BENTON — In his state of the city address, Benton’s mayor highlighted the city’s success, and city officials said he is setting a positive tone for next year.
Mayor Tom Farmer, who took office Jan. 1, used his address on Monday to herald Benton’s economic progress. In the past year, there was an increase of $880,000 in sales tax collections, and during the first two months of 2019 the city has seen a 9.97 percent increase in sales tax revenue.
“So we’re going down the right road at this point,” Farmer said.
The city also brought in new business ventures, such as an expansion to Colorado-based Coorstek, which is bringing 30 to 35 jobs to Benton. Farmer credited the expansion to a partnership between Saline County and Benton.
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City Council Member Jocelyn Cash said it’s important to keep an emphasis on collaborating with external organizations.
“He’s made it a lot more approachable...” Council Member Steve Lee said about Farmer’s work in the mayor’s office.
Council Member Jeff Hamm agreed and said Farmer has done a good job thus far.
“The environment has changed drastically for the positive,” Lee said.
Cash said she appreciates Farmer’s focus on improving public safety, such as his work implementing a pay raise for the Police Department.
“I think it’s citywide and city friendly,” Cash said about Farmer’s initiatives.
Farmer said he wants to continue to revitalize Benton’s downtown. At a February town hall meeting, 75 people stepped up to volunteer to help improve downtown. Farmer said he thinks Benton’s Third Thursday events, set to pick back up April 18, will draw more people into the downtown area. Third Thursday events will occur monthly until September, and April’s event will feature a band and food trucks.
During the address, Farmer pledged to work with the Benton Chamber of Commerce to plan more strategies to improve downtown and noted that last spring marked the opening of the Benton farmers market, which he expects to raise its success from the previous year.
Marking another first, Farmer noted that on April 6 the Benton and Bryant baseball teams will compete in the Big Red Baseball Series at the newly constructed Everett Field in an event similar to the Salt Bowl.
On Saturday, Farmer said he also expects more than 1,000 people to volunteer to clean up Benton neighborhoods. Farmer voiced his appreciation for Benton residents, who he said care about their community.
“The first three months of being in office has been an uplifting experience,” Farmer said.