Editor,
Over a month ago I asked the council to reexamine the complete 2015 budget in light of discovering numerous edits would be necessary to shore up the original budget's accuracy and integrity.
Monday night, June 1, in a 5-1 vote, the Gravette City Council passed my recommended comprehensive revision. This budget represents a leap forward for the city because of its inclusion of funds previously unreported, its strategic spending for capital improvements and community development and its overall correctness. Highlights include a planned surplus in the general fund adding $500K+ to reserve and a retirement of the 2013 bond debt in late 2015 or early 2016, almost 10 years ahead of schedule.
I commend the council for their dedication to this important process and offer my sincere thanks for their patience with me and my staff.
For a detailed report of what was passed, visit GravetteAR.com.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Mayor Kurt Maddox
Gravette
Editor,
Our Gravette Farmers' Market has seen a lot of changes through the years from the first time we opened up at Old Town Park on a patch of grass with just two vendors. That was just after Sheila Martin asked about starting one because she had beautiful cut flowers to share from her garden. A couple years later the construction of the open air pavilion, built with funding from the USDA, was the big event. The GFM is still going strong in its eighth year with a variety of local-only products while participating in WIC and Senior Voucher programs. However, there are a couple of changes that have taken place.
Primarily, the volunteer management duties will now be shared by long-time farmer vendors Evelyn McGraw of Gravette and Beth Patton of Maysville. Many of you know them, Evelyn for her awesome heirloom tomato starts, great variety of colorful tomatoes, stone fruits and cozy flip-flops; meanwhile Beth and her husband Jack provide many customers with produce, eggs, delicious zucchini bread and farm raised USDA inspected pork. They, as well as veteran farmer Paul Mahon, Jr., musicians and new craftspeople all make the market a "happening" place where people do more than just buy vegetables. True community takes place there every Saturday from 8 to 1.
Thank you for your years of support.
Allyson Ransom
Gravette
Editorial on 06/10/2015