TALLADEGA — The City Council voted 4-0 Thursday night to approve a budget for the coming fiscal year, three resolutions tied to that budget and phase one of a five-year capital improvement plan.Councilman Donnie Miller was late getting to the meeting and was absent for the vote due to a prior commitment, but had previously voiced his support.
City manager Mike Stampfler had gotten the full council to agree to the budget and related documents during a work session. The votes Thursday night came with minimal discussion.
The three resolutions include a policy of appropriating up to 3 percent of the general fund for outside human service agencies; a pledge to maintain a general fund balance of 8 to 10 percent, and an agreement that water and sewer rates would be tied to the consumer price index.
The overall general fund budget projects revenues of $19.4 million over expenditures of $20.1 million. The difference is covered by a $2.3 million beginning balance, which still leaves the requisite 8 percent at the end of the year, if the projections are correct.
The capital improvement plan for fiscal 2008-2009 involves a total of 14 different projects.
Project one would provide funding for the renovation of the city’s five recreation centers, “which are in urgent need of attention to bring them to acceptable standards,” according to Stampfler’s outline. This could cost up to $1 million, with much of the funding coming from grants. There is also a possibility that one or more under-utilized recreation centers might be closed.
Replacing old, unsafe playground equipment removed from city parks two months ago is project number two. Stampfler said much of the $250,000 cost of this would be covered through private and civic group donations and grant funds.
Golf course upgrades totaling $400,000 are project number three. The course is not competitive with private courses now, and will require major upgrades to become so.
Project number four is closing the drainage ditch through the middle of Veterans Memorial Park, which would both increase available space in the park and improve public safety. Future years involve a more comprehensive floodwater remediation project, including closing another large ditch in Edythe Sims Park.
Project five involves renovations in the Police Department made possible by the closure of the city jail last year, and project six involves purchase of capital equipment, including three detective cars, an animal control vehicle, a public works vehicle, a community appearance vehicle, four parks and recreation vehicles, a fairway mower and a mosquito sprayer and truck. All will be replacing older vehicles.
Project seven is purchasing large diameter fire hoses and specialized chainsaws for the Fire Department at a cost of about $70,000. An additional $55,000 is set aside for sidewalks, curbs and gutters, and $60,000 to replace three of the city’s four welcome signs. Project number 10 is phase one of the renovation of the public works and community appearance garages, which are currently in separate locations but both in need of repair. Phase one is estimated at $100,000, while the city will attempt to utilize grant funds to the extent possible.
Grant funding, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is also being sought for matching funds for a new fire truck.
Each year of the plan involves $666,000 in paving projects, for which the city will be reimbursed by the state in exchange for a $2 million bond issue promised to Honda several years ago. The council discussed, but did not come to a positive consensus on, whether paving projects would be divvied up by ward or by those in worst condition. The state funds, which should last for three years, will require a civil engineer’s input.
Project 13 is the $400,000 purchase of a new pumper truck in the Fire Department, and project 14 is whatever other work can be done on the public works facility.
Water and sewer capital improvements were submitted separately. These include, for the coming year, replacing fluoride and alum storage tanks with double wall tanks, installing dual post caustic feed pumps, replacing indicators and recorders at the Brecon and Ponderosa water tanks, replacing in-line backwash flow meters at filters five through eight, installing a perimeter security fence, replacing rollers and cables on the water tank level gauge, installing new fluoride feed and backup pumps, inspecting tanks for lead or coal tar lining, replacing meters and transmitters with new equipment, replacing the drain valve on the west chlorine basin and replacing the water seals on the grit pump, raw sewage pump and recirculation pumps.
Councilman Lance Grissett commended Stampfler and the city employees who contributed to the budget documents.
“You worked tirelessly preparing, so we could make an informed decision,” he said. “You did a great job.”
Also Thursday, the council:
• Heard a complaint from Tom Beavers regarding dealer tags and fleet insurance on his loaner vehicles. The matter was referred to Stampfler.
O Appointed Ed King and Julius Thomas to the Historic Preservation Commission.
O Approved a roadblock request for the Talladega High School track team.
O Assessed liens against property on Welch Avenue, Knox Street, 15th Street and Avenue H for weed abatement.
O Authorized demolition of buildings on North Franklin Drive, Hollingsworth Street, Lide Road, West Coosa Street and Hill Street. A 30-day extension was granted to the son of a property owner on Lancaster Street to allow him to finish making improvements.
O Authorized surplus property for auction.
O Approved water and sewer invoices by a vote of 3-1, with Councilman Eddie Tucker casting the dissenting vote.
O Declared a 30-day moratorium on enforcing the parking ordinance outside the immediate four-block area around the courthouse. Tucker asked that an exemption be given to customers of a beauty shop on the square, but the council did not act on his request. The council will seek input from the Talladega Merchant’s Association at the next meeting.
O Heard Mayor Brian York report the city’s summer food program had been audited by the state Department of Education, and that no exceptions had been noted.
O Heard Miller refute claims made in a letter to the editor published recently in The Daily Home. Miller said the letter writer implied that the city had given the Ritz Theatre additional money for repairs and renovations two years in a row, which was not the case.
O Heard Tucker thank The Daily Home for an editorial in favor of his proposed Knoxville Family Life Center.
O Announced that the next joint meeting with the Board of Education would be Sept. 23 at 9:30 at Presbyterian Oaks III.
O Agreed to “relax” the role of council liaison to various city departments for up to a year without fully doing away with them. Councilman Jimmy Davis and Stampfler, in particular, felt the liaison role was unnecessary under the city manager form of government.
O Heard Davis propose that direct deposit be made available to city employees.
O Heard Davis thank the various organizations, particularly the Red Cross, for organizing shelter for special needs evacuees at the Spring Street Recreation Center.
O Heard Stampfler announce that Veolia was the only company to bid on garbage service, and that negotiations would begin today.
O Discussed balancing a desire to market the city as a desirable retirement community with the need for a young and vital workforce.
O Discussed the agenda for the joint Board of Education meeting.
