SIDNEY — As the end of the year approaches, Sidney City Council worked on annual issues during Monday evening’s meeting.
Council was introduced to four ordinances, and they are:
• To authorize appropriations for the 2018 city expenditures in the amount of $79.33 million. Total appropriations, excluding interfund transactions and agency funds, are 1.2 percent greater than 2017. Finance Officer Ginger Adams said the increase is due to anticipated debt service on the new water source and Phase 1 of the wastewater treatment plant and sewer system upgrades.
The operating portion of the budget is 1 percent more than the 2017 budget. This budget is based on staffing of approximately 223 full-time equivalents (FTE) which, while this is 3.45 FTE greater than 2017, represents an 8 percent decline, or 20 FTE in staffing since 2008.
• To amend portions of a codified ordinance pertaining to personnel, policies, procedures and regulations.
• To amend certain city employees’ pay classification plans and pay tables for 2018 and to declare an emergency so that it would become effective upon passage of the ordinance;
• To assess the cost of the removal of litter or junk and/or weed cutting. Property owners were notified that their properties were not in compliance with the city code and were given an opportunity to mow the weeds or remove the junk. When the owners failed to comply, the city paid to have the work performed. The property owners were then invoiced. For weed-mowing violations, the invoiced amount was the actual cost of the mowing plus $75 for the first weed cutting, $150 for the second cutting and $250 for each cutting thereafter. For junk-removal violations, the invoiced amount was the actual cost of the junk removal plus 20 percent. A total of 54 properties would be assessed a total of $18,823.50 for weed cutting and another five properties would be assessed a total of $515.40 for junk removal. The asessment would be collected with other property tax obligations.
Council adopted two ordinances for a decrease by $9.5 million in supplemental appropriations for various 2017 funds and to amend water, sewer, stormwater and solid waste collection rates.
The ordinance pertaining to water, sewer, stormwater and trash pick-up rate changes will increase the low volume user’s bill by $2.42 per month. An average family of four should expect to see an increase of $4.10 per month. The increase includes 90 cents for the new, in 2018, stormwater capital fee. The water and sewer rates change will become effective Jan. 1, 2018. The new refuse and stormwater rates will become effective April 1, 2018.
Council adopted three resolutions establishing a capital fund for future fire station No. 3, accepting the Kesler survey plat and appointing Tim Gleason to the Downtown Design Review Board.
The new fire station fund will be restricted to the capital projects necessary for designing, constructing and equipping fire station No. 3.
The resolution, which Britt Havenar requested on behalf of Barbara Ann Kesler and Pamela Jean Davis, was for the replat of one parcel of land to create one lot with 0.264 acres from the adjacent property and a remainder parcel of 2.472 acres on the north side of Ferre Place, in the single-family residence district.
Gleason’s appointment is for a three-year term on the Downtown Design Review Board. The term will expire, May 1, 2021. This is his first appointment to this board.
In addition, council went into an executive session to discuss the employment/appointment of a public employee. No action was taken when they emerged.
