well and are expected to lower the water loss percentage, he said. Revenue should improve as leaks not formerly being registered will now show up. The new meters will register water usage down to 1/20 of a gallon. Reardon expects a return on investment for the new meters in 3 1/2 to 4 years.
Councilwoman Melissa Smith requested the city pay-scale study be placed on the meeting agenda again this month. Councilman Bob Robinson requested the same for the city's master plan.
General News on 01/15/2014