Council not satisfied with progress on leak repair Nicky Boyette Mayor Butch Berry told Eureka Springs City Council Monday the city is “close to hitting its budget.” He cited anomalies such as unexpected maintenance expenses for the Fire Department, but said overall, the department was staying within budget. The Police Department was in a similar situation, over budget on professional services but within range of hitting the budget target by year’s end. The Public Works budget, however, prompted a more robust discussion. Berry said the increase in water rates by the CarrollBoone Water District (CBWD) is costing the city as much as $8000 per month, and the city had to pay for water meters Public Works is still installing. Alderman David Mitchell was not satisfied with the pace with which the new water meters were being installed or the amount of lost revenue the city was recouping. He cited figures council had been given that 52.4 percent of the existing meters had been replaced, but increased revenue is not what was forecast when Public Works Director Dwayne Allen spoke with council a year ago. Finance Director Lonnie Clark said he had been told by Allen the easy-to-replace meters had been changed out and ones remaining require more digging and interruption to businesses. He commented even if the city does not see a huge bump in revenue it would still be a good thing if loss of water were narrowed to a more acceptable amount. Mitchell still maintained 52 percent of the meters have been replaced but the city has recouped only five percent of its losses.
Higher and Higher – Rita Coolidge lifted the spirits of a wildly enthusiastic crowd of some 350 Oct. 10 when she sang “Higher and Higher” at the auditorium. Coolidge in turn was impressed with Eureka Springs and said she didn’t want to leave. She performed for nearly two hours without a break and included stories about touring with Eric Clapton and writing for “Layla.” She also discussed her Cherokee heritage and sang in that language. Her performance drew the crowed to a “standing O.” The gracious star also spent lots of time mingling with fans. Photo by Susan Storch
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This Week’s INDEPENDENT Thinkers Aaron and Evan Steed were in high school in 1997 and needed spending cash, so they decided to move people. Of course, they didn’t own a van or truck, so the customer rented the vehicle and picked the brothers up to do all the loading and unloading. Their fee was $20 and a pizza, and Meathead Movers was launched. Before long, they owned moving vans and employed about 25 student athletes to do the heavy lifting. What makes the company even more interesting, is they now partner with women’s shelters and respond to domestic abuse calls. When a woman, or sometimes a man, must get out of a volatile situation immediately, they show Photo credit: goodnewsnetwork.org up, put all they can in the van, and deliver it to the frantic individual’s new address. For free.
Inside the ESI Arrests 3 Council – Lights; Water-Sewer Line warranty 4 Council – Public Works building 5 HDC 6 Council – Liquor Ordinance 7 Constables on Patrol; ME determines 10 Independent Lens 12-13 Fire 14 Independent Art 14-15 Astrology 16 Indy Soul 18 Crossword 21 Classifieds 22
Politics isn’t left vs. right, it’s top vs. bottom. – Jim Hightower