2008 Budget Passes

With Ald. Hahn yielding gracefully “in deference to Yvonne [Kline's] conservative budget,” the 2008 budget passed unanimously. Kline is the City’s Finance Director.
The workshop and the special council meeting were something we might have wished from the beginning.

Actuals for 2007 not Available until Jan. 23

The Mayor has continued to cast blame because Council did not pass the budget right away, with no changes, no compromises coming from her– just a threat of malfeasance if Council didn’t get it done when she wanted it.

Additonal Information on Legal Costs in 2007

We recently provided information from Beverly Blankenship saying that the City had spent $75K on legal fees for 2007.
As a result of an FOIA, we have learned that the actuals for the City Attorney for 2007 were $37022.45. We understand that an additional $3K went to Judge Ohm.
We will continue to look further into legal [...]

Kudos to Public Works

Snow swirling and lovely, the road to my house impassable. Public Works out early in the morning, plowing the streets. Road now passable.
Thanks, Public Works, for being on the move this morning. Now I’ll drive my truck to the top of the hill on my road so I can scoot over for the budget meeting [...]

Arkansans on Public TV

Five Arkansans will be interviewed on public television on Thursday, January 31, to discuss issues in the current presidential campaign.
It’s on the McNeil News Hour. On cable, the News Hour begins at 5:30, Channel 13. If you have satellite, I believe the time is 6:30. Don’t know the channel.

To the City Attorney Weaver

To the City Attorney Weaver:
I am currently an alderman serving from Ward 1, Position 1, of the city of Eureka Springs.

Chutzpah Budget 2008

We grant you, the Mayor has chutzpah, trying to pass her budget whole hog, no compromise, no willingness to discuss. There were indeed five budget workshops, as she said, five meaningless, time-consuming workshops, a large portion of which consisted of department heads lobbying for what they wanted.

Proposed Spring Street Closing

The Mayor sent out the following to merchants on upper Spring Street, asking for their support for closing the street Saturday afternoons during season. She withdrew it because of strong opposition from the merchants, she said.
We thought it was an idea well worth a try. We had visions of Mackinac Island

Mayor Joy’s State of the City Address, 2008

Mayor Joy’s State of the City challenged us as citizens “to look past the anger, look past the divisions, and work toward a positive future.”

Interview with Ald. Kathy Harrison

We recently interviewed Alderwoman Kathy Harrison on The Matsukis Matter, as it has been called.
ES Folk (ES): What led you to becoming involved with having Pat Matsukis sworn in as a member of Council?