Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Sept 6, 2012) — The Jamestown City Council held another in the series of 2013 budget meetings, Thursday afternoon, at City Hall. Council Member Buchanan was not present, at the start and came in shortly after the start of the meeting.

The City Council had approved the preliminary budget, up to Thursday’s meeting, the figures can not be increased, but they could be decreased.

At Thursday’s meeting the City Council reviewed the Enterprise Funds.

　

With the Water Department:

The software request was for $31,000.

 

Leak Detection Services, at $40,000-$55,000 per block.

“Hot Spot Testing,” would be done first.

$325,000 will be left in the fund, with the possibility of Special Assessing the costs to the benefited property owners.

A Lime Storage Facility Driveway was also discussed.

A five percent rate increase is proposed to be included in this budget.

　

With the Sewer Utility Fund:

Items included, new equipment, and a new overnight employee, at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, before the Great River Energy plant comes on line, possibly in early 2013.

Project Expenditures were also reviewed, and the purchase of a boiler at $239,000, and a heat exchanger at $165,000.

The addition of a “scrubber,” that strips selected elements, before the gas flaring, could be bonded for over 20 years.

With the addition of a employee, coupled with the rate adjustment the fund would operate at a loss of $31,000.

With the Sanitation fund, a net revenue surplus is expected.

　

With the Solid Waste Fund:

A $12,000 expenditure for a furnace for the Baler.

$8,000 for a cement pad, for roll-off boxes.

$95,000 for a cold storage building.

A $19,000 net loss in the fund is project for 2013.

Any additional employee was approved to hire for 2013.

A time-study of an employee at the inert landfill may be included.

　

Equipment Replacement Funds…

Includes the Police Department, for two patrol units, and the Cushman Unit, for parking enforcement, along with equipment for the solid waste facility.

　

Engineering Funds…

An exchange of a vehicle was discussed.

Other department budget requests have been heard.

The next budget meeting will concern Capital Construction, Convention/Promotion, Tourism, and the Public Building Sites, fund.

The City Council to make the final approval of the budget, later this month, with the final vote at the October Council meeting.

With action by the City Council, Thursday, the proposed budget is five mills lower than the 2012 budget, and no increase is anticipated in city property taxes for the 2013 budget.

A surplus in the General Fund is anticipated, of about $189,000, with a projected Mill Levy of 8-mills, a reduction of 5-mills was approved.

The next budget meeting was planned for September 17, 2012, at 3:30-p.m.

Thursday’s meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67.

 

The preliminary budget contains a 2.5 percent step wage increase for eligible city employees and a two percent cost of living adjustment.

Mayor Andersen recently said, the city will pick up addition portions of employees health insurance under the plus dependent and family plan.

The mayor added this is the first time the city has picked up those additional shares of the policies, in order to keep the city competitive with other political sub-divisions and the private sector in terms of health insurance premiums paid by employees.