Town receives formal assessment to determine needs

     SORRENTO – During the first council meeting of the year, Mayor Mike Lambert announced that the town will be receiving a formal assessment from All South Engineers on Jan. 18 regarding the needs of the town on issues such as infrastructure, sewage and roads. Projects will also be discussed and prioritized on where the available funds will be allocated to. He said that he hopes to have a meeting in the next 30 days with U.S. Rep. Garret Graves to present the needs of Sorrento and see what funds are available.

     Sorrento accountant, Jacob Waguespack, presented the council with a proposal for purchasing two new tractors, costing around $185,000. He discussed a lease option of five years, or 60 months, with an interest rate of 2.39 percent. With that interest rate, leasing the tractors would cost $3,300 per month, roughly $40,000 a year, over a five year period. An option for funds was presented, in which sewer operations and recreation supplement would help with a portion of the payments for the tractors, as they would be used at the Community Center and at the sewer pond. Lambert said the city is in need of new tractors, as the ones in use are 20 to 25 years old.

     The council voted to approve the purchase of a 20x8x8 storage container from Jade Container Service totaling to $2,400. The container will be used for additional storage for the Community Center.

     The police report for the month of November stated that there was two thefts, 17 vehicle accidents, two residential alarm calls, and 17 business alarm calls, mostly from one business who experienced alarm issues. There was a total of 119 calls, 50 citations and two adult arrests.

     Minutes from the Dec. 1, 2015, meeting were approved, as well as the bills for the month of December, totaling to $39,052.65.

     The next council meeting will be held on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m.