PEA RIDGE — The city adopted a $5 million budget for 2011 after thoroughly examining each department’s proposed expenditures. The only point of contention was $4,390 allocated by the city for the Library.
Council member Nadine Telgemeier said in analyzing the library’s budget, the money is not needed bythe library. She said the library hours were not convenient.
Members of the Library Board of Trustees, librarian Linda Whitaker and several community members spoke in support of the library.
“They’ve done a good job. We need to make sure we don’t penalize them for making a profit in their department,” Mayor Jackie Crabtree said of the library board.
As a compromise, it was agreedthe money would be used for a marketing survey to determine the community’s desires concerning the library.
“If it’s not going to be used for a marketing survey,” Telgemeier said, “it needs to go into the general fund.”
Council members amended the city ordinance setting the mayor’s salary to be addressed in June prior to the date for the filing period.
Council member Jack Kelly expressed his opposition to the action in the September meeting reducing the mayor salary for the coming term and the decision of the city attorney to judge an abstention as an affirmative vote.
In other business, the council approved paying council and Planning Commissioners and employee end of the year merit awards and the sale of a surplus golf cart by the Street Department.
News, Pages 1 on 11/24/2010