Bethany Council Approves $24.3M 2024 Budget

Bethany’s Board of Aldermen approved the budget for the 2024 fiscal year for the City of Bethany during their meeting Monday night.

The budget includes revenues and expenditures of nearly $24.3 million dollars. The budget include nearly $1.1 million dollars for city airport upgrades. Most of that cost will be covered by the Runway Maintenance Program through the Missouri Department of Transportation. Nearly $44,000 will be spent on Animal Control. The city spent just over $13,000 for Animal Control last year. Solid Waste will be reduced by a little over $200,000. That fund’s budget this year was increased considerably with the storm cleanup costs necessary from the late June windstorm which resulted in debris cleanup. On a 3-1 vote, the council agreed to include $30,000 for a Code Enforcement Position. The position is contracted with Green Hills. Aldermen Ron Osmon voted against the motion, questioning the value of the position given the expense. Last year’s amended budget amounted to a little over $24.1 million.

Council members approved an Electrical Work Agreement with R&S Electric for the 2024 Electric Project. That work is located on 20th and Hubbard Street and will include changing wooden cross arms to fiberglass and changing cutouts, insulators, and lightning arrestors to porcelain. The engineering contract for that project with Olsson will be presented before the council at their next session.

Council members discussed moving the flip-up stop sign from its current location on the west end of the South Elementary School campus to the site of the easternmost crosswalk. The city plans on placing a permanent stop sign at 22nd and Beekman for safety purposes.

Bethany’s council approved bids for just over $8,100 from Ricoh for a copier, $26,700 from Axon for tasers, and nearly $23,000 for body cameras. A liquor license for Snakatak #38, doing business as One Stop was also approved.

Stephanie Kemp was selected for 1st place in the City of Bethany’s Holiday Lighting Contest. Larry Simpson placed 2nd. Tom and Carma Hansel and Troy and Hayley Slagle were selected in a tie for 3rd place. All will receive credits to their utility bills.

To this point, one candidate has signed up for both wards for city council. Nikki Hendren has signed up in the east ward. Ron Osmon has signed up in the west ward. Candidates have until December 26th to sign up to be on the April ballot.