Commission updated on financial status

Ronica Shannon

No matters related to Richmond’s revised 2009-10 fiscal year budget were listed on Tuesday’s meeting of the Richmond City Commission, but finance director Mike Broyles took it upon himself to go ahead and inform the commission and public as to where the city’s stands financially.

Broyles reported that the city’s general fund, as of the end of the day Monday, was $652,573.88. As of that same time, the city has had $421,692.50 in expenses.

The city’s CD investment balance is $514,466.23.

The city budget showed a deficit of $659,702 at of the end of September, and a $1,160,781 deficit to date.

Broyles said September commonly was a low-income month in city government.

Commissioner Mike Brewer asked Broyles what the city’s next step should be to getting closer to having a balanced budget.

Interim city manager Jimmy Howard said that he would be meeting with department administrators to find ways to cut costs.

“We’re under the gun now,” Howard said. “On Nov. 5, we have a budget work session. Mike (Broyles) and I will make our recommendations. We have $2.6 million to cut out of expenses, and it’s a monumental task.”

Richmond resident Charles Hay addressed the commission about his concerns with the future of the city.

“Recently, I have seen very positive signs that our leaders are beginning to grapple with some of the city’s problems,” Hay said. “Many of our problems can be solved if we rise above our particular special interests. We need to consider how our government can be more effective and efficient in providing services to us.

“It is essential that Richmond and other governmental entities in Madison County work together rather than protecting their own turf to save we the taxpayer’s money and eliminate duplication of services. All entities must come to the table with a spirit of cooperation and do what is best for our citizens,” Hay said.

In other business:

• An order was adopted that gave the city manager permission to further study the use of speed humps, their effectiveness and any potentially dangerous aspects, as well.

“Numerous citizens and motorists (residing both inside and outside the city limits) who travel city streets on a regular basis have expressed concern over the location of certain … speed humps,” the order reads.

The order also gives the city manager authority to remove any existing speed humps that are determined to be unnecessarily placed in some areas and/or interfere with traffic flow.

“In the future, no speed (hump) shall be installed in the city without the advice, knowledge and consent of the Board of Commissioners,” the order reads.

In the past, the only requirements for speed hump installation were a petition from area residents and the mayor’s authorization.

Several residents who reside on streets with speed humps spoke out in favor of the devices, saying that they aid in slowing traffic on their respective streets.

“I have seen these speeders place my children at risk and destroy property,” said Oak Street resident Sandy Hunter. “In fact, within a 6-month period, our street had four parked cars totally destroyed by speeding drivers who lost control of their vehicles.”

John Wernegren, member of the CABN (Community Action for Barnes-Mill Neighborhood Inc.), provided information that referred to speed humps as illegal.

“The City of Richmond does not have the legal authority to place dangerous obstructions in roadways, especially on busy streets that carry thousands of vehicles each day and serve as frequent routes for police fire and other emergency vehicles,” the organization’s newsletter states.

Mayor Connie Lawson said it was an issue that needed to be taken to the community.

“I think we need to listen to the parties on both sides,” Lawson said.

• All commissioners, except for Commissioner Bill Strong who was not present Tuesday, voted against the final reading of an ordinance that would amend an existing ordinance related to the imposition and administration of an occupational license requirement.

In the amended ordinance, local businesses would be required to pay occupational taxes monthly instead of quarterly.

The commissioners and Lawson agreed that changing the way this is done would prove to be costly on behalf of the business owners, and create virtually three-times more paperwork for the city’s finance department.

• Commissioners voted ‘No’ once again Tuesday to adopting an order that would revise the personnel and procedures manual regarding overtime pay for city employees.

Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock addressed the commission to explain what the order would mean for the city’s police department.

“Right now, when officers are subpoenaed to court during hours they are not working, they get a two-hour overtime minimum for appearing,” Brock said. “If they show up to court, and they’re only there an hour, they still get a two-hour minimum overtime. If you take somebody from second or third shift, who had to be in court at 9:30 in the morning, then they would get the two-hour (overtime) minimum by policy. Obviously, if it goes over that, they get (paid for the extra time they stay).”

If the ordinance was passed Tuesday in its original form, that two-hour overtime minimum wouldn’t apply anymore, he said.

“If an officer takes 40 hours vacation but must appear in court during his or her time off, you wouldn’t get overtime for it,” he said.

All commissioners said they would be more comfortable if the ordinance was given more consideration and was rewritten.

• Howard read a letter sent to him from Madison County Schools Superintendent Tommy Floyd about the dangers students face walking along Second Street in the direction of Madison Central High School.

Second Street, also known at KY 388 or Red House Road, has “… the absence of a safe walkway,” Floyd wrote.

“On several occasions, especially in rainy weather, I have observed students walking to school on the white line of the road on both sides of the street due to their unwillingness to walk in the wet grass because of the absence of a sidewalk,” he wrote.

Floyd asked that the city pay extra attention to the area on North Second Street north of Madison Central High School and Daniel Boone Elementary School.

Howard said that because it twas a state highway, any sidewalk installations of other safety precautions are the responsibility of the state.

• A resolution was adopted calling for “… a modern and accurate legal description of territory previously annexed by ordinance.”

This is being done to provide the most accurate population count for the 2010 census, said city planning and zoning director Mike Roberts.

A special-called meeting of the commission will be conducted at 3 p.m. Nov. 5, and will be a work session to review a revised 2009-10 fiscal year budget for the city.

The next regular meeting of the city commission will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 at Richmond City Hall.

Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.