Council gives go-ahead to apply for water grant

DECATUR — The Decatur City Council gathered Jan. 14 in the conference room at Decatur City Hall for its first regular session of 2019. Topping the agenda was giving approval for the city of Decatur to apply for a grant to fund the Western Decatur Rural Water Extension project.

The first order of business was the swearing-in ceremony for the Council members by Mayor Bob Tharp. The entire council was re-elected during the Nov. 6, 2018, general elections. The six-member council consists of Linda Martin, Ladale Clayton, Robin Holt, Sandy Duncan, James Jessen and Danny Harrington.

The next order of business was the approval of the 2019 Rules of Order which included electing a new president pro tempore to fill in for the mayor in the event of his absence. In a 6-0 vote, the council appointed city clerk Kim Wilkins as president pro tempore.

The main topic for the council consideration was the approval of a resolution to allow the city to apply for an Arkansas Community and Economic Development Program grant to fund the Decatur Rural Water Extension project in western Decatur.

Over the last two years, several rural Decatur residents have sent letters to the city requesting city water.

During a public hearing held prior to the city council meeting, two residents of West Mountain

Road pledged their support for the extension project. City grant writer Cassie Elliot and James Boston, Decatur public works director, presented the plans for the project as well as the grant application proposal for public consideration.

The council unanimously approved submitting an application for the ACEDP grant funds. Also approved as a condition of receiving the grant funds were measures regarding citizen participation, residential relocation and establishing a policy prohibiting the use of excessive force.

In other business, the council approved the 2019 city, water, street department and Benton County District Court West budgets. The council appointed James Boston and Bob Tharp to the Benton Washington Regional Public Water Authority board of directors.

The Decatur City Council meets every second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in the conference room at Decatur City Hall. The first 30 minutes of each meeting is set aside for citizen comments and concerns. For more information, contact the Decatur City clerk’s office at 479-752-3912.