Budget review begins (06/07/06)

GENEVA — The town’s budget for 2007 is expected to show a 3 percent increase.

Clerk-treasurer Doug Milligan told Geneva Council members Lew Wingler, Jim Timmons, and Mike Schwartz Tuesday night he was “seeking direction” from them as he begins the budget process, but that he was looking at an across the board increase.

The budget is expected to be presented for a first reading at the council’s regular meeting set for July 11.

The second reading will be heard at the council’s Aug. 1 meeting, a public hearing is set for Sept. 5, and the budget is expected to be adopted at a special meeting on Sept. 15.

Milligan said health insurance costs for the town are expected to increase by 17.3 percent on July 1.

“We only have six of the town’s 12 employees covered, all on single coverage,” he said about the increase. “Finding someone to cover six employees is difficult. It’s not a big group plan. The council needs to provide some direction on this.”

Milligan also explained that the town’s contribution of Economic Development Income Tax funds to Adams County has not been figured correctly for the past few years.

“It should be 13 percent,” he said, noting the town will now be paying $2,100, as compared to $1,110 as in the past.

The council also approved a proposed tax rate of .00133 for the Geneva Public Library.

That $1.03 per $100 of assessed valuation will generate $5,300 for the library’s operation, although the state will likely drop that to 99 cents per $100.

“This is the first time in two years we’ve asked for an increase,” library director Rose Bryan, told the council in asking for the increase.

In other business Tuesday night, the council agreed to adopt an ordinance requiring Geneva police officers to live in Geneva.

Marshal Rob Johnson told council he and Milligan had both searched the town’s records, but could find no such ordinance pertaining to an officer’s residency.

Council agreed, for the safety of the town’s residents, having officers reside inside the town limits would be the best.

Johnson also told council that patrolman Jason Oswalt may be leaving the department to join the Berne Police Department as a full-time officer.

Council discussed how his replacement would be hired.

Since most new officers on the department have not had the required Indiana Law Enforcement Academy training, the town has usually paid for that training.

In order to ensure that the cost of that training is reimbursed through the officers’ tenure with the department, council agreed to have town attorney, Chris Harvey, draw up a contract, noting a length of time the officer should be employed. However, if that employment ends earlier, the balance of the training costs would be paid by the officer.

Milligan also told the council he would be purchasing computer software at a cost of $4,200 to handle the new utility rate increases, plus the addition of the stormwater utility fee, which has never been collected before. The cost for new hardware will be $2,600 he added.

In other business the council approved a request from Curt Chaffins, street superintendent, to have Yoder Excavating Inc., Geneva, do some repaving work at a total estimated cost of $53,905.

The work will include repairing and resurfacing Rainbow Road, building a base in the curb in front of EPC, patching chuck holes, and milling and resurfacing Spring Street.

Council expressed concern that the work was not put out for formal bids, but Harvey explained that each project was considered a single job and none of the project estimates came in over the $25,000 threshold which would then require formal bidding under the town’s purchasing policy and state law for towns.

Beginning July 1, that threshold increases to $50,000 for towns, Harvey told the council about recent state changes.

Chaffins said the street department currently has $60,045 available.

“It’s there,” Milligan said about the money, “but there won’t be anything left.”

Council also approved wastewater plant operator Jason Wilkie’s request to do work at the plant at a cost of $18,500. The work includes installing a 12-inch drain pipe into an existing outlet line to the lift station and installing a 6-inch push line and valves and also disconnecting the existing lift station from the final tank.

Geneva fire chief John Kleinknight told the council of his concerns for firemen who miss a day of work because of fire-related matters.

He said there have been instances where he has asked firefighters to remain at the scene while state officials inspect a site, and it results in the loss of a day’s wages.

Recalling such an incident, “I asked six of them to stay and only one of them was paid by their employer,” he said.

“We need to take care of the fire department on the rare occasions when they miss work,” Schwartz said, adding the exception being those who are paid by employers.

Council agreed to look at Kleinknight’s request and consider it in the 2007 budget.

Town manager, Steve Hampshire, noted that residents along Winchester Road, which underwent major reconstruction in 2005, have complained about the repair of lawns done by Harlow Landscaping.

He agreed to contact Crosby Excavating again about the complaints.

“We haven’t paid them the last $11,000,” Milligan said of the reconstruction project, “so we still have some leverage.”

Hampshire also told council the process of flushing hydrants would be done differently this year.

“It has been difficult to get all the hydrants flushed and valves exercised in one week,” he said. This year workers will be doing north of Line Street from June 19 to 23, and south of Line Street from June 26 through 30.

Council also approved Hampshire’s request to purchase a Back-Pak mosquito fogger that leaves a deposit of repellent on the grass, as opposed to a mist in the air. This deposit is said to remain in place for seven to 10 days, Hampshire told the council. The cost of the unit and two gallons of Flint repellent is $995.

“We have a balance of $4,750 in the fund and 43 gallons of spray,” Hampshire said. He said he has completed spraying for mosquitoes twice so far.[[In-content Ad]]