Cloverdale struggles to keep budget balanced
CLOVERDALE -- Already facing a strained budget, the Cloverdale Utility Board is struggling to find a way to keep its budget balanced as well as pay for many routine things the town needs. The Monday meeting lasted only an hour and covered buying a new utility truck, the Smyser demolition project, sidewalk repairs and parking bumpers.
The discussion concerning how to pay for a new utility truck caused quite a stir. Though a few options were given, no agreement has been made on exactly how to pay for the truck. Clerk-treasurer Cathleen Monaco's attorney, Jon Hughes, explored the options of either taking from the riverboat fund or the rainy day fund.
If money were taken from the Riverboat fund, it would be left with only $700. Taking money from the Rainy Day fund would leave that account with $1,000.
"The advantage of using the river boat fund is that the rainy day fund can be used whenever you need it," explained town attorney Allan Yackey. "Rainy day fund is a place you can always go to get it. It can be used to patch any hole".
Things got a bit heated when Monaco was unable to provide exact numbers of what was in the accounts.
"I've gone almost a year without any reports," explained the board president Cathy Tipton.
"It's kind of hard to run a town when we don't know what's in the accounts," added vice president Dennis Padgett.
The option of leasing the truck was brought up and revealed that it has not been looked into. Board member Don Sublett requested that Hughes should revisit the contract. Larry Fidler was appointed to talk to the Ford dealer about the leasing options.
Building inspector Mark Cassida gave a report on the Smyser demolition project. He presented the board with three bids on the project -- one from Titan Trucking and Excavating and two from Hurley Construction.
Titan only bid to work on 513 Main Street where Hurley bid to work on both Main Street as well as 52 E. Boone. In the end, the decision is left up to Smyser himself. He has until Thursday to decide if he will choose one of these bids or do the work himself.
"Smyser is required to seal and do everything," explained Yackey.
Yackey tried to avoid any argument by telling Cassida to do everything he can to contact Smyser in the next few days.
In the old business section of the meeting, the Active Environmental project at Gregg's Pit Stop was discussed once again. Cecil Whitaker of Whitaker Engineering, discussed that the ground water remediation could be done at a flat rate.
He proposed that one person along with Yackey should be designated to negotiate a flat rate per month charge. After a rate is agreed upon this will then be presented to the board for approval. Sublett was appointed to work with Yackey and Whitaker on this project.
Utility manager Rich Saucerman reported that sidewalk repairs will cost almost $100 for every six feet of sidewalk. There is $11,347 left in the budget for the sidewalks. Saucerman explained that there are also a couple of patches on the streets to do.
"Fix what you can on the sidewalks," said Padgett regarding the budget to the sidewalks.
"Just because you've got that money budgeted for sidewalks, it doesn't mean that's what you have to use it for," Yackey said.
Saucerman also touched on the stand pipe which is set to be drained. He will be looking into a price list for the painting and cleaning of the stand pipe as well.
Cassida also asked to reinstall the parking bumpers on Market Street.
"Those need to be reinstalled before someone rides up into a side of a building", explained Cassida. There have been three prior incidents recently of people running into buildings around town.
Saucerman explained the bumpers were removed in order to better remove the snow in the winter. They were never returned after the winter.
"They just collect trash and grow weeds."
He agreed to reinstall the bumpers later this week.