City Council hears taxing situation

During City Manger Bruce Rogers’ report at the Sept. 26 council meeting, he mentioned that Cedar County Collector Joan Haines had visited with him on Aug. 25 and stated that the county would no longer be able to print the property taxes notices for the city due to changing software. The software would be the same as the assessor uses. One option was to have the collector collect the taxes for the city as a cost of 5% for all taxes collected an estimated $15,000 to $16,000. The county collector would not collect any delinquent taxes that are on the city’s books. Rogers said he asked her four times when she first knew about this and each time she said it didn’t matter. He said the date did matter because the short notice a left the city with few options.

Rogers said he called the county’s software company and found out that they started in late July, so the decision to do it was probably at least a month earlier.

The Sun attempted to contact Ms. Haines, but she was out of the office until Thursday. We spoke to County Clerk Peggy Kenney who said that Ms. Haines didn’t know that the county wouldn’t be able to print out El Dorado Springs’ tax statement until she asked to person training her how to do it. Kenney said that Stockton, Umber View and Jerico Springs are all paying the percentage to have their tax statements done by the county.

Rogers said that working with the software that the city already has would allow the city do their own tax statements and save the $16,000. Rogers said the city’s current provider, Data Technologies, offers a tax billing module. They are scheduled to be here Oct. 26-27 for installation and training. An initial cost of $7,200 includes set up, conversion and training plus an additional $1,500 for penalty calculation program changes. Annual support will be approximately $700. Rogers said tax bills will be going out a little later this year.

All councilmen were present: Mayor Brad True, Jim Luster, Nick Bland, Randy Bland and Jerry Baldwin. Rogers and City Clerk Lisa Alison were also present.

Kimball Long with the Spring City Revitalization Group told the council that the Annual Chili

Cook-off was on Oct. 15 and requested the city have electricity on both sides of Spring Street and to please block off the street at Main.

The council passed a resolution selecting Olsson Associates to provide evaluation, engineering design and construction inspection service for well #3. They also approved an ordinance amending appropriations in all funds of the city.

A budget work session began with Elliott reviewing the budgets for the Fire and Emergency Management departments. The only noticeable change to the operating budget is slightly more training funds included in the Emergency Management department. Capital outlay requests for the Fire department include four sets of bunker gear, 1,200’ of 3” hose, water tank for the newest truck and other items from previous years that have already been purchased that are financed. Rogers has all items included in the recommended budget.

Smith began with the Street department by saying there are not many changes to the operating budget. Capital requests that Rogers recommended include two tires for a dump truck, a pole saw and the previous purchases in a financing package. Requests that have not been included in the recommendations are used tractor and new boom and wheel loader.

The operating budget for the Shop department has no major changes and the capital outlay requests of a new roof on the building and a 10 ton floor jack, which are both included in the recommended budget.

The Code Enforcement operating budget will be relatively the same as the current budget, which was up due to the demolitions done this summer.

Cain reviewed the water, sewer, water construction and electric department budgets. All operating budgets remain basically the same overall. Multiple capital outlay items were requested and all recommended with the exception of a new sewer machine for the sewer department and SCADA system and LED lights for the electric department.

Rogers stated Jarrod Schiereck, police chief and John Burrus Building and Grounds Director were unable to attend the meeting and will be at next week’s meeting to review their requests. Rogers gave an overview of the capital outlay items and the funding available. Rogers stated there is a 1% cost of living included in the proposed budget at this time.

During the City Manager report, Rogers announced the review for the taxi grant will be next week on Monday and Tuesday.