The Mountain Home City Council had a busy agenda Thursday night, passing several ordinances including a new trash contract for city residents, the sale of the soon to be vacant fire station number two and a raise for the city clerk. Heather Loftis shares the following report.
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The new trash contract between Waste Connections and the city will begin Dec. 1 and will allow residents to choose between three sizes of trash cans for the same price. Residential customers can have 35, 65 of 96 gallon carts for $21.95 per month plus tax. The same cart choice goes for commercial customers except the price is $36.92 per month plus tax.
Waste Connections will continue to do twice-a-year city wide clean ups at no cost. They will also offer a new “door side” service for handicapped customers at no cost.
The council also approved a resolution to accept a bid to sell the old fire station number 2 once it is vacated which is expected to be in March when the new fire station number 2 on U.S. Highway 62/412 East is completed.
The city had originally taken bids for the building in July, but rejected the only bid that was received which was for $125,000. They reopened the bidding last month and the high bid the council accepted is from Baxter Health for $225,000. Mayor Hillrey Adams told the council the hospital is planning on using the building for an ambulance station.
The council also approved a salary hike for the city clerk position, currently held by Scott Liles. The current salary is $42,976 but it will move to $50,000 per year after the council voted to approve the resolution Thursday night.
Liles, who drew high praise from council members and longtime city attorney Roger Morgan for the work he has done, is in his first term as city clerk. A check of salaries for other city clerks in cities in Arkansas with similar population shows even with the raise, the Mountain Home clerks salary will be lower than most of the others.
In other business, the Mountain Home City Council approved the removal or razing of a house at 1417 Hallmark Circle. The house has been vacant since the owner died in 2016 and is in disrepair.
The council also approved an amendment to the Southwest Collection System Project for construction oversight and boring under the highway as needed.
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