SWC City Council Approves 2018 Budget

After weeks of crunching numbers, Southwest City's Board of Aldermen approved necessary amendments to the 2017 budget and accepted the proposed 2018 budget.

City Clerk Missy Zinn provided council members with the most recent version of the budgets for review, noting she had altered a few numbers to balance the budget.

Zinn said she increased revenue to include impending FEMA reimbursements, lowered administrative expenses, and increased the police department budget to include the cost of an additional officer.

Departmental Reports

Mayor David Blake relayed a message on behalf of Steve Parnell, of Anderson, to the council. Blake said Parnell is speaking with a party from Rogers, Ark., who is interested in developing a 40-unit apartment complex in Southwest City. The property would need city water and sewer connections.

Blake noted the addition could generate much-needed tax revenue for the city, but he is waiting until completed drawings are submitted to the Planning and Building Commission before he initiates further discussion.

City Clerk Zinn addressed the council regarding the final product of an art contest at the elementary school last year. Students were tasked with creating a design for a new city welcome sign.

Council members selected a sign design, but it was never erected due to the cost.

Zinn suggested mounting the sign at Blankenship Park, by the landmark Southwest City Indian's mural.

Mayor Blake agreed the park would be a good location due to the spot's popularity and rich, local history.

Zinn provided council members with an insurance policy to review. The city has been covered by the same local agent for years and is looking at other available options.

Zinn noted that few insurance agencies in the area offer municipal government policies, so choices were limited, but the provided agency serves nearly every city in the region.

She said this plan is comparable coverage, "if not better," at a cost of $30,000 annually.

Alderman Ron Jackson asked about the penalties and rebates associated with terminating the city's current contract before it expires midyear.

Zinn said she was unsure of the penalty cost, but estimated a rebate of $10,000 -- $20,000 from the current policy. She suggested using the rebate and the $10,000 saved by switching policies to pay for the annual cost of the new policy.

"I can't imagine the company that covers the rest of McDonald County isn't good enough for Southwest City," said Mayor Blake.

No decision was made.

Community on 01/04/2018