By Gretchen Black

The City Hall meeting was called to order on Tues., Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. The Consent Agenda was presented and passed with three aye votes and one absent vote – Jared Boast.
Ms. Molly Malone, of the Audit Firm of Verkamp & Malone, addressed the board with the Audit Report for the fiscal year ending June 20, 2008. The total assets of the city as a whole had increased over the fiscal year. Most of this increase was due to the sale of the prior city hall and the purchase of the newer city hall.
The city is showing a positive increase in assets and growth. Very few cities have shown this positive increase. Capital assets increased in the amount of $198,051. This increase included the newer city hall building, new windows installed in the city hall, street improvements, playground equipment in the city park, two new police vehicles, two new radar units and two DVD recorders for the police vehicles.
Ms. Malone praised the city for adhering to the city’s budget. Ms. Malone stated it was a very clean audit and the city received a clean opinion. They were also able to breeze through the field work and tested the water/sewer billings and found nothing wrong. Ms. Malone stated she felt it was a very good budget and praised the city leaders.
Mr. Mike Logston, of Meco Engineering, submitted a draft of O&M Manual of the wastewater treatment plant facility for the board to review. The city did have an O&M Manual from the original treatment plant constructions done in 1974. However, the recent upgrades made to the facility had not been incorporated into the O&M Manual.
The EPA had requested the treatment process be included in this manual. The upgrades have been copied and incorporated into the new manual.
The sanitary sewer overflows were discussed. More wastewater is going into the system than the system can handle. This causes untreated sewage to flow out of the system and into the environment. The EPA needs to be assured the city is being proactive to find the sources of infiltration.
Mr. Logston requested the board take the manual to review and contact him with comments. Monty Todd also has a draft manual to review. The city has a deadline of Jan. 31 to submit the manual to the EPA.
A complaint was made about the police department. Mr. Noel Chapman requested to address the board with problems he is having with two police officers not allowing him to ride his riders – garden tractors – on the shoulder of the roads. He stated the night officers told him they would allow him to ride; however, the day officers will not allow him to ride his mowers.
City attorney Davis will check into the city’s ordinances and the city will get back in contact with Mr. Chapman about this situation.
A patrol car for the police department was approved by the board. The police department will purchase a 2005 Crown Victoria from Joe Mattox in the amount of $9,000, to be paid in three equal installments of $3,000. This agreement was approved by Alderman Hilse and seconded by Alderman Byrd.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.