Councilman Cody resigns in e-mail to mayor

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

— Councilman John Anthony Cody resigned.

Cody was not present at the rescheduled City Council meeting Monday afternoon. His letter of resignation was in the council members’ packets.

The July 20 meeting was canceled and rescheduled due to lack a quorum.

Councilman Jack Kelly asked if the letter could be read aloud. Crabtree said the letter was in all thecouncil packets for members to read. After no discussion, members accepted the resignation 3-0.

A special assessment of $1.50 per metered customer per month for a period of October 2010 through December 2011 will be added to water bills, after Pea Ridge Water superintendent Ken Hayes represented the Benton Washington Regional Public Water Authority’s recommendation.

The action by the board o fBWRPWA came in response to debt accumulated by two things: an incorrect amount issued for bond payments, in which Regions Bank has taken responsibility but still resulted in the withdrawal of funds from the Bond Reserve Fund, and two consecutive years of cool, rainy summers and an overall decrease in sales and revenues. The assessment is set to automatically sunset without BWRPWA board action.

“We did not want to come to you with another rate increase,” Hayes said. The reserve fund is required to have enough money to cover one year of payments. The council members will discuss the issue further at the regular August meeting.

Crabtree, on behalf of Benton County Solid Waste District, said an issue with the language in a contract with Roll Off has resulted in a suit filed against BCSWD. As a result, the budget has been reduced to keep operations afloat, but board members are asking member entities for a voluntary $.30 more per capita per year. This would result in a payment from the city,out of the city general fund, of $703.80 in addition to the $1,173 already paid to BCSWD annually, through the end of 2010.

BCSWD provides services to residents of the city including the recycle trailers located at the Emergency Services Building and removal of waste tires.

“I know for a fact that people over there (at BCSWD offices) have walked away from their jobs to keep the cost down,” Kelly said. “I am absolutely in favor of this.”

A motion was made to provide the extra funds and passed unanimously.

In other business, council members:

◊Discussed the repair of the existing failed asphalt on Greer Street from Lee Town Road to Patterson Cemetery. The project has already been sent out to bid;

◊Approved the bid from Protective Linings and Coatings, Inc., at a price of $65,500, for the painting of the interior of the water tower located at the Emergency Services Building in Pea Ridge; and

◊Agreed that council members Nadine Telgemeier and Bob Cottingham would help the Pea Ridge Fire Department look into purchasing a new ambulance.

The next meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17, at City Hall.

News, Pages 1 on 08/04/2010