Pulse THE POLK COUNTY
FREE WEEKLY 1168 Hwy 71 S Mena, AR 71953 479.243.9600
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Winter Weather
INSIDE:
February 10, 2021
AG Rules on Information Request
AP tax delinquency is public information
Blind Dates and Rattle Snakes Page 12
By Jeri Pearson
Women in Business Nomination Form
Page 22
Photo by The Wandering Squirrel Photography-www.squirrelshots.com
Low Temps Yield High Bills By Jeri Pearson
Ladycats Basketball
Page 14
As temperatures fell this winter, residents may have increased their energy usage to keep homes warm resulting in higher utility costs. Polk County residents have taken to social media and made calls to local utility providers due to alarming bills, with some residents observing bills doubling in charges. As residents receive their February bills, Rich Mountain Electric offices report experiencing extremely high call volume due to last month’s cold stretch in the cooperative’s five-county service area. According to the local weather reporting station, the Mena area experienced an average low temperature of 32.5 degrees in January compared to 37.1 in 2020. The average monthly high for 2021 was 51.8 degrees, while it
universalfire-ufec.com “Protecting Life & Property Since 1974”
See ELECTRIC page 2
Universal Fire Equipment Co. Inc. 1-888-556-5328 Fax: 479-474-8901
In August 2020, a request for information was sent to the Mena Advertising and Promotions Commission requesting the names of businesses who had failed to pay the tourism tax to the city. Uncertain whether the information was considered public, the AP commission responded to the information request that an Attorney General’s opinion would be sought. After struggling with a few businesses to remit taxes, the commission expressed the need to have “some teeth” in the ordinance that allows for the collection of the tax. The Attorney General delivered the opinion last week and wrote, “The fact that a business failed to remit advertising and promotion taxes is not a matter protected from disclosure under the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act).” The opinion said the city must provide the names of businesses that have not remitted advertising and promotion taxes under Ark. Code Ann. 26-
See TAXES page 3
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