Smackover's city council met on for their regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 12.

Mayor Bobby Neal kicked off the new business portion of the meeting as he requested that council members approve advertising for bids for a new mini-excavator for the city Public Works department.

"The mini-excavator we [have] is in bad condition. [Public works director Jason Waxley] said that it needs a lot of work done on it and that it really needs to be a bit bigger than what it is. If [the council] thinks we need one, we can advertise for bids," Neal said.

A motion to search for bids for a new mini-excavator passed unanimously.

The meeting's other item of new business also involved city equipment. Neal requested council members vote to sell a 2008 Exmark mower and a Ford tractor.

"We have an Exmark mower that's an '08 model and the motor is bad on it and we have a [1990] model Ford tractor - the motor is bad and it has a worn out side boom mower on it," Neal said.

Neal said in response to questions from the council that neither item needs to be immediately replaced.

A motion to seek bids to sell the two pieces of equipment passed unanimously.

Last, Union County Public Library System cataloging and social media manager Amy Kitchens spoke before the council to promote Question 1, a .6 millage increase that will be on county ballots in November. The proposal would increase the county library tax from .4 to 1 mill.

"It means more for our branches -- better Internet... more hours for our librarians and more money for books so they can buy more books and newer books," Kitchens said.

The millage increase would mean an average household tax increase of approximately $11 per year, according to the UCPLS.

Council member Mark Corley asked how much the Smackover branch of the UCPLS would receive if the millage increase passed; Kitchens was not sure of exact per-branch funding increases.

The next Smackover City Council meeting will be on Monday, Oct. 10.

Print Headline: Smackover council eyes new mini excavator

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