Thursday, December 23, 2010

TOP STORY > >Sherwood asks budget input

By RICK KRON

Leader staff writer


The Sherwood City Council will discuss and possibly approve six different budgets at its 7 p.m. meeting Monday in its chambers in the police and courts building.


But before the council makes any decisions it will hear from residents in an hour-long public hearing on the budgets from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at the same location.


Each budget must be read and approved by the council three times before it goes into effect. By state law, the city has until Feb. 1, 2011, to have its budget in place.


The council could approve the budgets completely Monday night or read and discuss them once and schedule another meeting, depending on public input.


The council will look at approving the general fund budget, which is set at about $19 million, the street fund department budget, the wastewater fund department budget, the wastewater sales tax fund budget, the drug fund department budget and the advertising and promotion commission budget.


Mayor Virginia Hillman said the proposed budget includes a number of high priority items re-establishment of the street overlay program and two major drainage projects.


“Each of those drainage projects are going to cost us about $100,000,” the mayor said.


But for the second year in a row, there are no raises slated for city employees.


Other business on the agenda includes:


The council will consider two resolutions giving the mayor the authority to submit a grant application for the construction of a daycare and after- school care center at Sylvan Hills Elementary and to designate Central Arkansas Planning and Development District as the project administrator for the construction project.


Aldermen will look at an ordinance locking in the amount the city will contribute toward the retired, elected officials’ health-care premiums, and a resolution adopting the recommendations of the Sherwood Retirement Board regarding city contributions to the retirement fund for 2011.


The council will vote on a resolution stating that it is the policy of the city to adhere to and comply with all laws prohibiting discriminatory policies in relation to both the private and public use of housing and property ownership.


Aldermen will look to approve a pair of resolutions allowing the mayor to submit a grant application for improving infrastructure for ABC Financial based on job creation. The mayor will also have permission to designate Central Arkansas Planning and Development district to act as project administrator for the construction.


Aldermen will debate whether or not to condemn the property at 517 E. Kiehl as a public nuisance.


Two issues from the planning commission are on the agenda. One is for the approval of rezoning property on Highway 107 and Oakdale from R-1 (single-family homes) to C-3 (commercial) and an effort to get the council to reverse the commission’s denial of a PRD rezoning of Lot 4, Bowling World II addition.