The Oakdale City Council, during its regular meeting held Thursday, September 1, heard from Mayor Gene Paul and City Clerk Geri Melder, who were very concerned about the city’s finances due to all of the cost increases across the board, namely the electricity bills. Melder noted costs have increased dramatically, especially the cost of electricity to all of the city’s facilities.
For example, Melder stated the police department’s electricity bill has increased from around the normal average of approximately $230 a few months ago up to $900 this past month. She said the waste water plant electricity bill has increased from $600 a few months ago and the last bill was $4,136. In addition, she stated the cost of chlorine affects the public works department budget. She said it used to cost approximately $1,800 twice a month, but now it is up to $3,300 twice a month. She also said the budgeted $5,000 amount for the coroner’s fee has already been halfway met at $2,500 barely two months into the new fiscal year. Melder emphasized the city was already on a tight budget and urged all department heads to be frugal and save money where they can.
Mayor Gene Paul stated he sees the increases in costs going up each month and is very concerned, as costs are increasing while revenue is declining. He said the city would be in a “financial crunch” if the departments keep spending money unnecessarily. He said he didn’t want to have to increase water and sewer rates to make up for the deficit. He also urged the departments to spend their funds wisely, as they are only two months into the new fiscal year and already the budget is being negatively affected by all of the cost increases. He did emphasize that it is not just Oakdale, this is happening everywhere and said, “Something has to give. We have to take this seriously. If the department heads don’t slow down and only spend what they have to spend, we are going to be in a financial crunch and headed for tough times.”
Luke Miller, project engineer with Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix and Hixson (MMLH), gave an update on the MMLH project and asked the council to accept the project as substantially complete. Paul did ask why water seepage was not accounted for in the original plans. Miller stated there was no way to know just how much water would get into the pipes. Miller said the limited pipe size also affects the issue, but said certain spots between Dunn Street and the lift station have been replaced with larger 24 inch pipes. Miller also noted bids for the new booster pumps would be accepted next week and presented to the council during a special meeting.
Paul introduced Christine Foster who spoke on behalf of a family interested in purchasing land belonging to the City of Oakdale. She said the 10.4 acre property is located between Rosanne Foster to the highline where the gas line runs and continues on to the street by the dog shelter. She said the land would be purchased for family reasons, as family in Texas is looking to retire back home to Oakdale near their sister. Paul emphasized the proper procedures would have to be followed, and City Attorney Ray Rush added before anything could be done, he needed to research and make sure the property belongs to the city. He said the land would need to be surveyed and appraised by the city and then the city would need to advertise and accept bids for the purchase of the property. Paul stated the item would be added to the agenda for a special meeting in a couple of weeks once Rush could report back to the council about the status of the land in question.
Rush introduced an ordinance to supplement the motor vehicles and traffic ordinance which would allow for electronic enforcement of speed limits, traffic signal and traffic signage. He said Chief Chad Doyle requested the ordinance reflect that those going 11 miles an hour or more over the posted speed limit be fined. Doyle stated the equipment software would be linked to city hall so fines could be downloaded and paid at the courthouse. He said this would be done at no cost to the city.
In other business, the council:
•Declared the old water meters as surplus. Paul noted they were sitting in storage and there was a person from Texas who was very interested in purchasing them and willing to pay “more money than anybody would think about paying for them.” Miller suggested keeping three or four extra radio read meters on hand as back ups in case of an emergency. Paul did say they have around five meters floating around as a back up in case of an emergency.
•Approved a Class B alcohol license for Family Dollar after hearing from Eureka Wade, who noted the license had already been approved by the ATC board.
•Approved the minutes of the August 4, regular board meeting.
•Heard the monthly report from Fire Chief Eric Maricle. There were no structure fires, seven medical calls, three moving vehicle accidents, one landing call, one hazmat call, one assist, 11 false alarms, three miscellaneous calls and one grass fire for a total of 28 city calls.
•Approved Labor Day personnel time off for Lorrie Johnson, Grant Willis, Jesica Thompson and Sadie Chatman with the police department and Samantha Giles with the fire department.
•Heard the police activity report from Police Chief Chad Doyle. He noted there were 425 calls for service, 71 citations, 16 arrests and 34 vehicle unlocks, for a total of 546 activities for the month. The council also approved the hiring of Leonard Pete Strother and Hubert Matthew Ware as part time patrolmen, as well as the moving of Kaitlyn Ware from full time patrolman to part time patrolman and Madison McDaniel from full time dispatcher to part time dispatcher.
