Alderman appointment tops council agenda

The Benton City Council will consider a resolution to confirm the appointment of Steve Brown to the Ward 1 alderman position to replace former Alderman Kerry Murphy during its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night.

The city council’s personnel committee, along with other council members, unanimously voted to approve Brown’s appointment earlier this month.

“I am very excited,” Brown said after the committee meeting. “I really don’t think they could have gone wrong with any of the candidates and it’s fortunate that I was selected. I am very happy and looking forward to the challenge.”

Brown, who is the CEO of Alcoa Community Federal Credit Union, said that his experiences in the financial services industry will be invaluable in facing some of the challenges the city has seen pertaining to revenue.

“I am really anxious to get plugged in and really understand what the challenges are,” Brown said.

Brown is the president-elect for Benton/bauxite Rotary Club and a former member of the Benton Parks Commission where he served as chairman for three of his five-year tenure. He is the current chairman of the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce.

The aldermen will also consider a motion to appoint Alderman Steve Lee as the council’s liaison to the A&P Commission. Prior to his resignation from the council, Murphy was the liaison to the commission.

Also on the agenda, the aldermen will consider a resolution authorizing the city attorney to file lawsuits to abate public nuisances at four properties inside the Benton city limits.

Those properties include:

•619 Gertrude - S. River Investment.

•2219 S. Neeley - Kimberly Brooks.

•2303 S. Neeley - Kimberly Brooks.

•404 Second Street - Mark Carter.

Other items on the agenda include:

•A service award will be presented to Michelle Gibson for 20 years of service.

•An ordinance accepting sale proceeds from auctioned items for the Benton Police Department and authorizing the purchase of police vehicles.

•A resolution authorizing the mayor and police chief to apply for grant funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program in order to purchase new computers for the BNPD.

•An ordinance authorizing the purchase of additional equipment for the Benton Fire Department.

•An ordinance transferring money from the general fund to the animal control fund.

•An ordinance authorizing an early principal payment on the Alcoa Rd. loan.

•An ordinance accepting grant funds from the AARP for the design and purchase of artistic crosswalks and signage in the downtown area.

•An ordinance annexing territory at Exit 114.

•A resolution authorizing the city of Benton to enter into a contract with the Central Arkansas Development Council for space at the Benton Senior Wellness and Activity Center.

The pre-council agenda meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the mayor’s conference room with the council meeting set to being at 7 p.m. in the council chambers. The meetings 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.