Cities and towns in Arkansas benefit from the Arkansas Municipal League, said Pea Ridge Mayor Jackie Crabtree, former president of the League.
The Arkansas Municipal League, founded in 1934, exists to act as the official representative of Arkansas cities and towns before the state and federal governments; to provide a clearinghouse for information and answers; and to offer a forum for discussion and sharing of mutual concerns.
Pea Ridge pays $40 for membership. The membership fee is not based on population, although membership in the Legal Defense Fund is. The official population of Pea Ridge is 4,794. Pea Ridge pays $2.75 per resident for a total of $13,183.50 for the Legal Defense Fund. Crabtree said the city probably averages using the fund about once a year.
The league offers health, property and vehicle insurance. Crabtree said Pea Ridge has saved more than $40,000 by using the League's insurance for property and vehicle insurance.
Gateway Mayor Frank Hackler said Gateway does pay annual dues and the membership fee for the Legal Defense Fund.
"It's a great service for cities," Hackler said. "We've used it a lot."
Garfield Mayor Gary Blackburn said Garfield is a member of the Arkansas Municipal League and recently paid dues for the Legal Defense Fund, something he selected not to do until questioned by aldermen.
"Traditionally, I've not used it at all," Blackburn said of the defense fund. "I'm not really a fan of the Arkansas Municipal League, but that's me personally. The city has always supported them and the former mayor was on the executive committee."
Blackburn said he would prefer to see training offered for mayors of towns and cities of different sizes with them grouped with members of similiar sizes.
Garfield paid $110.28 Dec. 19, 2015, to the Arkansas Municipal League. The city paid $978.74 in October 2013 for the League Defense fund.
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Editor's note: Some information from www.arml.org.
General News on 05/04/2016