Cloverdale council continues town improvements

CLOVERDALE -- There was much to discuss for the Cloverdale Town Council during its monthly meeting on Tuesday evening as it continues with its goal of improving the town.

Clerk-treasurer Cheryl Galloway came before the council to discuss a variety of items, including thanking several individuals for their work toward the improvements as well some major improvements for the town.

Galloway also informed the board that the town passed its recent hearing with the Department of Local Government financing in regard to next year's budget.

"I'm very proud of you guys," Galloway said. "I'm very happy with the budget hearing."

It was noted that the town was able to increase its general fund from $608,000 to $674,000. The local road and street fund was given $40,000, riverboat received an extra $5,000, MBH fund received a $149,000 and the EDIT fund received $40,000.

Keeping with the good news, Galloway informed the board of several good things that have been happening financially such as Don Gedert's work toward getting the Food and Beverage tax, which has given the town an extra $45,000. She also noted that thanks to Town Marshal Mike Clark's recommendation to switch insurance policies, the town has saved $85,531.40. It was also noted that there is a $22,000 savings due to Richard Saucerman and Brent Surig giving up their overtime as well as Utility Clerk Brittany Duncan giving up working on Wednesdays.

"To the citizens of the town, you guys took a big hit," Galloway said. "I really appreciate it. The $70 flat fee on your wastewater was not an easy thing to come up with, but we paid $100,000 off that the general loaned the wastewater. We got it paid back, we got money in the bank. I'm very proud of the citizens of the town for their sacrifice."

With the savings that the town has collected and money coming in, Galloway came to the council with a variety of items that is needed to keep Cloverdale progressing.

Galloway came before the board and was given approval for additional appropriations from the EDIT fund including $24,000 to go toward the paying off the Town Hall along with $126,000 as the match for the storm water grant. Galloway also requested $64,000 from the CCD fund to help pay off the Town Hall as well as its possible renovations along with $26,000 for the purchase of a new police vehicle.

"You're not going into debt," Galloway said. "Everything will be paid for. In paying off the Town Hall early (rather than in 2017) we'll be saving $42,000 in interest."

Galloway hopes to renovate the Town Hall by expanding of the office space for the Cloverdale Police Department, Building Inspector Mark Cassida and the clerk's office as well as putting carpeting in offices, three new furnaces and installing a new server through Endeavor. The council approved Galloway to move forward with the project and begin collecting bids.

Utility Manager Chuck Knuf also came before the board to give an progress update on the new radio read meters. Knuf informed the council that 430 of the water meters have been installed and the utilities department is on track to be done with the installation by the end of August.

Knuf also came before the council seeking approval to purchase three new trucks -- two pickups and a dump truck.

"If we buy that dump truck, we've paid Republic Waste almost $30,000 already this year to hall that sludge away from the wastewater plant," Knuf said. "That would eliminate that."

The two pickup trucks would go to replace Saucerman's, which has been worn out and the other would be given to Cassida as he soon will be testing laterals and will need a vehicle to haul equipment.

The council approved the purchase of a used 1996 Chevy 6500 Kodiak dump truck and plow with 28,000 miles for a total of $15,5000. The money for the dump truck will come from several funds including $5,166.67 from water, $5,166.67 from wastewater and $5,166.66 from MVH. The new utility truck, a 2015 Ford F250 for Saucerman, which costs $26,829.25 will be paid for through the water fund, $13,414.62 and wastewater, $13,414.63. Cassida's truck, a 2014 Ford F150, which costs $18,525.25 will be paid for using $6,175.08 from General, $6,175.09 from water and $6,175.08 from wastewater. All vehicles will be purchased from Andy Mohr Ford in Plainfield.

The council also discussed the credit card ordinance, which was recently approved. However, under the recommendation of Steve Brock, the town will likely amend the ordinance to add a $3 flat fee on top of the 3 percent of the utility bill charge.

If the amendment to the ordinance were to pass for example, on a $100 utility bill the residents would end up paying $106.

"Right now, the bank is making money off of the credit cards and the town is losing money," Yackey said.

The town tabled the issue to collect more information. It will be brought up once again during the September meeting.

In other business:

* The council agreed to pay Kristy Jerell's fee of $24,300 for getting the town the storm water grant by using $8,100 out of the Riverboat Fund, $8,100 out of the Rainy Day Fund and $8,100 out of Food and Beverage Fund.

* The council also agreed to move forward with a $40,859 bid given by Joe Spiker for the Doe Creek sanitary sewer line project, which has been the topic of discussion for more than two months. The project will include the installation of an 8-inch sewer line and two manholes to replace the nearly 300 feet of sewer line that was found to have more than 20 breaks in it. It will also connect all the laterals back to the homes and is expected to only take a couple weeks to complete.

* The council approved Ordinance 2014-22 amending utility permit Ordinance 2009-07. The new ordinance clarifies that the homeowners own the laterals.

* The council will continue discussions on changing the storm water free from $1 for residential customers to $3 and $2 for commercial customers to $4. Although the item was tabled, the council believes this will help sustain the storm water fund as well as provide funding for future improvement projects.

* Kay Gedert was approved to use the Town Hall for the Christmas parade in December free of charge.

* A public hearing will be held on Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. to discuss Endeavor Communications being annexed into the town.