The Benham City Council unanimously voted to create two new ordinances at its meeting on Thursday.

One of the ordinances in the works concerns the riding of ATVs on city streets.

"We don't want people riding four-wheelers on the streets. They can ride in a back alley or next to the mountain but not on our walking trails, and places where there is a lot of vehicular and pedestrian traffic," Howard said. "They are going to get killed, and that just sums it up in a nutshell ...

They have been traveling our streets too fast and using them for race tracks."

The other ordinance, which concerns the placement of decorations at the Benham Community Cemetery, would restrict grave decorations that interfere with maintenance of the graveyard.

"We will allow things like flowers in vases, or anything that is attached, saddled, or right next to the stone itself," said Benham Mayor Betty Howard. "We want to make sure that we have access when the grave needs attention, needs mowing."

Once the ordinance is passed, those who have loved ones buried in the cemetery will be given the opportunity to remove any decorations that are not permitted.

The first draft of each new ordinance will be presented at the next city council meeting.

In other business, the council:

n voted to have a special workshop on June 18 at 2:30 p.m. in the city hall to discuss next year's budget, which has not yet been drafted. Council members, city employees and all residents are invited to the meeting for an opportunity to submit their requests and ideas.

"Anyone who cannot attend the meeting must send their requests in writing beforehand so it can be considered in next year's budget," Howard urged.

n praised several members of the community who have helped with various improvement efforts around the city.