The next payday is going to be a little more pleasant for several Jonesboro officials thanks to the action taken by the Jonesboro Board of Aldermen at their regularly scheduled meeting held at the Charles H. Garrett Community Center in Jonesboro on August 11th.
The board that consists of Devin Flowers, Pete Stringer, Robbie Siadek, James Ginn and Nia Evans-Johnson will now receive $700.00 per month per Ordinance #2020-005 that passed by a vote of 4-1 with Flowers casting the only negative vote.
“I just think this is a bad time to be raising our salary,” voiced Flowers. “There are still a lot of things that need to be straightened out and I think it would be better to wait until we get everything resolved that we need to get done before we do this.”
Also receiving an up in pay is Town Clerk Amanda Womack and Tax Collector Janice Jones. Per Ordinance 2020-004 which was approved unanimously, Womack will now make $20.00 per hour while Jones will receive $18.00.
Additional Ordinances that were approved without opposition was #2020-006 and #2020-007 that were in reference to updated Sewer and Water budgets. Ordinance #2020-008 that dealt with declaring the 19th of June each year as Juneteenth Day was also approved. This will go into effect beginning January 1, 2021.
Four resolutions were also brought up for discussion with two being approved and two being tabled. The board approved Fire Chief Brandon Brown to move forward with a lease-purchase agreement with Government Capital Corporation (GCC) for two American Lafrance Fire Trucks as well adopt the DEQ Sewer Compliance Upgrade recommendations. The authorization for Mayor Leslie Thompson to purchase new meters and for the town to be able to incur additional debt was tabled until the September meeting.
The meeting wrapped up with Ordinance #2020-009 regarding the water rates in the town of Jonesboro being introduced with a Public Hearing date set for the next regularly scheduled meeting set for September 8, 2020 at 5:30 pm. The meeting ended following Mayor Thompson and the Council giving their closing comments.
See attachments below to review language in the Ordinances that were passed.