City of Dierks to see increase in millage rate

Millage rates are increasing in the city of Dierks for the first time in 32 years.  During Monday’s October council meeting, aldermen voted to raise the general millage from 1.7 to a new rate of three mills. 

In addition, the council also voted to create a one mill taxing rate to assist the fire department. 

At the start of yesterday’s meeting, council members heard concerns from the fire department, regarding a lack of participation by firemen.  The city council was told that Dierks has the only municipal fire department, in Arkansas, where firemen aren’t paid anything when they respond to calls.  The Dierks Fire Department has around twenty individuals on the roster.  However, only five to six of those people show up on calls. Department leadership was asked to report back at next month’s council meeting with statistics on how many calls firemen respond to on a monthly basis.