The Board of Aldermen met on Tuesday evening in work session.  Following discussion of the utility billing process, the Board directed staff to update the policy moving the disconnect date to the first business day following the 19th of the month following the billing cycle which produced the balance.  The Board reaffirmed direction to increase the disconnection threshold from $75.00 to $100.00 and retaining the “reconnection” charge at $50.00. On June 7, 2022, the Board also provided consensus on establishing specific exceptions to charging a $50.00 reconnection fee for reconnecting utility service in the case of a deceased or incapacitated utility customer; if a customer has applied for financial assistance with other agencies; or in the case of a pending leak adjustment.   Changes will be effective in November.  You can read the staff memo here.

Finance Director, Stephen Larson, presented a 9-Month Update of the FY2022 Budget. Property Tax revenues are projected to exceed $1,000,000 by the end of FY2022 and continue to be bolstered by new construction in the City. Sales Tax is performing well through 9 months and is outperforming third quarter year to date figures from 2020 and 2021.  Use Tax is performing exceptionally well. Staff have increased revenue projections for the final three months of FY2022 along with increases to projected Use Tax revenues for the Proposed FY2023 Budget.  American Rescue Plan Act funding (both from Clay County and the City’s ARPA Fund) has reduced financial burden of major capital project expense (Raw Water Pump Station project).  General Fund operational expenditures continue to rise with inflation and are tracking closer to the budget compared to the second quarter, but remain under budget overall. The general fund (the primary fund supporting city operations) finished 2021 with fund balance better than budget.  2022 revenues are projected to be approximately $300,000 above budget and expenditures are projected $200,000 below budget.  This performance results in a budget position ending the fiscal year of near $700,000 better than budgeted. You can view the presentation here.

Stephen also presented the 2023 Recommended Budget.  The Proposed FY2023 Budget totals $23,840,944 in expenditures across 18 budgeted funds and includes $10,739,885 in capital improvement project expense to improve water, wastewater, stormwater, and street infrastructure along with the provision of more park amenities throughout the City. The 5 Year CIP totals $39,885,306 across all funds. The General Fund accounts for the majority of personnel, programs and services in the City and totals $6,067,570 in expenditures, a 4.9% increase from projected FY2022 expenditures.

In May, the Board and staff met in a retreat/financial summit to review workplans and priorities identified through recent processes to outline community goals. During this day-long session, ongoing organizational needs were presented, along with their relationship to community goals outlined in the strategic planning and visioning, comprehensive planning and other planning processes completed over the last several years. The proposed budget as presented reflects staff’s understanding of Board of Aldermen goals outlined at the retreat. In addition to supporting current service levels, the proposed budget provides funding for the following:

Ensuring employee recruitment and retention
Continued focus on investment in infrastructure
Focus on future facility needs
The proposed budget includes funding for three new employees in FY2023, enhances employee compensation and retirement and provides additional funding for a sidewalk program and street maintenance.

You can find the budget presentation here and the proposed 2023 budget document here.

For more information on these items, view the agenda. If you would like to view the discussion, please view meeting video.

In regular session, the Board took the following action.

Approved a resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor to execute an agreement with Grace Community Church for use of Smith’s Fork Park September 15, 16, and 17, 2022 for the purpose of hosting Nehemiah Festival.
Approved a resolution approving the renaming of Hawthorne Park to the “Humphrey and Nancy Smith Park”.
Approved a resolution authorizing the purchase of winter materials from Central Salt, LLC in the amount of $74.77 per ton.
Approved a resolution authorizing and directing the Mayor to sign a contract with the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission for the Destination Safe Grant.
Approved on second reading an ordinance to re-adopt the Code of Ethics to comply with Missouri Ethics Commission standards.
Approved on second reading an ordinance calling for the questions regarding the length of the term of office for the Mayor and the Board An Ordinance amending of Aldermen increasing the term from two years to four years to be placed on the November 8, 2022 election ballot.
Approved on first reading an ordinance amending Section 225.090 to include a regulation stating that smoking is prohibited at all indoor and outdoor parks and facilities, except at individual camp sites at the campground.
Approved on first reading an ordinance amending the FY2022 operating budget to add $200,000 to the expenditure budget and $15,000 to the revenue budget.
Approved a resolution approving the final plat for Hildebrand Estates creating one lot of 11 acres at the corner of Lowman Road and 16th Street.
For more information on these items, view the agenda. If you would like to view the discussion, please view  meeting video.

The City Administrator’s Report may be found here.