MT aldermen approve budget

Marked Tree alderman unanimously approved the city's 2010 budget.

The city's total expected revenue was budgeted at $3.23 million, while expenditures were budgeted at $3.21 million.

One of the expected expenditures for the year is a tornado siren, which was budgeted at $25,000. Mayor Dixon Chandler requested Alderman Danny Johnson get some price projections for a siren as tornado season is approaching.

Chandler told alderman work on the hangars and fuel system would begin at the airport once the city has clear weather for a few days. The mayor said the city did gain approval from the fire chief to put the fuel system at the airport.

Chandler said the city is also ready to install the splash pad at the park once the town gets some good weather. Landscape work will also be completed at the park upon better weather as well.

Also, city officials stated they would keep an eye on demand charges for energy costs at the new park. Specifically, Chandler said he would not have all of the lights on at the ball fields. "We will probably need to just have one set of lights on at a time," he said.

Officials noticed after testing the lights in November that there was a high demand charge on their energy bill. "We will just feel it out," the mayor told aldermen.

Chandler also told aldermen he was "unofficially" announcing that he was seeking a second term as mayor.