Budget and Awards Take Center Stage at Weaver City Council Meeting 7/27/2021

July 28, 2021  
Lee Evancho  

Work Session

The Weaver work session started with a compliment from Jacksonville City Council-member Sherry Laster who wrote a letter complimenting the Weaver Police Department on their professionalism. 

The next item on the agenda was a tethering ordinance that Councilwoman Cathy Hamby has been drafting. She has been looking at different models to design an ordinance that protects dogs while not punishing residents. She presented a few versions to the council who will review them and place it on the agenda for the next meeting. The main goals are to protect the animals, but also have an ordinance that is enforceable and doesn’t take away from the Weaver Police Department’s resources. Chief Bush was also asked to review and address the specifics at the next meeting. 

Chief Bunn spoke next regarding adding an additional address to the demolition grant. He had been tasked with finding a new location and the address he proposed was 809 Jacksonville St. While this address hasn’t been cited in the past, it does currently have structural issues that are code violations. Any address approved is then turned over to the city attorney who starts the process of contacting the owner and letting them know the process that is to be followed. 

Councilman Bowles mentioned that after the last meeting, a tour of the new firehouse was conducted. It is coming along and looks very nice. 

Mayor Willis gave an update on the splashpad. The plans have been submitted, and once approved, work will commence. The goal is still to have it running within two months. The funding for this did not come out of the budget. It was funded through the CARES Act funds the city has received.

Public Works Director, Joey Conger, was back at the meeting following surgery and updated the council on the project to switch out all the lights at the park, ballfields, and parking lot with LED lights. This change will result in lowering electrical usage. The contract to make the change was signed today. There is a possibility of doing a citywide switch to LED, but those talks are in the preliminary stages. 

Budget talks started with the 10% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase the Mayor had requested in the last meeting. With this increase the total payroll would be 1.45 million dollars with $140,000 being from the 10% COLA. Much discussion was held looking at specific line item amounts from the 2021 budget to see how much was remaining and how much was projected to be budgeted in 2022. The Mayor pointed out that revenue was up and was actually higher than expected. He mentioned that the two largest changes to the proposed budget would be the COLA increase as well as a 911 radio system increase of roughly $30,000. This fee would be annual and would be due for the next seven years. Options were discussed as to the cost savings of developing a standalone 911 system, but the cost would exceed the proposed fee and Weaver would be responsible  for maintaince and for keeping the system up-to-date. Chief Bunn mentioned that while the proposed fees were high, the Calhoun County 911 system is maintained by the county and they are responsible for updating technology and insurance. Councilman Bowles said that there was no way to really avoid the fee. If they refused, the fee would simply be accessed in a different way or the alternatives would cost more money longterm. 

Councilman Clendenning asked Chief Bunn if the new fire station would cost more money to operate. Chief Bunn said it would most likely cost less, but at worst, it would be a wash in cost. It would not be higher. 

Mayor Willis mentioned the need to replace the brush/limb truck. It is seven years old and just last month the city spent $16,000 on repairs. A new vehicle cost between $150,000-170,000 not including trade-in value. Quotes are being requested and would be good for 30 days. 

Councilman Clendenning also requested on update on the water project. Mr. Conger explained that they are waiting on a grant status. They can’t really get started until they know where funding will come from. 

Councilman Clendenning also asked about the status of the damaged police vehicle that insurance has paid to replace. Chief Bush stated that they anticipated receiving the new vehicle next month. The Chief also mentioned the need to add an additional vehicle. Councilman Clendenning stated that he felt the second vehicle needed to wait so the city wouldn’t have two car payments at one time. Chief Bush expressed that this would not save the city money as the maintenance fees would increase and that the city would own a vehicle that was not able to be used for its intended purpose. He also discussed the benefits of trading in sooner, and thereby getting a higher trade-in value of up to 1/3 of the value. There are currently six patrol vehicles and and eight sworn officers. Typically the Chargers are traded in every three years and the Tahoes every four years. Chief Bush then submitted his proposal for the Weaver Police Department Budget. 

After further discussion, the conclusion was that the main budget additions would be the COLA increase and the 911 fees. These two fees would increase the budget by $200,000. Councilman Bowles was concerned that as of now there, was not $200,000 in additional funds, so if these items were passed other projects and departments would end up being cut midyear. Mayor Willis was confident that the revenue would continue to increase and that these expenditures could be covered and needed to be passed to keep Weaver comparable to neighboring cities. 

Legally, the budget has to be approved by October first, but the goal is for it to be passed at the August 24th meeting. 

City Council Meeting

• Invocation
• Pledge of Allegiance
• Roll Call
  • Jeff Clendenning – Present
  • Nick Bowles – Present
  • Cathy Hamby – Present
  • Tim McRae – Absent
  • Clint Burns – Present
  • Mayor Willis – Present
• Agenda – Unanimously Accepted 
• Minutes from Previous Meeting – Unanimously Accepted 
• Department Heads
  • Public Works
    • The water Project is expected to start in a year and half due to grant applications. 
    • The brush/limb truck is back in operation. If anyone needs to have limbs picked up they should call City Hall to be added to the list. 
    • There are no current complaints regarding mosquitos, so spraying will be delayed until it becomes more of an issue.
  • City Clerk
    • No report
  • Clint Burns
    • No report
  • Cathy Hamby
    • Tethering ordinance proposal was submitted and will be added to the next meeting’s agenda.
  • Nick Bowles
    • No report
• Jeff Clendenning 
  • He wanted to make sure funds were allowed from the CARES money to replace or remodel the bathrooms at the park. 
  • Talks are happening to get firm prices for Disc Golf to be added at the park and possibly around the lake or fields. The proposed pricing is $20,000 for a 9- hole course. 
• Old Business – none
• New Business
  • SPIRES came to present Joey Conger, Public Works director, with the Silver Shovel Award. This award is for having zero at-fault incidents this year.  The city of Weaver has called in 216 total jobs with no issues.
• Mayor’s Report 
  • The Mayor referenced a lawsuit that was moving to mediation. No city council members were currently named in the lawsuit. 
  • A new employee is being hired for a labor position. This position will specifically be used for park upkeep, but could be pulled for other jobs if needed. Drug tests are still pending, but the process has moved forward.
  • The city is still actively hiring laborers and has even offered a $100 referral bonus to current employees who refer applicants. The $100 would be paid out upon hiring. 
• The address of 809 Jacksonville St was proposed to be added to the demolition grant. – Unanimously Passed
• Public Comments
  • No Comments
• Adjournment – Unanimously Passed