Attendee questions council’s actions

During Monday night’s hearing on Benton City Council ordinance 11, which would extend the A&P tax, many people stood up to voice their opinions and ask questions.

Resident Laura Butler took issue with how the ordinance to extend the tax was proposed.

“Thank you to Steve Lee and Bill Donnor or otherwise it would have been rammed down our throats,” Butler said.

She said trying to approve all three readings in one night made her distrust the council

Council members and Farmer told Butler they had not tried to pass it with three reads in one night.

During the March 22 Benton City Council meeting, which is

available to view through Facebook Live on the city’s Facebook page, Council Member Steve Brown made the motion to read and adopt Ordinance 11, the tax extension. The discussion begins just before minute 34 of the video.

City Clerk Cindy Stracener asked if it was only first read. She was told no.

“It was motioned to read and adopt,” Farmer said in answer to a question from Lee.

“If we pass it, it is a done deal,” Lee asked.

Farmer said since there was no emergency clause, it would go into affect 90 days after it was passed.

Brown told Lee if the council received negative feedback, the ordinance could be repealed.

“So you are saying we are getting the cart before the horse,” Donnor said.

Donnor also said there did not seem to be concrete ideas for the purpose of the money.

“It would be appropriate if we decided to read it three times,” Lee said.

Farmer thought the council still needed to vote, but City Attorney Baxter Drennon said because of the objection, the council could only do the first read.

“According to Resolution one (the resolution that set the way the council is organized,) if there is an objection to second and third readings being waved, then that’s how we have to handle it,” Drennon said.

The council is set to hold the second and third readings at the April and May council meetings, respectively.