A public hearing and special call meeting is set for tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the city hall annex.
The purpose is to allow Indianola citizens an opportunity to have input and ask questions of the aldermen before the upcoming year’s budget, which includes a reported $300,000 deficit, is approved.
Mayor Steve Rosenthal said he is holding the special session because he would like for the Indianola lawmakers to have the document approved by the 15th so that it can be implemented when the fiscal year starts October 1.
“We have always pushed to be on time,” Rosenthal said.
The Indianola Aldermen met last week to discuss the particulars related to the proposed financial plan, and Alderman Gary Fratesi expressed concernes about the budget not being balanced.
“I would like to see the budget, Thursday, without a $300,000 deficit because we’re never going to be able to raise taxes to match every year and then repair our roads, so we’ve got to start coming in with a balanced budget,” he said.
Fratesi said that is how the city can possibly catch up and have some money to make road repairs.
“Because as we are right now, we’re out distancing ourselves every year with deficits because we’re using up our little rainy day fund,” he said.
Rosenthal said he did not disagree with Fratesi but added that even if they raised the 2.51 mill tax levy, all of the departments would still have to reduce their spending by 30 percent.
Fratesi cautioned that if something was not done, the city might start losing industry and jobs.
Rosenthal said he would take another look at the numbers, “But that would mean… immediately, salary changes is $132,000. We could do without that plus about 30 percent of the spending in every department to get it where it would be balanced. “I’m not in favor of cutting the salaries,” asserted Alderman Ruben Woods.
Rosenthal issued no promises regarding being able to submit a balanced budget.
“I don’t think that’s a possibility, but I will give it a try,” he said.
In the discussion, several items were discussed as potential cuts, however nothing was mentioned definitively.
In other business,
The Aldermen voted unanimously to approve amending a previously made ordinance barring all parking on the south side of Main Street to now allow for a loading and unloading zone in the center of the block.
At the request of the city lawmakers, police officers had begun enforcing the original ordinance and issuing citations last week to any motorists who parked in the restricted areas.
The aldermen heard and received departmental reports from the cemetery department, animal shelter and fire department, which reported 19 fire calls for the month of August that consisted of four structural fires with two being handled as arson, one arrest has been made. One other was deemed “suspicious.” The department has responded to 126 calls year to date.
Assistant Fire Chief William Alford also advised the citizens the fire department now has a supply of smoke detectors that will be given away and installed free of charge to any resident that needs one, except for those living in apartment complexes. The safety devices also cannot be distributed to businesses. Call 887-4955 to request a device.
The city leaders also voted unanimously to grant a delegation of Church Street business owners a waiver of the loud noise ordinance for the “Taste of Church Street” event scheduled for the weekend of Gentry High’s homecoming. The waiver is for Friday and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m., each day.
Aldermen approved the payment of an estimate for a sewer rehab project affecting the Park Avenue pumping station and other sewer point repairs. City Engineer Ron Cassada said the work is about 35 percent complete. They also approved payment of the engineer’s estimate related to that job.
The city officials granted a noise ordinance waiver to Jeanette Knighten-Washington for a campaign event at Minnie Cox Park.
After emerging from a closed executive session, the city decision makers voted to hire a new crossing guard, deputy water clerk and water maintenance worker.
