GENTRY -- Gentry City Council adopted a budget for 2017 and approved a contract for trash services in the new year at its Dec. 5 meeting.
The council gave unanimous approval to a resolution adopting a revised budget for 2017. The adopted budget includes projections of just over $1.474 million in General Fund revenues and expenses of just over $1.9 million.
In the Library Fund, new incoming revenue is projected at $101,500, with expenditures set at $126,625.
The Street and Alley Fund lists incoming revenue at $495,000 and expenditures at $565,000.
The Water and Sewer Fund lists incoming revenue at $2,407,050, with expenditures at $2,476,550.
Though budgeted expenditures appear to exceed revenues, funds carried over from the current year more than account for the differences, according to Kevin Johnston, Gentry's mayor.
"The difference between the anticipated revenues and expenditures for 2017 across various funds primarily consist of large, one-time expenditures and one short-term loan," said Johnston. "The 2017 budget includes the potential purchase of additional acreage for future park amenities such as, but not limited to, additional fields for soccer, baseball, softball and top-spin. Additionally, the concept of a possible splash park has also been discussed. Other capital and large-ticket items include a public works facility to house equipment, materials and supplies, a wide-area mower for the maintenance of more than 75 acres being mowed on a weekly basis, a new sewer machine to replace the current nearly-40-year-old unit, a replacement patrol car, the loan payment for the newly acquired police station and continued street and trails improvements. These budgeted expenditures will not only be covered by incoming revenues but also existing and carry-over funds."
"As our track record has shown, we make every attempt to make our dollars go as far and as efficiently as we can while preserving as many of those dollars to be utilized on future projects," Johnston added.
Copies of the budget and other funds in the budget are available at Gentry City Hall.
The council authorized by ordinance (passed on three readings with a single vote and with an emergency clause) a five-year contract with Allied Services doing business as Republic Services of Bella Vista for ongoing trash services in the city of Gentry. The contract may also be renewed by the city of Gentry for an additional five years should the council wish to do so.
The contract for trash services was put out to bid, but Republic Services was the only company to submit a bid. It is the company currently providing services to the city and city officials have been pleased with that service.
The new contract keeps prices at their current level in 2017, with a built in 3 percent increase in subsequent years to cover rising costs.
Also approved by the council was the appointment of Rick Craft to serve on the city's Position 1 post on the Benton-Washington County Water Association Board. Craft replaces David McNair, who is retiring from city employment later this month.
The council approved an Arkansas Municipal League accidental death and dismemberment plan for elected officials and department heads which will provide benefits of $100,000 upon an occurrence. The plan will cost the city a maximum of approximately $1,280 per year. The resolution included the recommendation that the city also look into the possibility of finding a similar plan for the remainder of the city's employees.
The January meeting of the council will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 9 because of the observance of the New Year's holiday on Monday, Jan. 2.
It was also announced that an open house would be held in honor of David McNair, the city's public works supervisor, who is retiring Dec. 23 after many years of service to the city. The open house will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22, at the city council chambers. Community members are invited to stop by and wish him well in retirement.
General News on 12/14/2016