Cloverdale Town Council ponders financial matters
CLOVERDALE-- The Cloverdale Town Council met Tuesday in what was a routine meeting as it attempts to wrap up any loose ends before the new year.
Council President Cathy Tipton announced that the town was the receipt of a $600,000 Community Focus Fund grant. This grant will be used for the Doe Creek lift station.
The board also heard updates from Clerk-Treasurer Cathleen Monaco regarding a recent audit in which the state board came in for about 30 days to make sure the town of Cloverdale was following all rules and regulations under Indiana law.
During the audit the board found a few problems that needed to be addressed, such as the minutes, Motor Vehicle Highway fund (MVH), town accounts having negative balances and penalties during the transition from the previous clerk-treasurer and Monaco.
One major concern was the MVH fund. Currently, police salaries are being paid 85 percent out of the general fund and 15 percent each month from the MVH fund. However, according to Indiana law, police salaries are only allowed to take 15 percent each year out of the MVH fund, not monthly.
"This was changed back in 2005," Monaco said. "When I looked back, that's when the new law came into effect that it's a yearly thing."
Monaco also noted that the utility accounts have also been overdrawn.
"I've been telling them for over a year now that they need to raise rates," Monaco explained. "They should be comparable to other towns with what we have."
Currently, the town's wastewater account is in the red and the town is also violating two Indiana Codes as the town's utilities are not self-sufficient.
"Money is going out and nothing's coming back in," Monaco said. "They should be making money, and they're not."
Monaco has caught up on all minutes dating back from January 2011 as well as paid any penalty fees that may have been brought up during the transition of the clerk-treasurer.
Monaco also touched on the issue of payroll as the current company, Payroll Express, the town uses has been sold to ADP Payroll.
She explained the importance of making a decision on whether or not to stay with ADP services before the new year, when the contract expires.
"The council has to do something, and do it fast," said Monaco.
As of Jan. 1, 2012 if the council has not decided on the issue of payroll, the clerk-treasurer will have to write checks manually until a decision is made.
"No services will change. Everything with be done the exact same," said Tipton.
Having to deal with issues regarding the e-verify system, the council decided to table the item until the upcoming utility board meeting on Monday.
Jake Sipe also presented the board with the option of applying for a new grant. Under the grant, the town could apply for additional federal dollars to use toward rehabbing residents' homes. The town, however, would have to match 10 percent of the funds acquired.
The amount awarded would not only depend on the status of the town but the family's income as well.
"The state has resources available for towns like Cloverdale," Sipe said. "It's an opportunity to improve the quality of life here for residents."
Sipe also stated that several surrounding areas, such as Greencastle and Spencer, have also applied for the grant, Spencer being a 2011 recipient.