Economic Update, Police & Fire Pensions on City Council Agenda for Thursday

Preliminary agenda for Harrison City Council's May meeting.

One of the items on the agenda for the Harrison City Council to hear about during their regular May council meeting is an economic update from the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce. President Bob Largent is expected to address the council on Thursday night.

Largent and the chamber of commerce have recently come under scrutiny from the local Transparency in Government Group regarding public funds given to the chamber by the city and the county. Dr. Billy Ray Lewis has addressed both the city council and the Boone County Quorum Court about the matter and want’s more clarity as to what exactly the public tax dollars allocated to the chamber have been used for.

"There's an attorney in Arkansas just standing in the shadows ready to sue him {Bob Largent} if we do not get this information,” said Lewis during the May 12 City Council Committee meeting.

Largent has not yet made any extensive public statement about the matter except at the same committee meeting he said, “I do not appreciate the threat made to the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce or me as an individual. It’s uncalled for.” Regarding a written statement he submitted to Dr. Lewis’s group stating that he would not be providing further details about the use of the funds other than what he had previously given them he said, “That statement is made in that letter upon advice of counsel.”

Largent addresses the council periodically regarding updates to economic development as a stipulation of the funds received from the city. It is not known whether Largent will address the controversy specifically on Thursday night or not.

Also on the table for the council is further discussion regarding a resolution for police and fire department pensions.

The council will meet on the second floor of Harrison City Hall at 6:00 PM on Thursday evening. The public is invited to attend and the even will be streamed live on Hometown TV - K26TV Harrison, XL7TV Mtn. Home via their TV channel and Facebook Page. 

The preliminary agenda of the city council meeting for this Thursday, May 26, can be seen below: