Quarterly administrator's report

Patterson gives update after board meeting

At the end of the Siloam Springs Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, City Administrator Phillip Patterson presented a quarterly administrator's report.

Patterson outlined an expenditure for a tractor for the airport. The existing tractor was having repeated mechanical issues, so the city looked to buy a new one. Upon realizing the trade value of the tractor that was already owned by the city, staff traded it in on a new one for a cost of $6,000, instead of buying a second tractor as a backup.

Patterson reported that fuel sales from the airport had more than doubled since the first quarter last year. The city adopted an ordinance last year that allowed Simmons to switch to a larger airplane hanger with the expectation that the larger planes Simmons could house would lead to more fuel sales. Fuel sales rose to 35,918 gallons, 15,968 gallons over last year.

The report also shows that $6,142 was saved in the first quarter of 2016 from the vehicle fuel farm. The total savings from the fuel farm was listed at over $87,000.

Sales tax revenues were also up over the same quarter of 2015. The report showed a 4.6 percent increase in the city over last year. The sales tax receipts from the county are down 2 percent from last year.

Patterson also recognized Nathan Reed for being voted as the city's friendliest employee. Reed works at city hall.

The fire department also held their first awards banquet. Todd Colvin, deputy chief of the fire department, said the department hopes the event can return on a yearly basis.

The report also included the updated Board of Administrators' goals. The goals were adopted July 31, 2015, and reflect the targets of the board for the year.

While progress has been made on most of the goals, the projected end dates of some items have been delayed to the second quarter of 2016. Those are the sidewalk and trail connectivity master plan, policing and maintaining the kayak park, developing a park around the new library and plans for city lake park. The report indicates that the board can expect to see proposals on those issues in the near future.

The final topic on the report is upcoming elections for Siloam Springs city government. Three seats will be up for grabs in this election in addition to the office of mayor.

During her comments at the end of the board meeting, Director Carol Smiley indicated that she will be running for re-election.

Director Bob Coleman will now also be running for re-election after saying he was not at the previous meeting. He said the reason he had initially ruled out running for another term was because he was moving, but he said new information had come to light that will keep him and his wife in Siloam Springs. As he is now staying in town, he will seek re-election.

The third seat up for election is currently filled by Director Scott Jones. Jones will not be returning for re-election as he is moving to Russia to teach.

All three seats are at-large seats, meaning that they do not represent a specific part of the city.

Holland Hayden said Mayor John Mark Turner will seek another term as mayor, which he is free to do as there are no term limits for the position.

General News on 05/04/2016