Eupora officials have adopted a new budget for the fiscal year which begins Oct. 1.
The Board of Aldermen discussed the budget on Sept. 2 during a public hearing and the regular monthly meeting which followed. Jack Haney, the only person who attended to comment on the budget, offered what he called observations and opportunities for savings to the mayor and board.
"We're in a time and need for finite accounting," he said. His recommendations included separating the water and sewer department payroll accounts.
The city board voted that night to fix the city tax levy at 21.53 mills, which is the same as the current levy. The new budget and tax levy resolution were adopted at a recessed meeting on Sept. 9 upon motions made by Alderman Dan Burchfield and seconded by Alderman Mike Hillhouse.
The general fund budget is $1.69 million while the water and sewer fund budget is an additional $815,800. The general fund budget adopted last year was for $2.36 million while the water and sewer fund budget was for $743,462.
Mayor Pete Fortner said during discussions that the new budget when drafted had to be balanced by making $65,000 worth of cuts in proposed expenditures. This was done, he said, by eliminating a part-time position for a Street Department employee who had been working three days a week, omitting funds for street overlaying and funding for paving of the Depot parking lot. But, Fortner later said, the city does plan to concrete the parking lot from capital reserves.
Street Superintendent Charles Ray asked at the Sept. 2 meeting if his department was the only one whose labor force was being cut while none of its duties were. Fortner confirmed this, but explained, "That's what I had to do to balance the budget."
Also at the meeting, Earl Kimbrough of Kimbrough Seal appeared before the board stating that he could not sign a lease agreement for use of the old Wells Lamont building because "it has too much in it that I didn't agree upon."
Fortner pointed out that Kimbrough and the city had previously agreed to have the city modify the west end of the building in exchange for Kimbrough signing a three-year lease and agreeing to employ five people by the end of 12 months. Fortner told Kimbrough that he had delayed presenting him with a lease in order to help him since he was not yet in production nor had hired anyone.
"I didn't want to start your 12 months running," said Fortner.
Kimbrough agreed to meet with city attorney Jacqueline G. Smith concerning the lease.
In other matters on Sept. 2 and 9, aldermen:
authorized a door-to-door income survey of city residents for a Community Development Block Grant application. Each alderman will be responsible for the survey in his or her ward.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will only allow the state to use block grant funds in areas that demonstrate at least a 51 percent low- to moderate- income level. The city does not meet that requirement based upon 2000 Census results.
However, according to an Aug. 27 letter to Fortner from Sam Mozee Jr., director of the Community Services Division of the Mississippi Development Authority, the city may use townwide surveys, which are allowabled to determine if the city meets the low/moderate income threshold of 51 percent. Such a survey was conducted here in 1999.
Mozee notes that the city has 2,347 residents; a survey would have to be completed for 80 percent of the residents, which would be 1,878.
had a public hearing period on Sept. 2 regarding a USDA grant application of $15,000 for a police car during which no comments were received. The board learned on Sept. 9 that the grant had been approved. The new car will replace the Police Department's oldest car, a 1994 model.
authorized Burchfield to prepare an application for a Baseball Tomorrow Grant to be used in conjunction with a previous grant to develop Gary Park.
set a standard $30 fee for all water cutoffs, whether inside or outside the city limits and whether the first or a subsequent time for a customer.
increased building permit fees to $25 for additions or remodeling, $50 for new houses and $100 for commercial projects. The fees were $3, whether residential or commercial.
set the rental fee for use of the Eupora Depot at $100 for each event, plus a $100 deposit that is refundable if no damage occurs.
authorized the Eupora High School Softball Booster Club to move the fence at the city softball field under supervision of the park director in return for improvements to the grounds.
agreed to have the city draw up specifications to replace the curb on Fox Avenue
in front of First Baptist Church and present them for bids. The curb and sidewalk are not even in that area, and the board had voted May 5 to spend up to $7,000 to correct the problem. Alderman Mike Hillhouse said the church had asked that the work be done before winter.
authorized the placement of speed bumps on the Westwood Drive "U."
verbally agreed to make the alley that connects West Clark and Fox avenues between the William Stewart and Doff Hubbard residences one way running south to north from the AmSouth Bank property line, at least for a trial period. A "One-Way Do Not Enter" sign has since been erected at the West Clark entrance.
granted a variance to Akins Construction of Starkville for a HOME program house it is building on Ruth Street with the stipulation that it provide enough parking space for two cars beside the house. The house was not set back far enough from the street right-of-way as is now required by the city
heard a complaint from Greg Medders concerning a sewer line which he said had backed up into his corn field off Hodges Drive. Fortner told him that the Water and Sewer Department would dig the pipe up when weather allowed to see if it had a hole in it or was leaking. He also said the city would notify its insurance carrier concerning damages Medders had suffered from a resulting crop loss.
authorized acceptance of the low bid to clean and paint the Walthall water tank subject to recommendations from engineering companies to be contacted by the mayor.
The city board's next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 6.
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