Baptist gives A&P Commission update

Benton Alderman Frank Baptist recently updated the Benton City Countil regarding changes to the A&P Commission.

Brandy Crabtree has been sworn in to the commission, replacing outgoing commissioner Mark Fikes. The commission also voted to approve Jordan Woolbright & Associates to handle bookkeeping for the commission for the year.

According to Baptist, the commission also chose to form an emergency committee made up of the A&P Commission chairman, the Benton Event Center director and the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce president.

The purpose of the emergency committee is to meet as needed in order to discuss the usage of the Benton Event Center by city, county or state government agencies in response to emergency situations. Baptist gave examples such as tornadoes, acts of God or pandemic situations as times agencies might

need to makes use of the event center.

“This emergency committee has the option to waive rental fees,” Baptist said.

In a report concerning 2020 receipts as compared to the same time last year, Baptist reported that receipts for the month of April, the most recent information available, were down 18 percent.

“It is the consensus thinking of the chamber president and the A&P Commission that the loss will be made up by years end,” Baptist said.

Baptist will give an update on the June meeting of the A&P Commission during the July meeting of the city council.