Russellville Town Council passes 2023 budget

RUSSELLVILLE — Being the main item of business on its agenda, the Russellville Town Council approved the town’s budget for 2023 Wednesday evening.

Because of a delay due to a miscommunication, the council held a special public hearing on the budget on Oct. 12. The hearing was supposed to take place in August.

While the Casino/Riverboat and Cumulative Capital Improvement funds would be unchanged from 2022 at $2,000 and $1,000, respectively, the Local Road and Street and Economic Development Income Tax Credit would see reductions at $4,500 and $9,000. Respectively, they were $9,000 and $10,000.

Meanwhile, the General Fund and the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund would see a moderate increase at $134,795 and $28,700, respectively. For 2022, they were set at $120,075 and $19,400.

The total tentative budget is set at $179,995, with the adopted tax levy at $49,531. As such, the tax rate would be at 71 cents.

Councilman Bill Spiegel abstained from the vote, as he is a member of the Russellville Volunteer Fire Department.

In other business:

• The council passed a resolution setting trick-or-treating on Halloween next Monday from 6-8 p.m.

• The council heard from resident Darrell Carrell about grain semis damaging a gravel patch in front of his home. He related that he has maintained the gravel, as it covers a ditch where water could not drain out of.

Having brought in gravel this summer to level it out, Carrell said trucks from a farming entity drive on the patch to make the turn at a nearby intersection on Harrison Street. As such, a large hole in the gravel will form.

Providing that the drivers do not have to use the gravel to make the turn, Carrell suggested that there has been no communication between him and the farming entity about the issue. As such, he offered to split the cost if the town would help maintain the patch.

From an enforcement aspect, Town Marshal Matt Biggs provided that the gravel is in the utility right-of-way, but would be maintained by Carrell as private property. Otherwise, his semi would not obstruct traffic on Harrison Street if it is not parked on it.

The council signaled that short-term maintenance on the town’s part would be considered. Even so, Council President Cary McGaughey expressed concern about residents wanting other corners to have similar attention.

• It was reported that the town’s new water tower was erected. Troy Elless of Utility Management and Construction noted that electrical will be put in over the winter. McGaughey added that painting the structure will wait until spring.

It is expected that the new water tower will be fully operational — while the old one is to be torn down — by September next year.

With Street Superintendent John Boller and Town Attorney Stu Weliever absent, Councilwoman Cathy Jones joined McGaughey, Spiegel, Biggs, Clerk-Treasurer Martha Mandleco and Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Catherine Engle for the meeting.

The next regular meeting of the Russellville Town Council is set for Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Russellville Community Center.