BENTONVILLE -- City Council members asked about the possibility of adding money for maintenance to the city's trail system in next years's budget during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday.
All eight council members were present. No action was taken.
Meetings
Additional meetings that will include discussion of the 2016 budget are scheduled for tonight, Nov. 23 and Nov. 24. All meetings will be at 6 p.m. in the Community Development Building at 305 S.W. A St.
Source: Staff report
The trail system has grown into something that's gained national recognition and is something people will travel to experience, said Tim Robinson, alderman. He said Slaughter Pen Jam is one of the state's largest mountain biking events and the International Mountain Bicycling Association will host its world summit in Bentonville next year.
Robinson said he's worried about the sustainability of the trails as they continue to grow and heavily rely on volunteers for maintenance. He asked the rest of council if money should be allotted into the budget to help with trail maintenance.
Council discussed the possibility with David Wright, Parks and Recreation director, for about a half hour of the nearly two-hour meeting.
The 2016 proposed budget does include $20,000 for maintenance at Slaughter Pen Park and $50,000 for work on hard surfaced trails. That money does not include money for regular maintenance, Wright said.
The trails are an attraction, and the city is gaining revenue when people stay at hotels and eat at restaurants in town. It only makes sense quantify it and give some back for upkeep, said Bill Burckart, alderman.
Jim Webb, alderman, said he sees the position being full time with "someone who is dedicated to making sure our trails are in great shape, because they haven't always been."
Webb said Rogers' trail system is just developing yet the city is already looking at hiring a trails coordinator.
Council members asked Wright to look at what it would cost to contract the work. Wright said he could develop numbers in two weeks but not before tonight's council meeting, where the budget discussion is expected to continue.
Wright reminded the council when the first trails were donated to the city seven or eight years ago, it was done with the understanding that volunteers would maintain them.
No one really knew those first trails would turn into what the system is today, Robinson said. The volunteers would still offer help with maintenance, but the trails are outgrowing the manpower.
"I just want to make sure that we, as a city, are showing leadership and that we're grateful for these gifts that we're given," Robinson said, referring to the fact many trails have been donations to the city.
Denise Land, finance director, walked the council through the 2016 proposed budget. Department heads were available to answer questions.
The proposed budget shows the expenses as being $1.4 million less than the projected revenue. The total revenue is predicted to be $134.9 million with the expenses being $132.9 million and $585,000 in transfers.
That includes a 1.5 percent cost of living adjustment and 1.5 percent merit-based raise for all eligible city employees, according to a memo from Mayor Bob McCaslin to council members.
The general fund revenue is projected to be $36.4 million with $35.7 million in expenditures, leaving a net of $723,525. That's a 168.6 percent increase from 2015's budgeted $269,358.
NW News on 11/10/2015