City survey indicates desire for splash pad and downtown revitalization and sales-tax increase to pay for improvements

GENTRY -- Among items reported at the Sept. 6 Gentry City Council meeting were the results of a community survey to help city officials prioritize plans for future projects and improvements in the city. The survey had roughly 300 participants and downtown revitalization was listed as the No. 1 priority of survey takers, with sidewalk improvements, street and landscape improvements and community gathering areas coming in not far behind.

Land purchases for further park expansions and an expanded trail system also ranked high among survey takers.

Sidewalks, play equipment and pavilions led in a question regarding the park equipment currently used by survey takers. A splash pad was the leading suggestion for park areas survey takers said they would use if they were added to the city park system. More sidewalks was also high on the list.

Also asked in the survey was whether the survey takers would be willing to vote for a 7/8-cent sales tax to pay for park expansion and other quality-of-life improvements in Gentry. Results showed 79 percent would be willing to vote for the additional tax for the improvements.

The current combined sales tax rate for Gentry is 8.625 percent, which includes state, county and city sales tax rates. The Arkansas state sales tax rate is currently 6.5 percent, and the Benton County sales tax rate is 1 percent.

The survey, conducted during the month of August, was publicized on the city website and Facebook with less than 10 percent of the city population responding.

Also approved by the council was a resolution approving the appointments of Ber Thao, Luke Klassen, Josh Coones and Craig Millsap to the Gentry Park Advisory Committee. Mayor Kevin Johnston said he would bring an appointee for the last open position to the council for approval at its October meeting.

Johnston reported to the council on the completion of a new street-side sign at the Gentry Police Department.

Janie Parks, director of the Gentry Chamber of Commerce and of the Gentry United Way, said plans were underway to open a Boys & Girls Club in Gentry as soon as Oct. 3. She said the Gentry United Way had promised $24,000 to help get the club started in Gentry.