The Mountain Home City Council moved swiftly through a light agenda Thursday night, voting to keep the city’s millage the same for another year. Heather Loftis has the story.
Listen:
The millage will stay at two mills, where it has been for over forty years. It’s been at two mills since Baxter County passed a sales tax back in 1982.
The council also approved two ordinances amending previous ordinances to expand and redefine job classification, wage scales and compensation plans for salaried employees. It was done to bring the city into compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Department of Labor has changed the minimum threshold for salaried employees. As of July first the minimum rose to $43,888 and by Jan. 1, the minimum salary will be $58,656.
The council also heard an update on the North Central Arkansas Economic Alliance from Mountain Home Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Dani Pugsley. The council voted in May to pay $10,000 quarterly to the alliance to bring economic expansion and development to the Twin Lakes Area.
Pugsley said in the first quarter since the alliance started work, they have seen 140 seen new business licenses, 260 new jobs created and $20 million from the new businesses.
Pugsley told the council the alliance and the mayor have been working with a national retailer recently to bring their store to Mountain Home recently, and they hope to be able to make an announcement in the next 30 days.
She told the council they have been working with the Baxter County Quorum County and they have 30 acres available at the Industrial Park in Midway available for prospective businesses.
Pugsley also says they have applied for a workforce development grant through the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. They will also be hosting a workforce development summit in Mountain Home Oct. 18.
They also continue to work on the 5-year strategic plan for the downtown area.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI