Looking at capital expenditures

As the council gets closer to a final budget for the coming fiscal year of 2021/2022, they met a third time to further iron out details through the remaining 2020/2021 budget and the next that starts July 1.

The last two meetings gave each department head an opportunity to advise the council where they are right now, where they considered a need for extra funds in the coming fiscal year and where they could possibly trim a bit.

This meeting addressed capital expenditures, including a needed compactor at the landfill, another pickup for public works, an overdraft of approximately $60,650 at the MTC and an unanticipated and unallocated $175,197.70.

The town was able to save this money when salaries were paid with COVID-19 relief funds earlier in this fiscal year. The governing body discussed what should be done with the extra funds that will be included with the existing rollover into the new budget.

The staff had a list of needed items like a copier for the police office and reconstructing the ordinance book, but Councilmen Dale Petersen and Ben Glenn advocated putting at least a portion into savings.

“I would love to be able to say we have a rainy day fund,” Glenn commented.

The body will consider the situation more at the end of this budget, ensuring there are funds for any unanticipated expenditure for the next month and a half if needed.

Second on the list for conversation was the need of both public works and the police department for another vehicle. Glenn expressed his lack of enthusiasm: “I know I’m going to make these two guys mad, but I’m not in favor of buying a vehicle at this point. [However,] I’m more in favor of buying a maintenance vehicle than a cop car.”

Public Works Director Cory Allison was unable to give a price for a new pickup to the council at the time of this meeting, but hopes to have more information at the next. However, he was able to give prices on the compactor for the landfill of $454,780 for the absolute basic before adding a GPS to the machine, which provides better compaction, to $602,340.

Because the compactor is a condition of the landfill remodel, HDR Engineering’s Heath Turbiville suggested the possibility of adding this item to a possible USDA rural development loan, but the extra payback could be more expensive than the other option.

Allison continues to ascertain the trade in and lease options for the final budget meeting.

The shortfall in the MTC budget was not addressed at this meeting.