Leeds to match Arts’ Funds

By Michael Mee/The Leeds News

On Monday the Leeds City Council agreed after a roll call vote to provide $10,000 to help the Leeds Arts Council with funding. The money will be matched by the state and help provide for an organization that will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year.

The council voted 3-2 to appropriate the funds to the LAC, with one councilman absent during Monday’s meeting.

In years past, the LAC received a $10,000 grant from the state. Recently the funding was threatening to cut short programs that have been viewed by more than 16,500 people.

Councilwoman Charlotte Earnest asked that money from an unfilled street department position that had not been filled be set aside for the LAC.

Councilmen Johnny Kile, Ross Bartee and Mayor Eric Patterson each voiced their support for the LAC but, but they all expressed caution when it came to surrendering taxpayer dollars during current fiscal conditions.

Bartee said that he felt the parks and recreation and street departments needed funding as well as the LAC.

Mayor Patterson wondered if the amount given by the city could be less than $10,000 and if programs could continue as they had been over the years. Councilman Kile said the city most likely didn’t have the money.

At the meeting the council also unanimously voted to renew a contract with Revenue Discovery Systems (RDS) to collect sales, use and occupational taxes. The City has been looking into doing their own tax collections, but RDS will be collecting the taxes until the city’s tax collection means are sounder.

The council also heard from the public about speeding problems throughout the city. Some residents voiced concerns about speeding on Elliot Lane while others addressed concerns about safety due to reckless driving on Martin Luther King, Lake and Auburn streets.

Mayor Patterson said that for three straight meetings the council has heard concerns about speeding and law enforcement and city officials said that they would take action on the matters in keeping with the public’s wishes.

Before the council meeting a public hearing was called for any citizens who wished to voice their opinions or challenge the weed ordinances that have been enforced over recent months. As no one came to oppose the violations that had been handed out, the council voted during its regular meeting to declare those in violation to be held to account.

Mayor Patterson said that the street department would be venturing out in the coming weeks to make sure that area residents were in compliance and said the city will keep Leeds litter and weed free.

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