Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Secretary Appointed At Emmet

Emmet now has a new recorder/treasurer.

The Emmet City Council, in its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, Oct. 14, appointed Dorothy Hamilton to replace Anita Allen in the position.

Hamilton will be paid $350 per month, but has agreed to refuse all salary in excess of $50 per month.

Hamilton is a former member of the Emmet City Council.

Emmet Mayor Ottis P. "Chuck" Otwell said one other person was considered, but couldn't take the job because of his current job.

Anita Allen will continue working with the city as its administrative assistant with a monthly salary of $600.

The city paid $1,152 to have the old bowling alley rewired for air conditioning. It originally had 100 amp breakers, but the new five-ton units require 50 amps each. The service, Otwell said, was changed to a 200 amp breaker.

The wiring was redone because it was unsightly and a fire hazard, he said.

In order for the city to put more trailers in the city's trailer park, gas lines will have to be installed. Until now, Otwell said, all of the mobile homes in the park have been all-electric, but with the planned expansion, the city will have to build more pads and run a gas line.

Plans are in the works to add spaces for more trailers. The city will have to pay more than $1,000 initially, but will get $700 back from Arkla for each new hookup.

The council agreed, with Jack Faulkner saying several more trailers could be added to the park in the area planned and gas needs to be there.

From there, the city approved two millages, both required by law.

A millage of 4.9 percent was approved for residents living on the Hempstead County side of the line, while one of 5.0 percent was passed for those in Nevada County.

This is a statutory law requiring the millage to be passed annually by the city's governing body in order for the property tax, both real and personal, to remain on the books.

The millage issue had to be passed before Nov. 1 so the quorum courts of Hempstead and Nevada counties could address them before the first of the year. These bodies must also approve the millage for the tax to stay on the books.

Revenue from the millage goes into the city's general fund and is used for general purposes.

Residents should know this is not a new tax, but a rollover of an existing tax. Cities in Arkansas are allowed to charge a maximum of 5 mill on real and property taxes. Emmet, though, is in a unique situation as parts of the city limits are in two counties, thereby allowing the two millages.

Otwell presented the council with figures comparing the city's status to date to Dec. 31, 1990.

In 1990, the figures show, the city had $269,394.93, without the fire department budget and $293,201.14 with it included.

This includes the funds for the general fund, street department, water and sewer department, pension, payroll and AIDC.

For 1998, the figures show, the total with the fire department is $364,781.89, and $306,777.34 without the fire department funds.

This, Otwell said, shows revenue increases of $37,382.41 and includes the purchase of a new backhoe, sanitation truck, fire truck, pickup for the city, a building for the city shop, additions to the city hall, two new computers, printers and a copier for city hall, an addition to the fire station, streets being black topped, a new park (after a grant) and restrooms in the event park.

Otwell commended the council on the wise management of the city's monies.

Discussing the city's water project, Otwell said engineering expenses have been paid, and a pre-construction conference should be held soon.

Once this conference is held, he said, the city will take bids on having a new well drilled.