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Cotter City Council adopts 2025 operating budget and approves six other resolutions
Summary
At its Jan. 23 meeting the Cotter City Council unanimously adopted the 2025 operating budget and passed six other resolutions covering member conduct, meeting procedures, records destruction, an RFP for a federal funds audit, personnel handbook amendments and a police vehicle purchase.
Cotter City Council met Jan. 23, 2025, in council chambers and unanimously adopted the city's operating budget for 2025 and six additional resolutions, the mayor said at the meeting.
The actions came during the council's regular meeting, which opened with roll call, an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Caradine called the meeting to order; present were Council Members Chuck Sugg, Joe Bass, Mertice Kray, Ang Pereira and Linda McCarthy. Council Member Carolyn Gill was absent.
Council approved the minutes of a prior special hearing and a regular meeting after motions from Councilwoman Mertice Kray, with Councilman Chuck Sugg and Councilman Joe Bass providing seconds. Both motions passed, with Councilwoman Ang Pereira recorded as abstaining on the minutes votes because she said she was not on the council at the time of those meetings.
The council then moved through a slate of resolutions. Councilwoman Mertice Kray moved to adopt Resolution 2024-25, the city's operating budget for 2025; Councilman Joe Bass seconded and the motion passed unanimously. The council also passed Resolution 2025-02, establishing a city council member code of conduct (motion by Councilman Chuck Sugg; second by Councilwoman Linda McCarthy); Resolution 2025-03, establishing a code of meetings and activities for council members (motion by Councilwoman Ang Pereira; second by Councilman Chuck Sugg); and Resolution 2025-04, authorizing destruction of certain outdated documents (motion by Councilman Joe Bass; second by Councilman Chuck Sugg). All three motions were recorded as passing unanimously.
The council considered Resolution 2025-05, to issue a request for proposals to hire a certified public accountant to conduct an audit of federal funds. The transcript record repeats language from Resolution 2025-04 in the motion paragraph; the meeting record shows the council approved the RFP resolution and marked the vote as passed unanimously. The minutes text includes this duplication as recorded by the clerk.
Councilwoman Mertice Kray also moved to adopt Resolution 2025-06, amending the 2019 Employee Personnel Handbook, and Resolution 2025-07, to purchase an additional police vehicle; Councilman Chuck Sugg and Councilman Joe Bass provided the seconds respectively. Both motions were recorded as passing unanimously.
Before and between votes the council received routine departmental reports: the public works report and planning and zoning report were read by Mayor Caradine; the fire department report was given by Chief Lyle Jack; the police department report was given by Chief Travis Hopson; and building permit information was provided by Recorder/Treasurer Andrea Kray. The Tree Advisory Board reported no items.
In informational announcements, Mayor Caradine said elected officials serving the 2023'2024 term must submit a Statement of Financial Interest to the recorder/treasurer by Jan. 31, 2025, and that council liaison assignments will be posted on the city website. He read into the minutes proofs of posting for the 2025 operating budget and of final revenues and expenditures for 2024; the minutes text includes the posting ranges as read at the meeting (the posted dates in the read statement contain a year-range phrasing that appears inconsistent and is noted in the meeting record).
During audience announcements Debbie Gamble said the Christmas event distributed 312 presents; Mayor Caradine thanked volunteers. Fire Chief Lyle Jack said two firefighters are currently in EMT school and expected to be certified by May; he also said two people received partial grants of $800 to assist with course costs.
The meeting closed with council comments congratulating Andrea Kray on 10 years of service as recorder/treasurer, welcoming Councilwoman Ang Pereira and expressing appreciation for city employees and for Chief Travis Hopson's return. Councilwoman Mertice Kray moved to adjourn; Councilman Joe Bass seconded and the motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
