No public at city budget hearing

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

A public hearing was held on the fiscal year 2019 budget for Charles City Monday night during the Charles City Council’s regular meeting, but no members of the public commented.

The city’s total expected revenue from all sources for the year which begins July 1 will be $26,995,209 and its total expenditures will be $28,707,802.

The property tax rate will increase 2 cents per $1,000 of taxable valuation, from $15.81 to $15.83, an increase of 0.13 percent. A total of $4.0 million will be collected in property taxes, an increase of $57,923 from the current year.

“I think we have a really good budget crafted,” said Charles City Clerk Trudy O’Donnell during the meeting. “It’s a little bit bigger this year.”

There will be a lot of street projects funded during fiscal year 2019, said Charles City Administrator Steven Diers.

The city will submit the budget to Floyd County and then the state electronically.

Street Reconstruction

Another hearing was held on the 2018 Riverside Drive and Illinois Street reconstruction project.

There were no members of the public or comments from the public during the meeting.

“We’re going to raise the corner of Illinois and Riverside to get it above the flood elevation,” said Charles City Engineer John Fallis.

The city acquired the property from the Nettletons, a family that owns the site.

Currently, the corner is in a floodplain. The construction will take place over the summer of 2018.

The project’s contract went to King Construction for $320,000.

This would be King Construction’s first city contract, Fallis said. The project will be funded by the local option sales tax.

Auditors

The city went over a contract for audit services for the fiscal year 2018 through 2020. The last time this was before the council it ended in a tie vote.

The city requested proposals for new audit services and sent a letter to six firms.

TP Anderson expected that its cost to the city would be $14,000 for an audit in fiscal year 2018, $14,800 for 2019 and $15,550 in 2020 should the city continue with the firm’s services for three years.

Gardiner Thomsen, a local firm, would charge the city $19,500 yearly from 2018 to 2020 if the city chose its service.

Gardiner Thomsen did the last city audit for fiscal year 2017 and decreased its cost from around $21,000 for the previous year’s service.

“This is a tough one,” Diers said. “It’s a pretty good price difference.”

The city could go back to Gardiner Thomsen if it chooses to switch services, though the city could have difficulty getting back on to their schedule, Diers said.

Council member DeLaine Freeseman said he is still in favor of TP Anderson because of the savings to the city.

The vote came down to council member Keith Starr because he was the only council member not present at the last session.

Starr voted to go with TP Anderson.

Public Hearings

The council will hold public hearings on two ordinances that will change zoning districts in Charles City and one about the city entering into a general obligation loan agreement to borrow money.

One of the ordinances will change the classification of two areas from residential single family district to a service business district.

The other ordinance will allow advertising signs to permit the placement of exterior fascia signs that are visible from the street front edges.

Part of the fiscal 2019 budget requires the city to take out a loan, the city will hold two hearings for taking out a loan.

“Part of the FY19 budgeting process includes short-term borrowing for various pieces of equipment replacement and repairs,” according to council documents.

The city is looking for a total loan of $213,458, to go toward police equipment, parks and recreation projects, fire equipment and street repairs.

Included in that loan is $50,000 to offset the cost of Charley Western Trail Bridge removal.

The public hearings will be held at 6 p.m. on March 19 in the Charles City Council Chambers.

The next council session will be held at 6 p.m. March 14 in the council chambers.