Geary City Council met Nov. 10 in regular session to begin handling some all-tooregular problems, rising expenses and dwindling resources.
While the report from town accountant RS Meacham showed income from various streams at or above the percentage anticipated at this point int the budget year, the income isn’t keeping up with expenses. The general fund shows a loss of $20,000, while the profit margins in natural gas, trash and water are small – only 2 % for the trash department – and getting smaller.
Chase Phillips, reporting for Meacham, said the town either had to raise rates or make cuts, or both.
Councilman Rocky Coleman asked Phillips to bring back up to four scenarios of various combinations of the two. “The slightest tweak could have the biggest results,” he said. “But we can’t continue to bleed money. We can’t keep putting a band-aid on the side of a dam.”
Phillips agreed to make the presentation, possibly at a special meeting in December.
“Obviously, “ he said, “We are going to have to make some tough decisions.”
There was some better news when Chief of Police Cecil Harrall took the podium. He told council there were two new police academy graduates on the force, meaning the jail could now be used to capacity – about five – because now it can be fully staffed. In the month of October, there were 98 citations issued and the department collected $10,000 of the $17,000 in fines issued. There were eight arrests and Harrall said his department was trying to increase use of the Geary Jail by other communities.
Other ideas from the police department included fencing part of its lot for an impound yard, where seized or impounded vehicles could be housed at a rate of $150 plus storage after a certain length of time. Harrall also said the department could increase its seizure rate if it had a dog. However, there are no handlers with enough experience for a dog at this time, but the hope is for the department to send one to get more experience. Several dogs have been offered to the department.
When the city turned to human resources, it agreed to give longevity bonuses to its employees. Those checks will be included in the pay packets handed out just before Thanksgiving so that the money can be used for holiday purchases or expenses.
C. D. Ferguson, the animal control officer, was given a $1 per hour raise and the city accepted the resignations of Justin Veach and Jaycie Owings. Both were in the police department, Veach as a patrol officer and Owings as a dispatcher. Michaella Precidio was rehired as a dispatcher and Samantha Paukei started as a dispatcher. Her pay was noted at $13 per hour.
The public works authority agreed to pay $40,000 on a gas line project to Harrison Construction, money that will be reimbursed to the city through a Rural Energy for America Program grant.
PUA employees will also receive a longevity bonus.