In mid session Monday eve City Clerk Sabrina Brown read the certification of election results furnished by the office of the Benton County Clerk, then swore in re-elected Mayor Glen Nelson and returning Aldermen Jack Lietzke, and newly elected Alderman Seth Casey.
The meeting opened at 6:00 PM on April 8, with Aldermen Lietzke, Barbara Hammond, Phil Fisher present. Alderman Janice Swearngin was absent. Mayor Nelson presided; Clerk Brown recorded.
First actions by the group were to approve an amended agenda, minutes of its March meeting and an amended agenda, then okay payment of bills presented.
Then County Economic Developer Jo Ann Lane presented information on a recent "Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference" recently held in Benton County. She furnished info that there were about 160 attendees including non-registered attendees and volunteers who bought perhaps $1,200 on meals and shopping during pre-visits, and spent about $190 each for lodging, shopping, etc. during their stay, for a total of about $16,505 on food, gift cards and other supplies purchased locally during that period. She also reported there will be a county "Spring Boutique Crawl" on April 12-13, and a Credit Workshop on April 24 for anybody who wants to improve their credit; then added that the Heights venue is now available for rent, and the Premier Automotive lot and building are for sale. She observed that at a USDA meeting last week, she found that many grants and loans were available through USDA.
Police Chief Jason Wenberg said that in March his department received about 42 calls for service, made 9 traffic stops, wrote 2 motor vehicle accident reports, issued 4 summons, and made one arrest.
Public Works Director Josh Cole reported the water tower has been sample tested and is back on-line, his department is crack sealing roads, well #3 switch was replaced, west lift pumps were pulled - plugged again with wipes, drainage behind the school was re-routed because of ground saturation, and the department cleaned out junk in the water tower area, and had a DNR inspection.
City Clerk Brown reported a recent software upgrade, and said there will be a June training session for the city's elected officers.
Just before the session closed at about 6:20 PM, Mayor Nelson said the next meeting will include a budget review and further discussion on a proposed food truck ordinance.
The public is welcome to open sessions of this group, usually held on 2nd Monday eves.
