Council hears highlights of final budget draft

As the new fiscal year approaches, the City of Moberly is putting the final touches on the 2010-2011 budget. Greg Hodge, Moberly finance director, went before the city council during work session Monday night and outlined some of the highlights of the new budget.

Hodge said personnel was one of the big costs for the city with a rise in liability and workman’s compensation as the reason for the increase in expenditures.

Utilities – budget

Utilities was another department with large expenditures. Hodge said in figuring this area of the budget, he “looks at experience”. In the past two to three years, he said, there have been some high sewer claims. In 2004, there were torrential rains and sewer claims drove charges up. However, he noted, quite a few of those claims came from the Meadowbrook subdivision. This area has seen vast improvements, especially since the implementation of the ordinance regulating downspouts which curtails the dumping of rainwater into the drainage system.

Budget – Parks

Parks and Recreation had faced a large hike in administrative fees. Hodge explained to the council that shifting some funds into other accounts resulted in a nearly $20,000 increase. Parks Director Michael Bork and Moberly City Manager Andy Morris, as well as Hodge, worked together to reach a reduction in the rate, from the previous 6 percent to a proposed 4 ½ percent.

Morris said sales tax income for the general revenue account was expectedly down but the current budget saw a shortage of only $94,000 of the projected target amount for this fiscal year. Only two months in the last 12 saw increase in sales tax over the same period of the previous year, said Morris.

The complete budget for 2010-2011 will be submitted for final approval at the next regular meeting of the City Council.

Online utility bill pay

Also during work session, Keith Phipps, director of public utilities, gave a report regarding the options for paying utility bills online. Of the 5,400 customers, 217 responded to the online query and 70 percent of the respondents said they would like to be able to pay their utility bill online. Phipps said he is in contact with four companies that could provide the service for the city. Proposals were submitted but are “apples to oranges” said Phipps and he must gather more information before submitting a final recommendation or proposal to the council.

Tom Sanders, director of community development, reported on bids accepted on surplus real property. Sanders said there are still a few lots available, some of which would be advantageous to both the city and an adjacent property owner.

Utilities vehicle

In regular session, the council approved the purchase of a combination sewer jet/vacuum truck in the amount of $139,898 to be used by the Utilities Department. Phipps and Hodge explained that originally the city had budgeted to finance this vehicle over the period of three to four years. However, there was some discretionary money which had been carried over from last year. That, with the money budgeted in the new fiscal year, would allow the city to pay on delivery.

Annexations

Four pieces of land were approved for voluntary annexation including property adjacent to the airport. Mayor Bob Riley asked for comments and discussions on each annexation item as part of a public hearing.

Appointments

Rodney Loesch and Greg Wilson, current appointees on the Airport Advisory Board, are seeking re-appointment as their seats on the board are about to expire. Also seeking a position on the board is Howard Thomas.

The Planning and Zoning Commission has four terms about to expire with only two seeking re-appointment. Anyone interested in serving on this board should go to the City Manager’s office and complete an application.

The Moberly Tourism Committee had considered and recommended monies to be paid to the Moberly Area Soccer Association for a planned Father’s Day weekend tournament. David Goring, vice president of the soccer association, told the council that the event had been canceled due to a lack of entrants. Goring said he was in communication with Parks and Recreation in hopes of holding a 3-on-3 tournament in September.

The Lodge

Morris announced that a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 11 a.m., June 22 for the Lodge at Rothwell Park.