Monette City Council met Monday evening and worked through a busy agenda including passages of resolutions and ordinance, hiring of two new employees and CPA firm, aligning with other fire departments in Craighead County, and grant applications.
The council passed Ordinance 2021-5 on the third reading. The ordinance directs and orders removal or razing of the building located at 116 S. Williams Street. The ordinance allows removal or razing for any houses that have become dilapidated, unsightly, unsafe, unsanitary, obnoxious, or detrimental to public welfare.
The council passed Ordinance 2021-6 on the third reading. The Ordinance amends original Ordinance 2001-2 regulating inattentive driving in the city. The ordinance sets fines for violation, upon conviction, not less that $50 nor more than $250.
City Clerk Terry Thomas reported the city hired Thomas, Speight and Noble CPA firm, from Osceola, to begin processing weekly federal and monthly state tax payments and reports for the fourth quarter, beginning In October 2021. They will also process the quarterly tax reports and provide W-2 and 1099 forms for 2021. The city will maintain the weekly payroll, retirement and health benefits in their Monette office.
New city employees include Andrea Shirley, part time water clerk, and Ryan Kelems, policeman.
Mayor Blankenship discussed updates on potential plans for use of ARPA (Rescue plan funds) when approved for use.
Alderman Brandon Decker worked with the city to complete four state grant applications, for potential funding, earlier this month. These include city sewer extension totaling $4,416,585, new fire department building totaling $985,000.00, new Community Center totaling $2,250,000, and paving baseball park parking totaling $85,000.
Fire Chief David Clark reviewed the agreement between Southridge Fire Department and Craighead County rural fire departments. The city approved the agreement which specified the standards and responsibilities to enhance public safety, ensure participant accountability, and facilitate success, cooperation, and collaboration between all departments in the implementation of Arkansas Wireless information Network (AWIN) radio system as the primary radio communications for the department. Monette Fire Department will be awarded $108,050.
The grant will be used to purchase 34 AWIN radio units for firemen. The federal share is $98,227, department share $9,823, grant fee $4,677. Southridge Volunteer Fire Department will receive $4,677 for grant writing.
In Mayor Blankenship’s monthly report, he stated that representatives from Storm Sirens, Inc., of Norman, Okla., recommended placement of new weather sirens by the BIC girls softball field and near Monette Manor. The city will be able to get new Ford transit van from Glen Sain by the end of the year. The city is still waiting for Gipson Signs to install their new city marquee. The 2020 Federal Census shows an increase of five new residents.
“I can’t figure how we only had only five new residents,” Blankenship said. “We had 434 water meters in 2010 and now we have 691. I can’t see how that adds up. Unfortunately, it is cost prohibitive to have a special census done to correct this.”
“We have one more payment on the Highway 18 bypass project,” Blankenship said. “Soon Clay Stewart will begin selling lots for the housing development. A road is already in place. We are ready to go from there.”
New city recorder/treasurer Terry Thomas was administered the oath of office by Craighead County Judge Marvin Day on Aug. 11 at Monette City Hall, with Mayor Bob Blankenship present.
A resolution was passed removing prior city recorder/treasurer Holly Corter from Centennial Bank accounts and adding new city recorder/treasurer Terry Thomas to the signature cards.