City Clerk Paul Abrusley presented the monthly financial statement during the September 7, meeting of the Oakdale City Council, and Fire Chief Eric Maricle stated he did not agree with the fire department’s budget being so far over only a quarter into the fiscal year. Maricle said he has only spent $3,300 and can’t figure out why the department’s budget is 113 percent over. He noted major budget cuts have been made in order to get the budget back in line and if they make any more cuts, the department won’t be able to function and run properly.
Council member Jeremy Smith stated Maricle needs to know exactly where the discrepancies are in order to correct the problems. Abrusley noted the overages were spread throughout the budget here and there. Smith stated the fire department can’t be micromanaged to the point Maricle cannot purchase essential needs for the department. He would like answers by the next meeting.
Mayor Gene Paul echoed Smith’s statement that Maricle needs to be informed exactly where his budget is over in order to correct it, telling Abrusley just saying the overages are spread out here and there is not sufficient. Maricle needs specific answers to where the overages are coming from. For example, Paul said, the insurance has greatly increased.
Council member Cassandra Allison said the fire department has a budget of $88,000 and if they only spent approximately $3,000, where is the rest of the money? She also emphasized Maricle needs to know exactly what he is dealing with. She added, “We don’t know there is a problem if you don’t bring it to us. We are here for you.” She asked Maricle about possible grant opportunities and he said the department is working on trying to get grants.
Maricle noted he printed out a list of all expenses and went through it with assistant Samantha Giles and said he just wants the department to be able to function and know where he is over budget. Maricle, Abrusley and Paul will get together next week to figure out the budget issues. Paul stated, “You may not get what you want, but you will get what you need to operate. We are gonna get it straight next week.”
In other business, the council:
•Approved the minutes of the September 7, regular board meeting.
•Approved several mobile home variances.
•Heard an update from Jason Murphy with Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix and Hixson Inc. on the ongoing water projects at Fuller and Oak parks.
•Approved all resolutions regarding the adoption of OCD (Office of Community Development) policies and procedures in regards to the LWI (Louisiana Watershed Initiative) project at Fuller and Oak parks.
•Adopted resolutions regarding the selection of a project for the 2024-2025 fiscal year LCDBG (Louisiana Community Development Block Grant) program and the use of local funds to pay for the engineering and administrative costs related to the project.
•Accepted the high bids on several adjudicated properties.
•Heard the police activity report from Chief Chad Doyle. He noted there were 306 calls for service, 400 citations, 21 arrests and 18 vehicle unlocks, for a total of 745 activities for the month of August.
•Approved the chief’s recommendations to move Sadie Chatman from full-time records/evidence clerk to part-time dispatcher and move Magnolia Nelson from full-time dispatcher to full-time records/evidence clerk on a provisional basis.
•Heard the monthly fire activity report from Fire Chief Maricle. There were no structure fires, 10 medical calls, one jail call, five vehicle unlocks, five landing zone calls, four public assist calls, three fire alarms, seven miscellaneous calls and three grass fires in the city limits. Outside the city limits, there was one grass fire, for a total of 39 calls for the month of September.
