Council approves park-related budget items, introduces midyear amendment

The Jasper City Council on May 6 approved Budget Amendment No. 16 for park and equipment items and heard introductions of a midyear budget amendment and additional funding requests.

Kathy Chambers, the city staff member presenting budget items, told the council that amendment No. 16 provided $26,300 for park improvements related to natatorium lighting and playground sod, $25,500 for a traffic lot design, $31,158 for right-of-way work on Arcadelphia Airport Road, and $3,400 for additional funding for fire department pickup trucks. “Just a few budgetary matters,” Chambers said as she summarized the line items brought forward for approval.

Council members voted to approve the items listed for immediate action. Chambers also introduced a midyear budget amendment she said would increase the city’s recognized revenue by $700,000 while proposing roughly $500,000 in additional expenses across departments; she described that proposal as an introduction for later approval. Chambers said the landfill is expected to produce additional revenue (stated in the meeting as about "300" in the transcript) and that related adjustments would require further line-item funding.

Chambers also presented Budget Amendment No. 18, introduced at a prior work session, seeking $130,000 for partial roof and gutter replacement at the natatorium and lighting at Valley Park. She said the garbage fund would request $135,000 to replace an office and $395,000 for a new garbage truck, and she noted $205,000 from bond proceeds for additional signage, appliances and outdoor furnishings at the auditorium renovation.

The council approved the immediately presented budget amendment items and recorded the midyear amendment and the additional requests as introduced for later action and formal vote.