GENTRY -- City council, on Feb. 1, approved a street light service agreement with Empire District Electric Co. and passed an ordinance entering into an agreement with Main Street Gentry Chamber of Commerce for economic development services for the city.
Passing an ordinance on three readings with a single vote, the council approved a new annual contract with Empire District for upkeep and maintenance on its city street lights. The agreement is renewable for 10 years. The agreement states the city is responsible for a usage charge for lighting which counted as an investment cost for the company. With current street lights, the city's annual usage charge for street lights is $5,470.79 for Empire's investment of $60,768.55 in lighting equipment and service.
Should the city request more street lights, the usage charge would increase. The city agreement requires usage of the equipment for a period of at least 10 years. Maintenance of the lights, including replacement of faulty lights, is the responsibility of Empire District.
Rick Hendrix, representing Empire District, said the contract would cover replacements of street lights even in the event of a tornado or natural disaster which destroyed multiple lights in addition to normal repair and maintenance and replacing worn out lights with new ones, compliant with dark-sky lighting recommendations.
The agreement ordinance was passed unanimously.
Also approved was an agreement with the Main Street Gentry Chamber of Commerce in which the city agrees to pay the Gentry Chamber a fee of $30,000 per year for services relating to economic development and community relations for the city.
The ordinance was also passed by unanimous vote of the council, with rules suspended, with a single vote and with an emergency clause attached.
The agreement assigns the coordination of the city's economic marketing efforts and public- and private-sector funding alternatives to the Gentry Chamber, as well as coordinating community events such as the city's annual Freedom Festival, Fall Festival and other events and activities which promote the city. Under the agreement, the Chamber would be the marketing arm of the city and seek to bring new business and industry into the city and help promote the city's image to its residents and those outside the city, encouraging growth.
In other business, Kevin Johnston, Gentry's mayor, reported to the council that work was progressing in both the new city park restroom facility and at the bank building purchased by the city to be the new home for the city's police department.
Johnston said the dividing wall and sheet rock work was finished at the new police station and doors hung. He said inmate work crews from the Benton County Jail helped with the cleanup work; and Keith Smith, Gentry police chief, said use of the inmate workers probably saved the city $400 to $450 in cleanup costs.
Johnston said he hoped to have the police department moved and settled into the new facility by March 1. He said a flag-raising ceremony or grand opening would be scheduled once the department is moved and operating in its new facility.
Johnston said completion of the park restrooms was still several weeks out but that the walls and roof were on, making it possible for inside work to be completed and fixtures to be placed even if weather is inclement.
General News on 02/10/2016