Aldermen to consider more SROS

On the heels of the Benton School Board approving a measure to add additional school resource officers to its district, the Benton City Council will consider the measure during a Monday night meeting.

The Aldermen will vote on a resolution that will authorize the city to enter into a contract with the Benton School District for the 2019-20 school year that will see the number of SROS increased from five to seven.

“This will put one school resource officer at every campus in the district,” said Benton School District Chief Financial Officer Laura Baber.

The total cost for the seven SROS will be $311,000 with the district and BNPD sharing the costs in a 60/40 split. The district will cover the 60 percent.

The aldermen will also consider a resolution authorizing the city attorney to file lawsuits in Saline County Circuit Court seeking to abate public nuisances located at 15 properties inside the city limits.

Those properties include 13 and 14 Hiland, owned by Frank Dufek; 719 Border St., owned by Shawn and Shane Wehunt; 813 S. Main St., owned by Mike Richey; 1310 W. Maple, owned by Dorothy Braithwaite; 219 1/2 Thompson, owned by Linda Larkin; 712 Hester, owned by Brenda and Sam Fulcher; 1210 Chris Dr., owned by Ricky Robinson; 510 Columbia, owned by Diana Goins; 324 Second St., owned by Jerry Brown; 511 Third St., owned by Richard and Dewanna Watkins; 805 Burton, owned by Rob Winters; 215 E. Cross, owned by Candice Webb; 521 Third St., owned by Judith Reed; and 1021 W. Ashley, owned by Joy Newborn Smoot.

Other items on the agenda include:

• An ordinance authorizing the payment of the 2018 suit of the city’s financial records.

• An ordinance authorizing the receipt of the proceeds from the sale of the Palace Theatre.

• An ordinance authorizing the transfer of funds to the city clerk’s office to pay the publication costs of city ordinances.

• An ordinance authorizing the transfer of funds from the communications facility and equipment fund in order to purchase replacement batteries for city owned communications equipment.

• An ordinance accepting grant proceeds from the Walmart Foundation and appropriating funds for the purchase of equipment for the Benton Police Department.

• A resolution authorizing the sale of surplus property, namely a 2012 Dodge Charger, owned by the BNPD, at auction.

• An ordinance authorizing the transfer of monies from the Financial Stability Fund to the Animal Control Fund for repairs to the Animal Control Facility.

• A resolution authorizing the mayor and the city clerk to execute a lease with Johnny Mcmahan for the use of certain real property within the city for $300 per month.

• An ordinance providing a conditional use permit for a dog grooming business at 909 Sunset Drive.

• An ordinance amending ordinance 26 of 2019 revising stormwater fees charged by the city to persons who are age 65 or older who are on Social Security disability.

• A resolution accepting the lowest acceptable bid for a grant with the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism for a second splash pad at Tyndall Park.

• A resolution accepting the lowest acceptable bid for fence construction at Tyndall Park.

• A resolution accepting the lowest acceptable bid for the construction of sand volleyball courts at Riverside Park.

The pre-council agenda meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the city council meeting beginning at 7 p.m.

The meeting will be held at the Benton Municipal Complex, located at 114 S. East St.

All meetings are open to the public and attendance is encouraged.