RUSSELLVILLE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS APPROVED AN EXTENSION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT, DURING THEIR JANUARY SESSION LAST (TUES.) EVENING. RANDALL WILLIAMS HAS SERVED THE RUSSELVILLE DISTRICT IN THAT CAPASITY SINCE 2006. IN OTHER MATTERS, THE BOARD ALSO AUTHORIZED A SECOND LIEN CONSTRUCTION BOND SERIES FOR 2015, IN THE AMOUNT OF 6.5-MILLION DOLLARS. SEVERAL CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE PLANNED, AS A RESULT. A REPRESENTATIVE OF STEVENS, INCORPORATED, ON HAND TO REVIEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATTER, ALSO INFORMED THE BOARD THAT A 2010 BOND ISSUE BY THE DISTRICT COULD BE REFUNDED THIS YEAR, AND IN DOING SO, COULD SAVE THE DISTRICT SOME 850-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
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RUSSELLVILLE CITY CORPORATION AND CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO WORK ON A PROPOSAL TO SIGNIFICANTLY UPDATE AN AGING WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE. DURING A TUESDAY SESSION, CORPORATION MANAGER STEVE MALLETT OUTLINED THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE SYSTEM, AND THE NECESSITY OF REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CITY. AN ESTIMATED COST??? IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 71-MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT SIX YEARS. MALLETT SAID THEIR PROPOSAL WOULD NET A MAJORITY OF IMPROVEMENTS FUNDS FROM BOND ISSUANCES, BUT, AN INCREASE IN WATER AND SEWER RATE STRUCTURE WOULD MOST LIKELY BE NECESSARY. THE EXTENT OF HOW THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE MADE, AND HOW FUNDING WOULD BE STRUCTURED WERE OUTLINED IN A MORE THAN 2 HOUR MEETING. FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE MATTER IS EXPECTED DURING THE UPCOMING JANUARY SESSION OF THE RUSSELLVILLE CITY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING.
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THE CITY OF MORRILTON'S NEW MAYOR SAYS HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE WILL LIKELY BE A "REBUILDING" YEAR FOR THE CITY. ALLEN LIPSMEYER DOESN'T ANTICIPATE ENGAGING IN ANY MAJOR PROJECTS THAT MIGHT DRAIN THE CITY'S FINANCES. HE SAYS LEADERS WILL TRY TO "TAME BACK" ANY EXCESS SPENDING AND LOOK FOR UNIQUE WAYS TO INCREASE REVENUE. MAYOR LIPSMEYER SAYS THE CITY HAS MANAGED TO STAY IN GOOD FINANCIAL STANDING, DESPITE A SLIGHT DECREASE IN SALES TAX COLLECTIONS IN 2014.
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DURING A PLANNED THURSDAY SESSION OF THE POTTSVILLE SCHOOL BOARD, THE JANUARY SESSION WILL INVOLVE A DISCUSSION OF THE GOOGLE CHROME-BOOK PROGRAM AND DISTRICT'S POSSIBLE INVOLVEMENT, FINANCE, BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS AND POLICY UPDATES, AND RECOGNIZITION THEIR STUDENTS OF THE MONTH. CONSIDERATION OF A VEHICLE PURCHACE IS ALSO INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA. A STUDENT DISCIPLINE HEARING WILL BE HELD AT 6:30, WITH THE FULL BOARD TO MEET AT 7 P/M, IN THE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY.
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