Huntington City reopens budget

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Huntington City Council met in its regular scheduled council meeting at the city office building.
Ronni Torri presented information on backhoe leases. When checking into the current annual lease with Honnan, I found that their lease was increasing to $12,625 per year for a three-year lease. I contacted Case and Wheeler and they both have a clam bucket and a three-year lease. Wheeler is the least expensive at $8200 per year with a three-year lease and we will get a new backhoe every year. If you go over the 250 hours they do charge more per hour.
The council agreed to use Wheeler to lease the new backhoe.
The council discussed a Portable Building for an information Center.
Councilman Lamar Guymon showed a picture of a portable building that he would like to use as a tourist/visitor information center. The new building would be placed at the old town hall or city park, it will require a cement pad and electrical work. The building will have a covered porch where material can be placed so when the building is closed tourists can still get information. “I figure about $10,000 to complete the building and we would have senior citizens or volunteers run the building. Mark Justice suggested using City Hall as the tourist/visitor information center. Leonard Norton asked about the security of the building, as far as vandalism.
The board agreed to get bids for the building and will readdress the issue.
Discussion and possible approval of Senior Citizen Center parking/Interlocal Agreement.
Mayor Gordon explained the County wants to use the property in back of the old fire station as a parking area for events at the Senior Citizen Center. A copy of the interlocal agreement drawn up by the County was given to each council member. The council agreed not to enter into an agreement.
Mark Justice said there are two issues he would like to address next month, one is the overnight parking of semis and the other is unlicensed vehicles and trailers being parked on city streets.
The council )discussed the purchase of a dump/snow plow truck.
Each council member was given a copy of the state contract. The total price of the truck is $37,940.43 which includes having the steel dump body and a snowplow. Young Automotive Group will do a four-year lease with annual payments for municipalities. The cost was added to capital projects budget in order to have the budget ready for tonight. If we do the lease with annual payments the payment would come out of the general fund and the budget will have to be corrected. If purchased it will be used for snow removal, picking up branches and at the cemetery. Mark Justice asked what vehicle this will replace and how does this fit into our purchasing policy. The vehicle that it will replace is the 92 Dodge and since it will be purchased through the state purchasing contract it is the lowest cost. Right now we have three different things that can push snow, we have a grader, dump truck and pickup. The board approved the purchase.
Councilman Joe Ward said, “We want to move the existing chain link fence at the cemetery at the cost of $2,000 and place it where the city and the property owners agreed. I would like this done now since it will be next year before we can install the concrete fence. KV Fencing was the only fencing company that returned my call.”
Decision of TAP/UDOT Project $73,000.00
Mayor Gordon gave an update on the UDOT projects. UDOT approved $70,000 for the turn lane on Main Street and 400 South; CVSSD is over the project. We submitted an application for a TAP grant and we have been approved. This project will finish the curb, gutter, drains and sidewalk on SR-10 just past the Heritage Funeral Home to 400 East. The approximate cost to the City would be around $73,000 and UDOT paying the balance. Mark Justice pointed out that there are 34 blocks in Huntington that have curb and gutter and no sidewalks. Most all of those have at least two homes located on them. If you spend $73,000 on that project you are telling people that putting curb and gutter on the highway where nobody lives, no businesses, no traffic except foot traffic is more Important than putting sidewalk in front of their house. If you consider doing that why don’t you consider taking $73,000 out of Capital projects leaving money in the street budget to complete sidewalks in your community where people live. There are nine blocks in Huntington that don’t have curb and gutter. Curb and gutter is a service district project in our community. There are portions of 400 South that does not have curb and gutter. For $73,000 you could do approximately 10 sidewalks. You could take $73,000 out of capital projects to do the side walk to 400 East and use the B and C Road funds to do approximately 10 sidewalks. Leonard Norton agreed that we need to complete sidewalks in town and find money and not take from the City. Mark Justice approved doing the UDOT Project using funds from Capital projects.
The meeting went into a public hearing to open the Huntington City 2015-2016 fiscal budget to make necessary adjustments.
Ronni – Because of decisions tonight things on the FY2017 budget are going to change. The $131,000 was put in BC road funds along with a $5,500 sign that we will be doing. Finalized FY 2016 budget
General Fund: Changes made in the following departments:
General Government – increase budget from $245,700 to $247,200
Public Safety – increase budget from $96,013 to $96,413
Highways and Public Improvements – increase budget from $214,000 to $215,000
Parks, Recreation and Public Property – increase budget from $211,364 to $212,289
Total increase in expenditures $3,825
Capital Projects Fund: increase revenue and expenses from $44,287 to $46,900
Utility Fund: decrease revenue from $394,000 to $372,500 – decrease expenses from $370,857 to $361,932
Secondary Fund: decrease expenses from $43,615 to $33,615.
Perpetual Care Fund: increase revenue and expenses from $4,700 to $5,070
B. Open the Huntington City Municipal Building Authority 2015-2016 fiscal budget to make necessary adjustments.
Decrease budget from $171,890 to $169,106.
C. Budget consideration of the Huntington City for the FY 2016-2017.
General Fund by department:
New FY 2017 budget
Total Revenue: General Budget $815,363
Expenditures: General Government – $229,550
Public Safety – $88,463
Highways and Public Improvements – $241,500
Parks, Recreation and Public Property – $187,850
Debt Service – $68,000.
Municipal Building Authority 36,350.
Capital Projects Fund: $531,000.
Utility Fund: Revenue $383,000., Expense $375,932.
Secondary Fund: Revenue $51,415. Expense $38,615.
Perpetual Care Fund: $50,020.
Budget consideration of the Huntington City Municipal Building Authority for FY 2016-2017.
The Huntington City Municipal Building Authority 2017 Fiscal Budget will be for $36,350.
Leonard Norton asked about the SITLA property that will be purchased and was the $13,000.00 budgeted for that. Ronni will make the correction to the Utility Capital Fund.
Castle Valley Special Service District is raising the water and sewer connection fees that the cities pay to the CVSSD for new connections to the cities system. This will not affect citizens monthly water bills.
Robert Baker said that down by the Desert Edge Church there are some big rocks that need to be moved in order to keep the weeds down. It would be nice if we could put a culvert down there.
Mayor Gordon reported she had talked with someone about putting some windmills here in Huntington. We have submitted CIB applications for improvements at the Cemetery and also the ADA compliant Restroom.
Leonard Norton reported on the dumpsite. He wants to get a dumpster put at the RV dumping place. He wants to see safety lights on all city vehicles while watering the flowers on Main street. He wants to get the street parking strips redone by the Elementary School in mid-August. The drain on center street by the little league field needs to be fixed.
Joe Ward asked how often the fire hydrants are checked. We need to get the cameras working at the fire station and also the key fobs. Joe will clarify questions about the city purchasing a bench for the Miners monument. Concerns of water on Main street by wards 4 X 4 was also discussed.
Lamar Guymon reported on cleaning up both ends of town. At the Rec Board meeting they reported that the ball complex is getting taken care of. Mark Justice reported on the overgrown trees on Main Street.