Sam Haigis, was once again nominated and approved as mayor pro tem. He has fulfilled that role “since Moses” as stated by Mayor Stanley to the audience. Haigis corrected the mayor by stating he’s only served that role since Joshua.
During the work session, Mayor Stanley told the council that they were being asked to open up two jobs from part-time to full-time.
Those two positions were to move a part-time utility worker to full-time and part-time economic development director to full-time. The mayor also said that the budget calls for a purchase of a small track hoe.
“Over the past several years, we’ve rented track hoes to dig out several places that our big back hoe cant go.” said Stanley. “I think it’s time that we purchase one of these.” A track hoe is an excavator that is a power-driven machine used for digging, moving, or transporting loose gravel, sand, or soil.
The small track hoe was budgeted for $40,000 for purchase. The city has recently spent approximately $2,000 on a job that took 10 days to complete. Councilman Bill French asked if the track hoe would be used five times per year. City Administrator Shephard stated that it’s hard to say due to small leaks, but said that it would probably be used that many times per year.
“One thing that me and David (Wortham) have talked about is the saving of wear and tear on the back hoe that we have.” said Shephard. “Obviously, not using it as much when needing to get into these smaller places.”
French asked whether the track hoe would be a maintenance issue down the road, whereas Wortham of Public Works stated that the City of Sherman’s oldest unit is five years-old and they haven’t spent any money on maintenance other than normal oil changes.
Haigis asked for an overall picture of what the city has spent on renting a track hoe over the past five years.
“While it’s good to have your own equipment, but in the same token, I’m sure we’ve got other places we can spend some money such as street repair.”
Shephard said that the total rent cost would not equal the cost of the new machine but felt this is a piece of equipment that is much needed and would be used to saved wear and tear on the big back hoe.
“I think the one thing that we have to be mindful of as council members is that if our department heads say that they need this and we don’t have hard solid evidence that they don’t, then we don’t have the right to argue with them.” said French. “If it’s fiscally responsible to get one, then we need to build our material fleet.”
Last year, the city bought a 4-wheel drive pickup. Other than that and a mower, those are the only pieces of equipment the city has purchased in five years.
Haigis stated that he didn’t want this purchase to take away from a budget for street repair. “Just like every city around here, we’re probably in better shape than some as far as the streets go, but we’ve got some that really need some repair and that’s going to be very costly.”
Mayor Stanley asked Shephard to give the new Council Member Foster a history of where the city has been financially in the past 10 years.
“Without blaming anyone, there was some mismanagement of the funds about seven or eight years ago.” said Shephard. Between 2000 and 2005, the city spent all of their reserves, about $750,000 of the general daily operations of the city. When I came on board, we had no money in investments and it was a struggle paying the bills.”
Shephard said that the city laid-off 33 percent of the workforce. The city went through every dime cutting expenditures. They cut electric cost and phones.
“We were, of course, forced to raise property taxes and utilities in order to pay the bills and now we’ve got to where we’re doing that.” said Shephard. “Now we’ve finally got to the point where we’re starting to put a little money back.”
Stanley said the city was bleeding over $250,000 per year before Shephard came on board. After four years of freezes on salaries for employees and fighting through the tightest of budgets, the city has nearly replaced the 33 percent (six employees) that was laid off.
“This has been thought out.” said Stanley. “When we go talking about getting track hoes and putting on people from part-time to full-time, there has been a lot of thought put in to it.”
Shephard said that the budget approval means that three of the six positions that were laid off will now be replaced and one position would be created. The utility department is still three short of before the layoffs.
The new budget also allows for a four percent increase in salaries across the board for city employees.
Shephard says that the new full time position in the utility department will free up Bert Dowlen in the code enforcement department to spend more time in that area instead of utilities.
In the budget, the solid waste charges went up by $15,349. Shephard explained that it was due to three new houses that are currently being built and that expense will actually wash due to the new homes being charged that amount.
Haigis said that the best thing that’s been done in Howe recently is going to the new progressive trash pick up system. Shephard says that he’s seen the trash driver go above and beyond to pick up trash around the city.
“We do get some complaints, but for the most part, that guy really does try hard.” said Shephard.
The trash contract goes through 2017 and at that point will be sent out for bid. Shepard said that Howe has the highest water rates in the county and will be for a long time. City Secretary Joy Stevens did a rate study with different cities.
“We’re not too far off from some other cities.” said Stevens.
“The monthly bill for citizens here are higher than anywhere else. We know that and we’re not denying that.” said Shephard.
The city utility bill not only includes water, but solid waste, and sewer. Shephard said that there is no plans to raise the bill in the future.
Mayor Stanley said that it would take a year before seeing what the results are from the apartments taking on some relief of the citizens’ water bill and spreading out the totals.
“I would like to go on the record to say that someday I would love to see us be able to lower our water rate.” said French. “I don’t know if it can be done. I think if the city administration ever wants to look like heroes to the senior residents of this town, a water reduction would do that. Anything in that direction would help.”
In conclusion, the council showed no objections to the budget and it is scheduled to be approved in September should all of the tax revenue be confirmed. If formally approved, the two jobs that are currently part-time would go full-time as of October 1.
