Town approves lean '07 budget

To little fanfare Tuesday, the Cloverdale Town Council approved appropriations of its 2007 budget.

With two people in the audience Tuesday, the board conducted a special session prior to its regular meeting to further check the proposed budget numbers.

Council Vice President Dennis Padgett asked Clerk/Treasurer Patti Truax why there had been no money set aside for travel.

Truax said no money had been set aside for travel expenses last year either, so she did not put any there this year as well.

Several town officials also spoke up, saying money was set aside for travel expenses in individual budgets.

The council agreed having no money set aside specifically for travel was not necessary since it was allocated in other areas.

In addition, Town Council President Don Sublett told Truax he wanted town building inspector Mark Cassida to move back to taking a percentage for building inspection.

Sublett said Cassida had spoken to him earlier in the year, agreeing to go back to a receiving only a percentage for inspecting buildings.

According to Sublett, Cassida agreed to a 75-25 percent contract, where Cassida would receive 75 percent of money created from building inspection and the town would earn 25 percent.

According to the 2007 budget proposal, the building inspector was set to make $11,241.

However, the board agreed Tuesday to adjust the salary accordingly at a salary adjustment meeting.

At the council's April meeting, Padgett motioned to do away with the position and have county officials inspect buildings.

At the April meeting, Padgett told the remaining four council members that the town received just more than $5,000 from building permits in 2005, giving him reason to believe the position should be eliminated.

Padgett's motion, however, received no second at the meeting.

A public hearing took place in August, with council person John Davis giving the motion to accept the 2007 budget. Board member Judy Whitaker seconded the motion.

The budget -- estimated at $783,745 -- calls for money to be divided into seven categories, including:

-- $82,000 for cumulative capital development fund;

-- $21,963 for the rainy day fund;

-- $450,500 for the general fund;

-- $12,415 for the cumulative improvement fund;

-- $13,489 for a local road and street fund; and

-- $2,082 for continued law enforcement education.

The budget calls for a total of $256,437 to be raised through property taxes, which includes an estimated maximum levy of $241,907 for the general operating fund.

The budget estimates were based on a net assessed value of $78,439,300 for the town.

Meanwhile, the board conducted its regular monthly meeting Tuesday following the special session.

Padgett told the board Tuesday he had recently received calls from citizens regarding a lack of response from the town fire department on runs.

Padgett said he received calls regarding a fire run to the local truck stop late in August. He said several people called him saying no one from the town fire department responded to the run.

Whitaker, however, said Cassida, who also serves as fire chief, did respond to the run and to two others Padgett called into question.

In other business, the board:

-- Approved transfer resolution 2006-11 in the amount of $2,400.

-- Approved transfer resolution 2006-12 in the amount of $1,000.

-- Approved Aug. 23 emergency claims of $67,238.63.

-- Approved Sept. 12 claims of $76,930.82.

-- Agreed to table a discussion calling for a resolution regarding unusually large residential utility bills until October to allow town attorney Scott Hoff to look into the issue further.

-- Learned from Utility Manager Mike Gray that the wastewater plant recently received its new flow meter and it is operational.

-- Learned that Gray had hired two new employees.

-- Unanimously voted in favor of Gray contacting Spiker Excavating to install guard rails at Stardust Hills.

-- Learned from Gray the dump truck the town recently purchased could be in Cloverdale within three weeks.

-- Approved a measure via 5-0 vote to allow Truax file with small claims court for town residents that had not paid meter bills and to file against building permits that had not been paid.

-- Learned from Redevelopment President Don Gedert that completion of the traffic light at Stardust Road and construction at the Ethanol Plant had been halted due to recent weather.

-- Heard from Cloverdale Civic League representative Angela Ladd that the organization wanted to set up fundraisers for playground equipment at the town park to continue beautification of the town.