Mountain Home City Council Dec. 12, 2023

First and foremost, the Mountain Home news would like to extend a congratulations and a thank you to Rich Urquidi. You have worked diligently for the City of Mountain Home for 22 years and we couldn’t be more grateful of your commitment to our community. We also want to thank Mr. Urquidi’s family for sharing him with the community. This was his last meeting as a department head, he may now relax in the back rows, enjoying not having to speak in front of the crowd or camera. We encourage all to join Rich at his upcoming retirement event, on Thursday at the American Legion building from 3-5pm.

Once the Council members had thanks Urquidi for his services to the city, agenda was addressed. All Council members were present, Councilwoman Garvey attended the meeting via Zoom.

There was the addressing of the agenda and minor corrections, such as meeting times, added to agenda items and an executive session added.

City Code 7-1A-9 (was moved to a different section of the ordinances due to new understanding of water annexations) was passed. City Code 9-6-4 (annexation of lands into the city’s corporate boundaries) was passed. Further information on these codes can be found on the City’s website.

New business items were addressed. Brandon Blocker has been authorized to operate at the City BMX at Optimist Park, and the lease agreement also passed.

The deliberation of City Code 1-5-1 (Election) was pulled.

The deliberation to approve the contingency fund to be transferred to the golf course budget for driving range operations, was passed. Councilwoman Garvey was the one Council member to vote in not-favor of the passing of this agenda item. She had stated that this was “putting the cart before the horse.” She was attempting to convey that by taking the money from the contingency fund, it would be done so recklessly because the contingency fund was money for emergencies, and that the money could be used if the city would be facing issues with the dump, or if the city were to be sued. She reminded council that the goal was to make the golf course self sustaining but that this goal would not be obtained any sooner if this motion were to pass.

Councilmen Brennan had reminded Councilwoman Garvey that the majority of the Council body had intended to take over the driving range and that this is what the money would be used for, and after clarification from the prosecutor, stated that contingency is different than emergency.

The motion did pass, and the seventy thousand dollars from the contingency funds will be used for the golf course driving range.

There is one more meeting in which Bundy and Green will be Council members. The new Council members will be sworn in at the January 9th meeting. It is to take place at 5pm at City Hall in the Council Chambers. If you are unable to attend in person, you can watch the meeting live on Youtube on the City’s Channel, which can be accessed through the City’s webpage.