Fulton Town Council

The Fulton Town Council met in the old Fire Station on Wednesday (12-4). The minutes from the previous meeting were approved as was the water and sewage reports.  The total balance for water and sewage was $8,011.23. There was a combined report on the General Fund, Street Fund, FUN park, and American Rescue. $1,686.19 was transferred from the General Fund to the FUN (Fundamental Undeveloped Neighborhood) park.  A motion passed to accept this report.

Mayor Henry Hale talked about the rates going up for the November and December bills and by another 10 percent in January. He acknowledged many people wouldn’t be happy but said Fulton was grandfathered in where rates didn’t change for 50 years. As a result, the town had to borrow from the street fund in order to pay the water bills which isn’t something the state likes being done. With new meters in use, the amount of water being used is known and if there is a leak it can be more quickly detected. State law AR 605 requires the water rates go up. This is happening across the state and a meeting needs to be held to explain the rate increases. The Council plans to go each house to informing people that their water rates are going up.

The town should see the revenue going up by the end of the year. Mayor Hale talked about the money being there, but the money must be reapplied for in terms of a $3.5 million grant for the new pipeline.

Mayor Hale talked about enlisting another program. He said he wants to be the administrator and bring in someone else to do the books and banking. Fulton isn’t like Hope or Texarkana with multiple departments instead making it where those running the town must really “be on their toes”. Hale talked about finding two leaks on Monday morning.

Once the accounts are closed the town will do a budget. There will be two budgets this year: one for water and sewer and one for the city.

On December 14th from 5-8 there will be a Christmas potluck with maybe a sit-down dinner and people can place an ornament on the tree.

The meeting adjourned.