Jonathan Canaday
Southwest Arkansas Radio
The Mineral Springs City Council has
approved the purchase of a new medical
fire truck. Fire Chief Chris Hostetler says
the purchase is needed because the town
has been using an old ambulance vehicle
that requires constant maintenance. The
council approved the purchase of a Ford
one ton f350 cab chassis 4 wheel at a cost
of around $27,000. Mayor Bobby Tullis
said that the city feels comfortable taking
at least $15,000 from Act 833 funding, with
little cost to the general fund. A bed and
cabinets will also be needed to get the
truck ready. Hostetler said it will be about
ninety days after the purchase, before it
will be delivered.
In other business discussed during a
Monday meeting, Mineral Springs council
members reviewed the 2016 city budget
proposal. As part of that, the council approved
a $500 Christmas bonus for each
city employee, the fire chief, and city
recorder/treasurer. Mayor Tullis said a
recent legislative audit outlined several
things the city needed to include in future
budgets and that for the first time ever, this
proposal included a water/sewer department
budget.
“Even with modest increases, that
section is projecting a $14,000 deficit
for next year. That will be covered with
funding from the city general account.”
The mayor says the general fund is very
healthy and that the city
will pay off a fire truck if
the budget is approved.
He also said the sales tax
figures have been decent in
recent months. This budget
proposal does not include
any carry over funds from
this year and projects that
revenue will exceed expenditures
by about fifty to sixty
thousand dollars.
Mayor Tullis announced
that effective December 1,
owners of large outstanding
water/sewer debts will be
sued in small claims court
in Nashville. A list of about
ten accounts has been identified
with debts exceeding
$150. Tullis says often times
returning customers will use
a different name to open a
new account without paying
outstanding bills. He hopes
to recover some of the funds
that have not been paid.
“These are accounts that
have already been charged
late fees and that have been
given multiple opportunities
to pay. Often times these
accounts are owned by individuals
that have moved
away from town.”
Before adjourning the
meeting, the council set a
budget workshop for November
16th at 5 p.m.
