Siloam Springs board bids farewell to three directors

Court fines increased by 27 percent, or $55,000, compared to last year.

SILOAM SPRINGS — The city board convened for its final meeting of the year recently at the Siloam Springs Public Library.

Two items requiring action were on the night’s agenda, both were unanimously approved. The first was to confirm the appointing Jim Krall to serve another term on the Regional Airport Authority Board.

The other item for the board’s consideration was approving the cost for renovating Fire Station No. 2. The board approved CR Crawford Construction to oversee the project during its April meeting with a guaranteed price of $1.6 million, according to a report.

It was the last meeting for Ward 1 Director Steve Beers, Ward 3 Director Frank Johnson and Ward 4 Director Amy Smith, who will be replaced in January by Mindy Hunt, Marla Sappington and Lesa Brosch, respectively.

City Administrator Phillip Patterson delivered his report following the board’s regular agenda items, which included an update on October finances and a reminder declining sales tax revenue should return to normal in January once the city begins collecting two percent on transactions again, instead of 1-3/8 percent.

Patterson reported achievements the city has made in 2018. Those include:

■ The Water Reuse project at the wastewater treatment plant has allowed the city to save 99.8 percent on the water bill. The water bill in 2017 was $175,582 and fell to $356 in 2018.

■ The city is recycling at a higher rate, with a 6 percent increase from 2017, or 73 tons. ■ Work orders for the maintenance of city equipment have decreased by six percent and repair costs have decreased by 15 percent, or $31,000.

■ More than 6,300 feet of water and 640 feet of wastewater lines were either replaced or extended.

■ Court fines increased by 27 percent, or $55,000, compared to last year.

■ New electrical services for 150 businesses and entities were installed.

■ The Fire Department fought 70 fires and 97 percent of property and building contents were recovered, which equated to more than $7.75 million worth of property. ■ Training hours at the Fire Department increased 21 percent, averaging 569 hours per person.

■ The “crime clearance rate,” which is percentage of crimes solved by the Police Department, was 81.5 percent for the year; the national average is 34.5 percent.

■ Drug-related arrests increased by 45 percent.

■ Reports of stolen property decreased by 48 percent, reports of vandalism and/or criminal mischief decreased by 38 percent, reports of breaking and entering decreased by 31 percent and reports of theft decreased by 42 percent.