Save your fireworks for July 4, BV council says

For the past year, longtime Berryville Mayor Tim McKinney has served as president of the Arkansas Municipal League.

Tim McKinney

McKinney’s election last year marked the first time a mayor of Berryville has been selected to lead the service and advocacy organization that represents approximately 500 cities and towns across the state.

The June 21 meeting of the Berryville City Council was his first since becoming a past president and council members had nothing but praise for his time in office.

“Tim did a great job as president,” said Linda

Riddlesperger, who attended the AML’s annual convention earlier this month. “Everybody’s really proud of him and so is Berryville.”

After more than three decades as mayor, McKinney is no stranger to the Municipal League. Before being elected its president, he had previously served as first vice president (2020-2021), District 3 vice president (1996-1997), three terms as a member of the Cities of the First Class Advisory Council (1992-1995, 1999-2001, and 2012-2013), and four stints on the league’s Executive Committee (1995-1996, 1997-1999, 2001-2009, and 2015-2020).

On Tuesday, June 21, McKinney summed up his time in office with just a few words before pushing ahead with city business.

“It was a fun year,” McKinney said.

His replacement — Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin — said during his address at the 86th annual convention held June 14 in Little Rock that his focus would be on encouraging cities and towns across the state to pursue public-private partnerships, calling them crucial to better serve their citizens.

“We wouldn’t exist without them,” Perrin said. “We’re in this thing together.”

After the brief discussion of the AML convention, talk turned to the issue of fireworks in the city.

“Fourth of July is coming,” McKinney said. “Didn’t we pass the ordinance that makes it legal to shoot them just on the Fourth of July?”

“That’s what I recall,” Riddlesperger said.

Council member Max Nichols clarified, adding, “Just the day of.”

McKinney said that, while the weather may have some impact, the city is still planning to hold its annual “Fire on the Mountain” fireworks show at Saunders Heights Park and asked that city residents be considerate with their private celebrations.

“We just ask our citizens to be courteous with their fireworks,” McKinney said. “There’s a time to do it and time not to do it. It really bothers a lot of pets and older people, so try to use some common sense.”

City ordinance states that fireworks are only allowed in city limits from 10 a.m. through 11 p.m. on July 4.

“We did that to try to keep people from shooting them off before and after,” McKinney said. “Instead of having two weeks of it, we kind of figure we can live with one day. Hopefully, people will comply.”

In other business, the council heard from Berryville Police Chief Robert Bartos, who delivered his department’s monthly report.

According to Bartos, city police issued 77 citations in May, down from 115 a year ago, and investigated 56 offenses, down slightly from last year’s monthly total of 58. The department’s clearance rate for the month, Bartos said, was 84 percent.

The department took in $415 in fines and bonds in May and responded to 13 traffic accidents, matching the total from May 2021.

The council also reviewed the monthly financial report showing sales tax collected in the city during the month of May. According to the report, the city received $179,130.32 from the city’s 1 percent sales tax — up from the $174,882.03 received in May 2021, and up from last month’s total of $143,772.86 — and $89,565.16 from the city’s half-cent sales tax for the community center.

Of the tax money received from May sales, $131,325.57 was added to the city’s general fund, $17,000 to the sewer bond fund and $16,213.03 to the street fund. The remainder was divided between the Saunders Museum and the parks commission funds, which received $4,863.91 each, and the tourism and cemetery funds, which received $2,431.95 each.

The council’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Tuesday, July 5, at Berryville City Hall.