By Jamie Miller
J.P. Jordan was announced as Bryant's new Fire Chief at Thursday’s regularly scheduled[more] Bryant City Council meeting.
"I am so excited to be here," said Jordan, who has served in Stuttgart the last 11 years, is married and has two daughters.
Former Fire Chief Randy Cox presented Morgan with his duty badge and wished him well.
In addition, an ongoing investigation is continuing with the recent theft of around $12,000 from the Bryant Boys and Girls Club by a former employee. The director of the club requested assistance from the city to help keep its budget running in the amount of $12,000. The council approved the assistance 8-0 to keep the Boys and Girls Club's doors open.
The Taste of Bryant event is set to take place Tuesday, July 31, at Bishop Park at 6 p.m. It will be preceded by the grand opening of the Splash Pad. A ribbon cutting will take place for the Splash Pad at 5 p.m.
The city's finances are right on track with around $4.9 millions worth of cash at the city's disposal that is above the general operation fund. Revenues have been higher and expenses have been lower than expected so the city is doing quite well financially, according to recent financial reports. The general and street funds were approved by the council as well as the water and wastewater financial reports.
The proposed sign ordinance was not removed from the table to discuss but a workshop was approved and scheduled before the August regular city council meeting. No action has yet been taken to move forward on the ordinance.
Highway 5 within the city limits of Bryant was approved to be renamed "Stagecoach Road" to help preserve the history of Bryant. The ordinance passed with a 5-3 vote.
Mayor Jill Dabbs recommended that the "record low millage rates" stay the same with no increase to personal property or rental property millage. Both ordinances passed with no opposition.
Two amendments were made to the budget since extra funds were found to be in the excess of $4.9 million. The council added two more projects to the city budget to be started this year. Ten thousand dollars worth of radios were approved for the Streets Department and a new meter system was approved at $2 million dollars for the Water/Waste Water Department.
