PICAYUNE, Miss., Thursday, Aug. 13 — City Clerk Priscilla C. Daniel told the city council today that the latest monthly sales tax settlement with the state was $341,000, down from what city officials had hoped for. She said the city needed $399,000 monthly for the last two months of the current fiscal year, August and September, to maintain its current budget and not drop behind on expected revenues.

Mayor Ed Pinero goes over budget figures with council.

The development marks the first time this new council has heard that the expected sales tax revenues budgeted for the current fiscal year, 2008-09, will probably fall below what was forecasted.

The latest state sales tax rebate check, which is lower than expected, shows that retail sales here in Picayune have dipped, something city officials were hoping would not occur since half the city’s budget comes from retail sales taxes collected here by the state, a portion of which is rebated to the city. Half the city’s budget is supported by the sales tax rebate monies from the state.

Daniel made the statement in the last of six budget workshops being held by the council to hammer out the 2009-10 fiscal year budget, one that will be tight because city officials are not sure how revenues will hold up in a severe economic downturn that has hit the U.S. and local governmental budgets.

Daniel has told the council in previous meetings that the sales tax rebate needed to average $377,000 monthly for the entire year  in order for the city to not fall behind on revenues.

From left is public works director Chad Frierson and Councilman Larry Watkins. Frierson went over grounds and utility dept. budgets with the council.

City sales taxes here hit a high of just over a half-million dollars monthly shortly after Katrina,  but after the flush of hurricane cleanup funds and the huge influx of refugees from the storm passed, sales tax collections began to gradually decline.

However, the latest monthly rebate of $341,000 for June, just received, is one of the lowest since the storm. You have to go back to March 2008, over a year ago, to find one lower, $326,146.44. Sales tax collections have stubbornly maintained what the city needed for most of this year, despite the recession, but are slipping in the last few months of this current fiscal year, according to information supplied by Daniel. Sales taxes collected in June are paid in August. There is a one month delay.

The council budgeted for the 2009-10 fiscal year budget an expected sales tax rebate of $345,000 monthly, expecting that sales taxes would dip here because of the recession and after talking to business leaders. In conjunction with that expectation,  they told dept. heads they wanted to cut the overall budget by 10 percent. 

“We needed $399,000 this month and next month to make budget,” said Daniel. “Up until this latest settlement we were right on budget, but it dropped. I had budgeted $798,000 for August and September, which would be $399,000 monthly, but this month it was $341,000.”

From left Lane, Larry Ladonis Seal, Miller and Brooks Wallace. Seal for decades was the county engineer. He is now retired. Both Seal and Wallace attended the workshop as private citizens.

Said Councilman Jason Todd Lane, “People are spending less, there is no question.”

The council in the last six workshops heard from dept. heads concerning their budgets. The council and finance officials will now try and put the figures together to come up with a 2009-10 budget. After the budget is finalized a notice for a public hearing will be placed in the local newspaper. The hearing will be held on Sept. 8 and local residents will be allowed to present input and suggestions to the council. A copy of the budget will be available at the Sept. 8 public hearing.

After the hearing the council might tweak the budget a little, based on what input they get from residents, and will then adopt it in the Sept. 15 regular council meeting. The budget must be adopted and in place by the beginning of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1.

At today’s workshop the council went over the utility dept. budget and the public works budget with public works director Chad Frierson.

Two private citizens attended the workshop, which has been sparesly attended by citizens, althought the workshops are open to the public.

Daniel said this year’s utility fund budget is in the black. She said this year’s budget is approximately $7.4 million and that next year’s budget will approximate that. She said that the utility dept. budget is called an enterprise fund and is kept separately from the main general fund budget. There is not supposed to be any intermingling of funds between the utility fund and the general fund.

However, in past years there has been transfers from the general fund to the utility fund, which over a number of years ran a huge million-dollar deficit under the previous administration.

The utility dept. covers several operations: sewerage services, gas, water and garbage collection. The sewerage and barbage collection services are operated by other entities, sewerage by the Pearl River Co. Utility Authority and the garbage by an independent waste disposal company. However, the city collects all the revenues associated with the services and dispenses out the collection for sewerage and garbage to the utility authority and independent contractor.

The city reads gas meters but is currently not reading water meters. The city has charged a flat fee for water since October. Frierson today told the council that at some point they will have to decide whether the city will read its own water meters are contract it out to some meter reading service.

The previous council had worked out a contract with Siemens Corp. for a high-tech meter reading service that would have computerized meter reading operations, but that $3.2 million contract, although signed by former Mayor Greg Mitchell, was rejected by the Mississippi Development Authority because, MDA said, the contract would not pay for itself.

Frierson said the city does not know the condition of the water meters. City Manager Harvey Miller said a decision on how the water meters will be read had to be made. Frierson said there are some residents who are hooked into the city’s system and “have never been billed.”

Also with Frierson, the council discussed possible approval of placing in the new budget the lease of two new lawnmowers, how to set up a systematic attack on maintaining the city’s ditch cleaning and drainage improvement operations and future street paving operations. The city annually gets about $250,000 in tax rebate monies from the county for paving city streets. However, officials said that does not go very far, only allowing paving  about two miles of streets and roads. The city has approximately 90 miles of roads and streets.

PICAYUNE, Miss., Thursday, Aug. 13 — The City Council has released its agenda for the Tuesday, Aug. 18, recessed meeting at 5 p.m. at council chambers at city hall at 815 North Beech Street. The agenda follows:

  NOTICE OF AGENDA

CITY COUNCIL – RECESS MEETING

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2009 5:00 P.M.

FORMER ARIZONA CHEMICAL BUILDING, 815 NORTH BEECH STREET

1.                  WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER -Mayor Ed Pinero

2.                  INVOCATION 

3.                  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

4.                  PRESENTATION

            STEVE LAWLER TO PRESENT ANNUAL OF PEARL RIVER UTILITY        AUTHORITY

5.                  CONSENT AGENDA 

            1.         Consider request to approve the Minutes for the City of Picayune dated                             August 4, 2009.

                        Action Requested: Approve request as submitted.

            2.         Consider request to acknowledge receipt of monthly Privilege License                                Report for the month of July 2009.

                        Action Requested: Acknowledge receipt of monthly Privilege License                                Report for the month of July 2009.

            3.         Consider request to acknowledge receipt of monthly Public Records                                   Report for the month of July 2009.

                        Action Requested: Acknowledge receipt of monthly Public Records                                   Request Report for the month of July 2009.   

            4.         Consider Planning Commission Minutes dated July 14, 2009.

                        Action Requested: Approve Planning Commission Minutes as presented.

            5.         Consider Planning Commission Minutes dated August 11, 2009.

                        Action Requested:  Acknowledge Planning Commission Minutes as                                    presented.           

6.         APPROVAL OF DOCKET

7.                  PETITION AND COMMUNICATIONS

            1.         Consider request for Civic Woman’s Club to hold Annual Christmas                                   Parade on Monday, December 7, 2009.

                        Action Requested: Approve request as presented.

8.                  OLD BUSINESS

9.         NEW BUSINESS

A.                CITY MANAGER

                        1.         Consider request to approve Correction Quitclaim Deed from City                                      of Picayune unto Phillip J Kahn due to incorrect legal description                                            (copy of old deed attached).

                                    Action Requested: Approve Correction Deed and authorize Mayor                                                 to sign same.

                        2.         Consider Moratorium on large billboard signs.

                                    Action Requested: Approve request as submitted.

                        3.         Consider implementing tax on apartment complexes with 20 units                                       or greater.

                                    Action Requested: Approve request as submitted.

                        4.         Consider approval for Carol Fitzwilliam to travel to Las Vegas NV                                     from October 21^st through October 25^th in order to work and assist                                      the HMR State Director at the AARP Convention’s trade show.

                                    Action Requested: Approve request as presented.

B.                 FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

                        1.         Consider request to acknowledge receipt of the monthly budget                                          report for the month of July 2009.

                                    Action Requested:      Approve request as submitted.

                        2.         Consider amendment to ordinance # 854 to provide for individual                                      notice of service cut-off and related matters.

                                    Action Requested: Approve as presented.

C.                 GRANT ADMINISTRATION

                        1.         Consider revising the FY2010 154 Alcohol Countermeasures                                               Program Application to delete office supplies and equipment as                                           requested by Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Budget to                                                 be reduced from $120,225.45 to $115,528.45.

                                    Action Requested: Approve the revision and authorize Mayor to                                         sign the revised application and relative application documents.

                        2.         Consider advertising for bids for South Beech Lift Station                                                  Improvements project funded by EPA.

                                    Action Requested: Authorize Community Development to                                                  advertise for said bids.

                        3.         Consider request for payment # 6 to MDOT for construction of                                           Phase II of Memorial Blvd.

                                    Action Requested: Authorize the said request for payment in the                                         amount of $178,790.00 and payment of subsequent invoice.

                        4.         Consider Change Order No. 1 – final to the contract by and                                                            between Industrial Environment Management, LLC and the City of                                   Picayune to construct a Helicopter Pad and Drainage                                                       Improvements at Picayune Airport.

                                    Action Requested:  Approve the Change Order to decrease the                                           contract price by $15,996.00, decrease the contract time by 31                                             calendar days and authorize Mayor to sign the same.

D.                PLANNING AND ZONING

                        1.         Consider request from Bill Edwards to subdivide property located                                      at 335 West Canal Street from three lots into two lots.

                                    Action Requested: Accept Planning Commission recommendation                                      to approve the request.

                        2.         Consider request from Larry & Thelma Cox for a 20% lot                                                    reduction variance, a 20ft width and a 500ft lot area for                                                       property located at 315 Fannie Avenue.

                                    Action Requested: Accept Planning Commission recommendation                                      to deny the request.

                        3.         Consider request from Dennis Collier, Mark Gibson, Marcus                                                Shoemake and William A McQueen to change the zoning on                                               property located on South Haugh Avenue from C3 to R4.

                                    Action Requested: Accept Planning Commission recommendation                                      to approve the request.

E.                 CODE ENFORCEMENT

                        1.         Consider request to set a date for a Public Hearing for property                                           cleanup at 519 East 4^th St.

                                    Action Requested: Approve request as submitted.

                        2.         Consider request to hold a Public Hearing for Property Cleanup on                                                 following properties:

1. Corner of South Side St. & Jarrell St. Parcel # 617-515-004-09-013
2. Jarrell St. Parcel # 617-515-004-09-01301
3. 312 Jackson landing Road
4. 628 Charlotte Drive Parcel # 617-521-002-02-047
5. 1101 South Beech Street
6. Corner of Mitchell St. & Hwy 11 North Parcel #’s 617-614-003-04-005, 617-614-003-04-00501
7. 829 Beech Street
8. 600 Davis Street
9. 715 Cayten Street
10. 719 Cayten Street
11. South Main Street Parcel # 617-522-001-01-001

                                    Action Requested:  Approve request as submitted

F.                  PUBLIC WORKS

G.                POLICE DEPARTMENT

                        1.         Consider request for Chief Luke to attend ROCIC 18^th Annual                                           Homicide Conference in Charleston, WV October 18^th-21^st 2009.

                                    Action Requested: Authorize attendance of Chief Luke to the                                             ROCIC 18^th Annual Homicide Conference in Charleston, WV                                            October 18^th-21^st 2009.

H.                FIRE DEPARTMENT

                        1.         Consider request to accept check from the MS Department of                                             Health in the amount of $700.00 for reimbursement of Fire                                                  Academy for Kids summer camp program.

                                    Action Requested: Accept check as requested.

I.                   AIRPORT

10.       MISCELLANEOUS COUNCILMEMBERS’ BUSINESS

11.       MAYOR UPDATE

12.       CITIZEN CONCERNS

13.       EXECUTIVE SESSION

            1.         Contractual Matter-CRI

            2.         Personnel Matter

14.       ADJOURN

_______________________________                      _____________________________

Harvey Miller, Interim City Manager                                     Date

*Consent Agenda – All matters listed under Item 4, Consent Agenda, are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion.  There will not be separate discussion of these items.  If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be considered separately.

Note Regarding Citizen Comments – All citizens are encouraged to attend and participate in meetings of the City Council.  If you wish to address the Council, please provide your name and address for the record and limit your comments to three (3) minutes.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Americans with Disabilities Act – In compliance with the American’s with Disabilities Act, the city of Picayune will provide special assistance to disabled citizens upon request.  All meeting rooms are accessible to the disabled.  Please notify the City Manager’s Office (798-9770) at least 24 hours prior to the meeting of any other special assistance that may be needed.  This advance notice will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting.

PICAYUNE, Miss., Tuesday, Aug. 11 — The City Council said it will compare the costs of cemetery lots in Picayune’s three cemeteries with the prices charged by cities Picayune’s size to see if the prices are comparable. They said there are no plans to raise cemetery plot costs, but they did want to find out if cemetery plot prices here are too low. A plot sells for $200 for a resident and around $420 for residents living outside the city limits.

Mayor Pinero and Councilman Breland go over figures at the fifth of six budget workshops. . .The next and last one is Thursday at 2 p.m.

Also, Barbara McGrew, head of grant administration and code enforcement depts., who was before the council discussing her budget, said that a letter had been received saying Picayune and Pearl River Co. are not in line to receive any federal stimulus money in the first round, mostly for police depts.,  but might be able to get some in the second round. “The letter states we are still in the running if they get some additional money,” she said.

 The discussions came in the fifth of six workshops held at the council chamber today at 4 p.m., as the council moved to hammer out a 2009-10 budget that must be finalized by Sept. 15 and adopted by Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

The council has one more budget workshop left, on Thursday at 2 p.m. in council chambers. At that time they will discuss the utility dept. and public works budgets with director Chad Frierson.

One citizen attended today’s workshop, Kent Whitfield. That brings to three so far, residents who have attended the workshops, which are, like a council meeting, open to the public. However, citizens cannot comment during the workshops. They will have a chance to let their views be known during a public hearing later after the finalized 2009-10 budget is published in the Picayune Item for citizen perusal.

The price of cemetery lots came up during discussion of the cemetery budget. City Clerk Priscilla C. Daniel said the general fund was having to subsidize the cemetery budget by about $63,000 annually. The city is charged by statute to maintain the city’s three cemeteries. Two are located on 8th Street, including the historic Antioch Cemetery, and the main cemetery being New Palestine.

The council also went over budgets covering the city manager’s office and Barbara McGrew’s budget for grant administration and code enforcement.

The council at the end of today’s session said that they were trying to trim all city budgets by at least 10 percent, but all along they have said that nothing is sacrosanct, and they won’t know till the end of the budget process how they actually stand.

Said Daniel, “It may be necessary. We are trying to get dept. heads to see if they can cut their budgets without hurting services.” However, officials have cautioned that all figures are preliminary and not set in stone.

Daniel also said there had been no decision made on promotional advertising, which came up for discussion at the Aug. 4 council meeting. Some councilmen called for a tough review of the promotional advertising budget, saying they felt it was not proper, although legal, to use taxpayer money to fund promotional advertising, mainly for civic, social and sports promotions. Councilman Jason Todd Lane called for a cap on promotional advertising.

The council also said it will change the procedures for accepting bids. Previously, the bids have appeared on the council’s agenda with a recommendation as to which bid to receive. Now the council will personally open the bids in open meeting, and review the amounts, and then present them to city officials for tabulation and preparation for presentation at the next council meeting, at which time the council will okay the lowest and best bid.

Mayor Ed Pinero said that is the way most government bodies handle the bidding process, and doing it that way helps familiarize the council on who submitted bids and how much.

Councilman Larry Watkins said he thought it best to receive and review all bids in open meeting, “unless we get bogged down in it.”

PICAYUNE, Miss., Tuesday, Aug. 11 — The school board raised football season ticket prices today, saying that increased travel costs was a factor.

The vote was unanimous.

Said Wheat: We spend if we got it; we don't spend if we don't have it. . .

Said Smith: All I am saying is to be careful and not just continue to spend. That's all I am saying. . .

Maroon Tide season football tickets will rise from $16 to $24 and reserved seating season tickets will increase from $25 to $30. The increase will be effective for this upcoming season.

“It’s hard to charge people more for these tickets, but what do you do when expenses increase?” board member Harvey Miller, who motioned for the increase,  said.

Miller said that the expansion of districts by the high school athletic association has increased distances traveled and travel expenses for the Maroon Tide, thus prompting the increase.

In another matter relating to the Maroon Tide, the board said it would request Arnold Smith, head of the school maintenance dept., to make a survey of the concession stands underneath the stadium after Billy Wally, representing the Band Boosters, and Sarena Gray, representing the Touchdown Club, appeared before the board requesting the concession stand areas be upgraded.

Stubbs: We are all right right now; we will see what it's like next year. . .

Gray and Wally told the board that the concession stands are open and that there is no way to secure their equipment and supplies for home games, thus necessitating they move all the equipment and supplies in and out of the concession areas each game.

They said addition of a security fence, or some sort of enclosure, would allow them to acquire coolers, thus saving money and time caused by having to cart a large number of bags of ice in for each game. They also said they needed a hot water line run to the concession area.

Wally said that the drink companies will supply the coolers.  “It will eliminate a lot of lost time, save money and be much more efficient,” he said. For instance, he added that the concession employees have to start cooling down drinks four or five hours before the game begins.

Right now money earned from the concessions goes to support the band, the football team and the ROTC program at the school.

Shaw told the board enrollment hit 3,462, slightly up over last year. . .

In other matters, the board:

– Raised the monthly base pay for board attorney Gerald Patch from $600 to $800. The board said that Patch had not had a raise in 7 years.

– Heard a report from Lisa Penton, finance director, saying the school has cash reserves of $6.4 million and is expecting an additional $1.1 million in federal stablization funds. However, she said that the $6.4 million figure includes $4.4 million in one-time Katrina funding, leaving about a $3 million cash reserve, or what the school calls fund reserves. Board member Wayne Wheat said that the fund balance will be about $3 million, and added, ‘Lisa, you all have done a great job with the budget, and people appreciate it.” That brought a response from board member Tony Smith: “I do want to be on record that I did vote against the raises. And the reason I did that has not changed.” Smith said the current budget was $2 million over expected revenues. “Sure we got $6.4 million, but if we continue to spend $2 million over budget, that means that fund balance is gone in 3 years. All I am saying is we have to be careful and not just continue to spend. That’s my argument.” Replied Wheat, “We spend if we got it; if we don’t have it we don’t spend. That’s simple to me. We set a certain amount asisde.” Interjected board chairman Edward Stubbs, “We are going to be all right; we are all right; as we have said we will have to see what it’s like next year.” The board then moved on to other matters. The board manages a $32 million budget, three times that of the city and the largest in the county.

Baker now boast not only a band but a 24-voice choir. He got the use of the auditorium for his Sept. 13 production.

– Approved a request from Johnny Baker to use the high school auditorium for a program presented by the Community Band, which Baker recently formed. The program will be held at the auditorium on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 2:30 p.m. Baker said that he had also added a 24-voice choir to his production. Baker was high school band director here from 1971 to 1978. He is now retired.  He said nine band directors also perform in his band, and now choir, productions.

– Heard Supt. Dean Shaw say that registration went smoothly and bus schedules are being met. Shaw said the number of students enrolled this year hit 3,462 overall, a slight increase over last year’s enrollment because kindergarten enrollment surged a little. Here are the enrollment figures Shaw presented the board: Nicholson 465; Roseland Park 531; South Side Lower 196; South Side 257; West Side 444; for a total elementary enrollment of 1,893. The junior high enrollment by grades was: 7th 277; 8th 245; SPED 5; for a total of 527. High school: 9th 283, 10th 265; 11th 231; 12th 247; SPED 15; GED 1; for a total 1,042. The grand total is 3,462.

Picayune school board from left Wayne Wheat, Harvey Miller, Edward Stubbs, Tony Smith, Patti Stewart, Supt. Dean Shaw. Board attorney Gerald Patch is out of picture to left. The board manages a $32 million annual budget, three times the city's and the largest in the county. Wheat, Smith represent residents in the school district but living outside the city limits and are elected. The rest are appointed by the city council.

(developing; more to come)

• Daniel tells council $80,000 remains on the books, uncollected, for property cleanups
• B.L. Lott, VP at Housing Authority, resigns, effective immediately
• Additional streets in Watkins’ Precinct 1 will be paved in city’s half-million-dollar project
• Council approves another Tea Party Rally Sept. 12 at old city hall on Goodyear Blvd.
• Chief Brown says investigators still don’t know what caused Mississippi Mall fire

PICAYUNE, Miss., Tuesday, Aug. 4 — A request for a $200 promotional advertisement from the city to be placed in the 2009 Maroon Tide football program kicked off a discussion by the City Council today about how much money the city expends on promotional advertising, and raised the question, too, of how much the city should be spending on promotional advertising during a time of a budget crunch.

Breland said it's good PR to approve the ad now and work out the problems in the new budget.

Gouguet questioned tax monies going to promotional ads.

The council has certain legal advertisements which it must purchase by law, but on each council agenda are what are termed promotional ads for civic, school and contest participants, promotions for which requests flow into the council on a regular basis.

Although the council has an advertising budget, no figures or amounts were mentioned.

Councilman Jason Todd Lane suggested that a cap should be placed on promotional advertising, and Councilman Larry Breland, who motioned later that the ad be placed with the program, also said he would like to know how much is spent on promotional advertising annually. 

The money would go to the Picayune Touchdown Club, which prints the program.

Mayor Pro Tempore Councilman Larry Watkins chaired the meeting while Mayor Ed Pinero Jr. is out of town on a vacation.

Watkins said after meeting the council will have to take a "hard look" at all expenditures. He sat in for Pinero, who is on vacation.

Said Gouguet before the vote was taken: “I frankly have a problem with it. We are not a social agency, and I have a problem with tax monies going for promotional advertising. In addition, I don’t think we can do it fairly and evenly across the board. I know it has been a past practice for years, but I am not sure whether it is something we ought to be doing. How do we do it fairly.”

Said Breland: “Isn’t this money that was allocated under this year’s budget?”

Said City Clerk Priscilla C. Daniel: “You do have money budgeted under advertisement, and historically it has been used to advertise city resources. There’s not a specific amount or anything like that.”

Added Lane, “The question is do we actually benefit from advertising resources?”

Replied Daniel: “Well, there is goodwill.”

Gouguet added: “Does everybody who comes before the council get money, everybody who ask for money, do they get it?”

Breland said he thought it was good public relations, and said he felt it should be okayed this time, and then look at promotional advertising expenditures closely in the 2009-10 budget the council is now hashing out in budget workshops. Lane seconded Breland’s motion, and it carried 4-1. Gouguet voted no.

The council also approved an advertisement for the Pearl River Community College Wildcat program, which they had tabled at the previous council meeting, but placed on today’s agenda for consideration.

After the council meeting, Watkins said the council will have to look at all expenditures “real hard.”

In other business, the council:

Miller says only competition will solve cabel tv problem here.

Residents complain about Charter Cable tv service

  Heard complaints from George Noltle and Robert Herring about what they charged were terrible service from Charter Cable TV. Noltle asked if there is any way the city can bring pressure on Charter to improve service. Charter has to have a license from the city to operate here, and the city can pull the company’s license if the city wants to. In addition, Noltle charged that Charter was charging residents a premium rate, but residents weren’t getting the services and channel selection they should. They said Slidell, La., pays less and gets more than Picayune. He charged rates here are comparable to rates in Atlanta. City Manager Harvey Miller asked Noltle to supply his documentation of bad service to the city. Miller said that ultimately competition is the key to improving service and selection and said that AT&T was planning to offer cable tv service here and that should help improve service. Noltle said customers do get a credit while down, but added, “You have to request it, or you won’t get it.” The company use to have a Picayune office, but does not now.

Egger attends council meeting for third time.

 Farmer says council waiting on AG opinion

•  Heard Frank Egger call again for Miller’s resignation as city manager or as a member of the Picayune school board. Miller serves both as city manager and a member of the school board. He was appointed to the school board by the previous council. Egger in his first appearance before the council on July 7 cited a state law saying that a city employee could not simultaneously serve as an employee of the city and a school board member. It was the third time Egger has been to a council meeting concerning the matter. Said Egger, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in the last election: “I see you want to go into executive session with regards to board appointments; are you going to remove Harvey Miller from the school board?” City Attorney Nathan Farmer replied, “We are going to enter into a closed session, not an executive session as regards this matter. . .We have solicited an Attorney General’s opinion in this area, and we have not received that opinion back yet, and we are still waiting on that. The school district is in the same boat that we are in; as regards to that matter, I would suggest that you not reply to this, because we are going into a closed session at this time. Replied Egger, “One more thing; let’s remember the oath of office you took about upholding the laws, and if the city continues to keep him on the school board, in violation of the law, are you prepared to spend taxpayers’  money to defend him?”

 Wood Oak representative says subdivision being neglected

•  Heard Twila Crabtree, representing the residents of Wood Oak subdivision near Jackson Landing and Union roads, say the subdivision, although annexed into the city, has no street signs, road damage and ditches that need mowing and cleaning. She said there were a number of elderly persons living in the subdivision and that emergency personnel would have a hard time finding them without street signs. She said two streets had been “dug up” and no one knows who did it and why. “I spoke to the residents and no one reported having any sewer problems,” she said. “I kind of feel like we are the lost children, but we are inside the city limits.” She said an 18-wheeler pulled up into one street and damaged it. She said the condition of the streets has impacted the sale of homes in the subdivision. She said city mowing crews stopped short of the subdivision and that ditches are clogged, causing overflow in the streets when it rains, leaving mud washed into the streets. She said cattails in the ditches were head-high. Watkins suggested she set up a meeting with Miller to work out a solution to the problem. Crabtree said she would.

 Council approves another Tea Party Rally for Sept. 12

• Approved a request from an organization “PRC 1776″ to hold a “Taxed Enough Already Rally” (Tea Party) on Sept. 12 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the old city hall on Goodyear Boulevard. Rally organizers said it will be a “peaceful protest” against excessive spending by the federal government.

 Council waives permit fees for Satcher

• Approved a waiver of permit fees for John Satcher, 514 Satcher Dr. Satcher is constructing a house on that site, and the council approved the waiver after Glenda Mitchell of the American Red Cross told the council that Satcher was blind and disabled and on a fixed income.

 Lott resigns at Housing Authority

• Accepted the resignation of B.L. Lott, vice president of the Picayune Housing Authority board of commissioners. Lott’s resignation was effective immediately.

 Additional 3 streets approved for overlay in Watkins’ Precinct 1

• Approved the addition of three streets in the citywide overlay project in Watkins Precinct 1. The change order in the half-million-dollar overlay project called for adding Hummingbird Lane, Fairway Drive and Fishhook Lane in the project, using $36,000 in left-over bond money that was previously designated for a lighting project in Watkins’ precinct. The money will be used to pave portions of those streets.

 Sept. 1 set for public hearing on property cleanups

• Set a Sept. 1 public hearing announcing property cleanups for the following pieces of property: 414 W. Canal St.; 213 South Abrams Ave.; 2210 Morris St.; three parcels on East Canal Street; one parcel on Morris Street; one parcel on Palestine Road; and 120 Tate St. The council by law has to advertise and then hold a public hearing before proceeding with the cleanup of these properties. If the owner does not agree to clean them up, the city does the work itself or has it contracted out and then assesses the owner the fee for the cleanup. Gouguet asked how was the money collected for the cleanups. Farmer said statutes on the books outline the procedures for collecting the money. Asked about how much was currently owed the city for cleaning up properties, Daniel said $80,000.

Brown says about 30% of Miss. Mall will have to be demolished.

Brown says investigators still don’t know the cause of Mississippi Mall fire

 Heard Fire Chief Keith Brown say that the insurance company was having a structural study done on the Mississippi Mall, which was hit by a major fire recently, because Brown said officials are concerned about the structural integrity of the building. He said there was still limited access to the facility. He said he wanted a study done before it was opened to additional use. “Basically, from the Shriners (space) north has got to be demolished (on the north side),” he said. ”On the front side, from the arts council north has got to go.” He estimated about 30 percent of the structure will have to be demolished. Brown, in a response to a question by the press, said investigators still have not found the cause of the fire.

The council voted to go into an executive session to discuss personnel matters after the regular session, and came out and recessed to Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. for its next meeting. Before the Aug. 18 meeting, the council has two more budget workshops before finalizing its 2009-10 budget: Aug. 11 at 4 p.m. and Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. The council has already conducted 4 budget workshops. They have to finalize the budget by Sept. 15 and adopt it by Oct. 1 when the new fiscal year begins. They also have to hold a public hearing on the proposed budget to receive citizen input.

PICAYUNE, Miss., Friday, July 31 — The City Council released the following agenda for its Aug. 4, Tuesday, regular council meeting. The meeting will be held in council chambers at city hall at 518 South Beech Street.

NOTICE OF AGENDA

CITY COUNCIL – REGULAR MEETING

TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2009 5:00 P.M.

FORMER ARIZONA CHEMICAL BUILDING, 815 NORTH BEECH STREET

1. WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER -Mayor Ed Pinero

2. INVOCATION

3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

4. PRESENTATION

5. CONSENT AGENDA

1. Consider request to approve the minutes for the City of Picayune dated July 21, 2009.

Action Requested: Approve minutes as presented.

6. APPROVAL OF DOCKET

7. PETITION AND COMMUNICATIONS

1. Consider request to advertise resources for the City by purchasing a 2009 Football program full page ad from the Picayune                           Touchdown Club in the amount of $200.00.

Action Requested: Approve request as submitted.

2. Consider request from PRC 1776 to hold a Taxed Enough Already Rally on September 12, 2009 from 4:00 pm to 10:00pm                                   (September 13^th if rain) at the Historical City Hall. This will be a peaceful protest of the excessive spending by our federal                             government.

Action Requested: Approve as submitted.

3. Consider request from Glenda Marshall/American Red Cross to waive permit fees for John Satcher at 514 Satcher Drive. Mr                           Satcher is blind and disable and is having a cottage built for him.

Action Requested: Approve or deny waiver of permit fees.

8. OLD BUSINESS

1. Consider request to advertise resources for the City by purchasing a 2009 Pearl River College Football Program Ad.

Action Requested: Approve request as submitted.

9. NEW BUSINESS

A. CITY MANAGER

1. Consider resignation of B.L. Lott, Vice President, Board of Commissioners, Picayune Housing Authority, effective immediately.

Action Requested: Accept resignation of B.L.Lott

B. FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

C. GRANT ADMINISTRATION

1. Consider adopting Ordinance # 867 closing Williams Avenue and/or Easement and approve advertising the same.

Action Requested: Adopt said Ordinance and approve advertising the same.

2. Consider Change Order No. 2 to the Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements, Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey                                             Contract by and between the City of Picayune and Necaise Brothers Construction, to extend the Contract time from                                       July 15, 2009 to September 1, 2009.

Action Requested: Approve Change Order No. 2 as requested.

3. Consider Request for Cash No. 9 for engineering service relative to CDBG Downtown Improvements.

Action Requested: Approve said request for cash in the amount of $6,593.75 and authorize Mayor to sign and                                                 payment of accompanying invoices.

4. Consider request for Cash No.8 to the Mississippi Development Authority for 2006 Katrina CDBG Economic                                                     Development Avon/AGT project in the amount of $51,374.20.

Action Requested: Approve said request for cash, authorize Mayor to sign the said request and payment of                                                     accompanying invoices.

5. Consider request for cash No. 12 to the Mississippi Development Authority for 2006 Katrina Supplemental CDBG                                           Community Revitalization Grant for the new Fire Station in the amount of  $176,060.00.

Action Requested: Approve said request for cash; authorize the Mayor to sign the said request and payment of the                                       accompanying invoices.

D. PLANNING AND ZONING

E. CODE ENFORCEMENT

1. Consider request to set a date for a Public Hearing for Property Cleanup of the following properties:

1. 414 West Canal Street

2. 213 South Abrams Ave.

3. 2210 Morris Street

4. East Canal Street parcel 617-614-002-05-041

5. East Canal Street parcel 617-614-002-05-039

6. East Canal Street parcel 617-614-002-05-040

7. Morris Street parcel 617-209-004-01-029

8. Palestine Road parcel 617-515-002-08-031

9. 120 Tate St.

Action Requested: Approve request as submitted.

F. PUBLIC WORKS

1. Consider request to order survey and (3) three appraisals for a possible sale of city property to Mr. John C. Borland.

Action Requested: Approve request as submitted.

2. Consider request to advertise for mosquito control products.

Action Requested: Approve request as submitted.

3. Consider approval change order No.1 for additional cold planing to city streets.

Action Requested: Approve change order No.1 as submitted.

4. Consider request to add additional streets to citywide overlay project.

Action Requested: Approve additional streets as presented.

G. POLICE DEPARTMENT

1. Consider request to accept donations totaling $200 for Police Summer Camp.

Action Requested: Accept donations as requested.

2. Consider request for authorization to permit out of state travel to attend Leadership Training Skills Class in Slidell,                                           LA as required training class for supervisors.

Action Requested: Authorize out of state travel for Deputy Chief Bryan Dawsey, Capt. Lane Pittman, Lt. Jeremy                                               Magri and Lt. Chad Dorn as requested.

H. FIRE DEPARTMENT

1. Consider request for authorization to apply for a MS State Department of Homeland Security grant and authorize                                             Chief Keith Brown to sign said grant.

Action Requested: Approve application for grant and authorize Chief Brown to sign.

2. Consider change order #3 for construction of new fire station.

Action Requested: Approve request as submitted.

I. AIRPORT

10. MISCELLANEOUS COUNCILMEMBERS’ BUSINESS

11. CITIZENS CONCERNS

12. EXECUTIVE SESSION

1. Discussion of Board Appointments

13. RECESS

_______________________________ _____________________________

Harvey Miller, Interim City Manager Date

*Consent Agenda – All matters listed under Item 4, Consent Agenda, are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will not be separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and will be considered separately.

Note Regarding Citizen Comments – All citizens are encouraged to attend and participate in meetings of the City Council. If you wish to address the Council, please provide your name and address for the record and limit your comments to three (3) minutes. Thank you for your cooperation.

Americans with Disabilities Act – In compliance with the American’s with Disabilities Act, the city of Picayune will provide special assistance to disabled citizens upon request. All meeting rooms are accessible to the disabled. Please notify the City Manager’s Office (798-9770) at least 24 hours prior to the meeting of any other special assistance that may be needed. This advance notice will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting.

PICAYUNE, Miss., Thursday, July 30 — Asked by the council point blank if he could cut his budget 10 percent for next 2009-10 fiscal year, Fire Chief Keith Brown told the council that he would have to “scrounge” to do so. He indicated that any fire dept. cuts, if they occur, could trigger higher business and residential insurance fire rates because rates are based on the city’s fire insurance ratings.

Brown said any drastic cuts in the fire dept. could impact city's insurance rating.

The ratings are based on adequate personnel, equipment and other factors.

Right now the city’s rating is a six. Brown and Deputy Fire Chief John Mark Mitchell said that the city is in line to receive a five rating, which would save homeowners and businesses money on insurance premiums. “We are on schedule to receive a five rating,” said Mitchell. Fire Dept. Secretary Jan Guidry also accompanied the two chiefs to the meeting.

Brown told the council he felt that, for sure, he could not cut personnel and maintain the city’s current fire insurance rating. The state fire insurance rating agency grades fire depts. throughout Mississippi and gives each city a fire insurance rating, 10 being the lowest and 1 the highest.

From left Guidry and Mitchell. Mitchell said the city was in line to get a 5 insurance rating. The city is currently a 6. A lower rating means lower insurance costs.

The rating determines the rates insurance companies are allowed to charge residents and businesses. The lower number the rating is, the lower the insurance costs.

Brown’s budget for the current year is $2.2 million and he has 39 firemen and officers. Brown flat out said there was no fat to cut, that he was giving the council a bare-bones budget with no built-in inflated figures. “What you see, is what is actually there, and what you get,” he said.

Together, the fire dept. and police dept. budgets make up 57 percent of the city’s annual budget costs. The police dept.’s budget this fiscal year was around $3 million, so together, if they remain the same as this year, the combined budgets would run about $5.2 million. The city’s overall budget this year is approximately $9.5 million.

The council also heard from Picayune Airport Manager Andy Greenwood.

Greenwood said it's possible an MDOT $797,000 grant could be obtained for overlay the 1-mile airport strip.

Greenwood told the council his budget is about $295,000. He said that the city  is facing expenses of about $15,000 to restrip the runway; however, he added that he is exploring getting a Miss. Dept. of Transportation (MDOT) grant for resurfacing the airport runway. The grant would be about $797,000. He said the grant would be allocations that other airports did not use.

He said that MDOT will transfer unused funds to other facilities who need the funding.

“It’s a good chance that MDOT will do this; they have done it in the past,” he said. Greenwood said the engineer for the airport was working on the project and trying to help get the monies.

By getting the non-allocated funds from other entities, Greenwood said, “the airport won’t have to wait for federal stimulus funding.

He said that the striping of the airport could be done during the overlay project of the 1 mile airport landing strip, thus saving the city the $15,000 the striping is expected to cost the city if it doesn’t get any help.

PICAYUNE, Miss., Thursday, July 30 — Probably in no other area is the problem of what the city faces in stablizing its budget more obvious than in the parks and recreation budget, which was discussed in the fourth of six budget workshops held in the council chambers today at city hall.

Moreaux told the council the problem was no funds.

Ryan Moreaux, parks and recreation director, outlined the problem this way: In order to attract tournaments to Friendship Park, which is the biggest in South Mississippi and one of the biggest in the state, the facility needs to be completed with the addition of restrooms, a concession stand and additional parking spaces in the new portion of the facility, which was constructed several years ago with a $3.5  million bond issue.

The only restrooms and concession stand are located in the old portion of the park, and necessitates those using the new portion walking several hundred yards. An upgraded, completed  park could attract more tournaments, which would generate a lot of business for motels and restaurants here, but without the facility being upgraded, there is little chance of attracting the tournaments and tourists.

“I don’t know who did the plans, but the buildings should have been installed first and then whatever number of fields that would have supported should have been installed. But it is not that way. We could do tournaments on the old field, but that needs upgrading, too, and phase two was supposed to upgrade the old fields, but that still has not happened,” said Moreaux. “And I don’t know when it ever will happen because we are still paying on phase one.”

Breland said the neglect of the smaller parks was a serious problem.

“What we are doing is just putting Band-Aids on everything; just trying to get by,” he said. “It was never really completed. We have an issue with parking. You have 17 baseball and softball fields, one of the biggest in Mississippi, which is a lot to maintain, what with just two guys and myself. It was a big expenditure and it’s great, but to maintain something like that takes even more.”

A 1 percent sales tax collected by the state from motels and restaurants here is rebated to the city for recreation and economic development. That is designated by state law to be set aside, and not dumped into the general fund. But under the old council the rebate went straight into the general fund. The 1 percent sales tax generates about $30,000 a month for city coffers.

City Clerk Priscilla C. Daniel said that rebate is no longer going into the general fund but is now being placed under the tourism budget and set aside for only parks and recreation and economic development. In addition, while the parks and recreation budget was set at $350,000 last year, $262,000 of that budget goes to paying off the $3.5 million bond issue needed to build the new portion of the park. That leaves annually only about between $90,000 and $100,000 to maintain the huge Friendship Park and six other smaller parks scattered throughout the city’s communities.

Bumpers: East Canal park needs upgrading and people are asking me about it.

The other six parks are: Snyder, Ben Taylor, J.P. Johnson, East Canal, Jack Read and Pat Glade parks.

Councilman Larry Breland Sr. asked Moreaux how the money was divided among the parks, after saying that it was his understanding that roughly 90 percent went to Friendship Park. “Well, whatever money we get. . .we have not had any money last year to do any capital improvements,” replied Moreaux.

Breland said some of the smaller parks are in deplorable condition and should get some of the money. He said the restrooms, concession stands and dugouts are “in a deplorable condition” in the smaller parks. “It’s a bad situation,” he added.

“Some of that $90,000 needs to be put in these other parks,” he said. “All you have to do is ride by the parks and you can see what a terrible condition they are in.”

Moreaux told Breland that the parks dept. is “hamstrung” financially and that any money he receives is used “to keep our leagues going; that’s all we can do.” He said over 2,000 kids participate at Friendship Park in sports activities.

“That’s why the smaller parks got neglected. We had hoped we could do something for them this year,” said Moreaux.

Miller: I don't think Friendship Park will ever be totally self-sufficient.

Replied Breland, “I can understand that you would use most of the funds for Friendship Park, but if you let these other parks go, when you do decide to upgrade and clean them, then your expenses will be a whole lot more than if you keep them up on a regular basis.”

Replied Moreaux, “I agree 100 percent, Mr. Breland, but it is a matter of finding the money. There are so many issues. It is such a big park.”

Here are some other comments:

Councilman Wayne Gouguet (pronounced “goo-get”): “We spent $3.5 million on it. Here we are coming back and we got problems. We might have overbuilt; we should have built what we could, and maybe built a little less.”

Breland: “If we could get these smaller parks upgraded, they would be able to generate money, too, from tournaments, but right now they are being neglected, and that’s totally wrong.”

Gouguet: Maybe we overbuilt.

Councilwoman Lynn Bogan Bumpers: “Everybody can’t go to Friendship Park; a lot of kids don’t have transportation to get there. I don’t know who planed the East Canal Park, but when you walk into the park you walk right on to the basketball court, and someone could get hit if a game was going on. There is no seating; people are asking me, What are you going to do about that? It’s good to focus on Friendship Park, but let’s also focus on these other parks, too.”

Breland: “I realize there are a lot of kids that use Friendship Park, but there are other kids who can’t utilize it for whatever reason, so we must not neglect these other parks which would offer these other kids recreation that would keep them busy and out of trouble.”

Watkins confers with Bumpers. Watkins later said he wanted to know what it would cost to upgrade parks.

Councilman Larry Watkins: “My question is how much additional revenue for city businesses is the park generating. Also I would like to know how many people from outside the city limits use the park. This must be a strictly businesstype decision based on the money we have. The park might be a greater economic benefit than what we see.”

City Manager Harvey Miller: “One thing we have to realize, however, I think, is that Friendship Park is never going to be self-sufficient. Four big tournaments a year would be a lot for us, and I don’t think that would be enough to make the park self-sufficient. If we could get the park upgraded, you are talking about bringing in a lot of money from these people coming here and participating in the tournaments. We know we have issues with our parks, but we have just not had the funding we need to address these issues.”

Breland: “I am not jumping on anybody, but I don’t believe that everyone realizes how serious this matter is with these parks. It is very serious. There were a lot of people that wanted to come to this hearing here to express their dissatisfaction with the way that those parks that I mentioned are being neglected for whatever reason. I told them this is not the time to do it. If we don’t deal with it swiftly and in a just manner, we are going to have a mess on our hands. I think you know what I am talking about.”

The council has two more budget workshops scheduled: Aug. 11 at 4 p.m. and Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. The budget by law must be finalized by Sept. 15. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

PICAYUNE, Miss., Thursday, July 30 — The Picayune School Board approved an application for $854,000 in federal stimulus funds that will be a windfall to the city school finances. It is a grant and doesn’t have to be paid back.

Asst. Supt. Brent Harrell told the board that it has to be spent over the next two years. Additionally, Harrell said that after this block of funds are spent, the school can apply for another stimulus grant.

Shaw told the board that registration so far was going smoothly.

Wheat: That's great he said when the board approved an application for $854,000 in federal stimulus funds.

Board member Harvey Miller told the board, “That’s great news and awesome news.”

Board member Dwayne Wheat, who chaired the short session, added, “That will increase our general fund budget, and that will be great.”

The school board manages an annual budget of approximately $30 million, three times the city’s $9.5 million budget. The Picayune school system is one of the city and county’s largest employers. Approximately, 2,000 students attend school here.

The board met in a short 30-minute session at noon here in the school board chambers on Goodyear Boulevard.

The school board consist of five members: Wheat, Miller, Edward Stubbs, Tony Smith, and Patti Stewart. Stubbs and Smith were absent today. Wheat and Smith are elected and represent districts outside the city limits while Miller, Stubbs and Stewart are appointed by the city council.

Dean Shaw, former head basketball coach here,  is superintendent.

In other business, the board:

– Heard a report from Renea Bullard about a home-purchase subsidy program for school employees planning to purchase a new home. Bullard, a school accountant, is administering the program, and said it is being offered by the Reach Mississippi Program under the Gulf Coast Renaissance Corp., a program set up to funnel private money into helping Gulf Coast residents rebuild after Katrina.

Bullard said the program does not involve government money. It is monies given by corporations and private individuals that is used to help Gulf Coast residents. Those qualifying can receive up to a $10,000 grant, a free gift, to help them with closing costs and a variety of fees associated with purchasing a home

However, there are guidelines for the program, Bullard told the board, and those wanting to particiapate should contact her at the school’s central office on Goodyear Boulevard to see if they qualify for the program. In addition, she said, some employees might be eligible for an additional $30,000 that would be incorporated into the mortgage loan. That would have to be paid back, however, she said. Miller said the city was also participating in the program.

– Heard a report from Shaw about the current school registration that is going on.   Shaw supplied these figures to the board: Nicholson 427, Roseland Park 493, South Side Lower 159, South Side Upper 241, West Side 402; total for elementary schools 1,722.

Other totals were 7th grade 236 and 8th 197. Figures for the high school were not in the report. Shaw said these are only preliminary figures and that enrollment was continuing.

PICAYUNE, Miss., Tuesday, July 28 — City Manager Harvey Miller said today in a council budget workshop that the city’s DUI fines are too low and that the city and county were perhaps losing thousands of dollars, maybe hundreds of thousands,  in taxes from residents running out-of-state tags on their vehicles even though they live in Pearl River County.

He called for a crackdown on violators.

City Court Clerk Lisa Albritton briefed council on court budget needs.

“I know this is a big issue with not only Picayune, but the county, also,” Miller told councilmen.

Added Councilman Wayne Gouguet, “That’s something I have no mercy for, license plate violators. If you don’t have a Mississippi license plate and your kids are in school, you ought to be paying the max fine.”

City court officials have upped the fines in the city, but they still are below what the county charges for running out-of-state plates. The county charges $1,050 for the violation, and Picayune has moved up its fine to $600, still way below the county’s.

One time, however, the city only charged between $100 and $200 for the violation.

While the council wants the fines raised to be in line with the county, there is little the council can do. They don’t set fine charges; the judge does.

Miller said he had talked to the Picayune chief and the sheriff, and both told him that a phenominal amount of tax monies were being lost, perhaps into triple-digit figures.

“The bottom line is it’s not fair; it’s not right,” added Miller.

Director of the Picayune Retirement Development Carol Fitzwilliam briefed council on efforts to attract senior citizens to settle in Picayune.

Miller said that even if you have a company vehicle, wherever you are domiciled is where the tag should be purchased. Miller said he knew that “for a fact” since he had at one time worked in Louisiana and drove a company vehicle.

Several councilmen said that if anyone knows of someone running an illegal tag, “they should turn them in,” even if they are a neighbor.

“It should be the max, like Gouguet says, $1,050, exactly what the county charges,” added Miller.

Lisa Albritton, municipal court clerk, who was briefing the council on the court’s budget proposals, said that although some tickets for that offense might have come across, she had not seen any recently come “across my desk.”

Miller said several tickets last year were written.

Added Miller, “I think we are losing so much revenue that the two cities, Picayune and Poplarville, the county, and the three school districts, should get together and work out some type of program to crack down on violators.

One solution mentioned was to require students registering for class to submit proof that the family vehicles carry county tags. Also, mentioned was pulling violators’ homestead exemption until they furnish proof that their vehicle tags are legal.

Miller raised the issue of low fines and wants a crackdown on tag violators.

Miller suggested that the county and city could combine an operation and have two officers, one city and one county, designated as their main duty to apprehend those violating the tag laws.

Councilman Jason Todd Lane suggested that the city and county advertise in the newspaper that they are going to crack down on violators, advertise the max fine for violation, and added, “They would probably come in and get the right tag, if we did that. We just need to call their bluff.”

“Guess who pays for the violators,” added Miller. “Those honest citizens who obey the law picks up the taxes for those that violate the law.”

Picayune and Pearl River Co. for decades have had problems with local residents running Louisiana and out-of-state tags, although they live in Picayune. Many residents work in Louisiana and the New Orleans area and wind up with Louisiana tags, which cost much less than a Mississippi tag.

The council discussed budget issues with Carol Fitzwilliam, director of Picayune Retirement Development. She is part-time and works to attract retirees to settle in Picayune. In addition, Albritton discussed the city court budget with the council.

It was the third budget workshop conducted by the council. They face three more: July 30 at 4 p.m.; Aug. 11 at 4 p.m. and Aug. 13 at 2 p.m. The council has to by law have the budget finalized and adopted by Sept. 15. After the budget is completed the council will advertise for a public hearing, at which time citizens can appear before the council and question expenditures or suggest additions. The council’s new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Notice the chamber is empty. Only two citizens have showed up at 3 of the open council budget workshops to bone up on budget issues.

The budget workshops are open to the public, but no input from the public is allowed during the workshops. Two citizens attended the first workshop on July 21, but during the July 23 and today’s workshops, no citizens attended the open meetings.

In the Thursday, July 30, budget workshop, the council will take up the fire department and airport budgets and budgets on park and recreation. That will be held at 4 p.m.

The council is going over the budget with a fine-toothed comb. Revenues are tight and the city’s cash reserves are low. The council has been looking at an across-the-board 10 percent cut in everything, but they have cautioned that all figures are preliminary and in the process of being calculated.

If revenues don’t match expenses after the budget process is over, the council faces tough decisions.

The new council is under pressure right now, wrestling with budget issues. Recent elections put five new members out of six on the council, and all ran on platforms promising stabilizing city’s finances and balancing the budget, after a string of years of deficits run up by the old council that amounted to millions of dollars in losses.

But stablizing city finances won’t be easy, especially if city sales taxes take a dip. Sales tax rebates from the state make up one-half of city revenues.