Dierks City Council Names Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District as project manager

Monday night, the Dierks City Council met for the regular monthly meeting.

Council members passed a resolution naming Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District as the project manager for the city’s water improvement grant. The council also amended a motion from April that increased the city’s sewer rate. According to Mayor Ronnie Cogburn, the council will need to increase the sewer rate eventually, but that time will be determined after he speaks with the city’s fiscal agent.

Cogburn informed the council that the water meter payment was due, however the city did not have enough funds in the water fund to cover the amount. Council members voted to move funds from the city’s depreciation account to the water fund to cover the expenditure.

Police Chief John McKee reported his department has been writing tickets to property owners who are out of compliance with the city clean up ordinance.

Fire Chief Roddy Smith updated the council on the fire department’s new computer program. The program cost $150 a month but will be helpful in getting the city’s ISO rating lower.

Smith said he received a grant from Weyerhaeuser in the amount of $8,500. He said he used those funds to purchase four new turnouts. Smith said he plans to apply for another Weyerhaeuser grant that will be used to buy more turnouts, next year.