Highfill votes to suspend water rate increase

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

HIGHFILL -- Council members adopted a budget for 2014, suspended an automatic water rate increase and approved the purchase of a salt and sand spreader to be used on streets and highways during winter weather events.

After some discussion of options for the purchase of a spreader to be attached to a city truck to spread salt and sand on roads and highways during winter storms, the council asked street and road supervisor, Vernon Reams, to research and determine the best model for the city to purchase and authorized him to spend up to $9,500 from general funds to purchase the spreader and have it ready for use should there be another snow or ice storm.

With rules suspended, the council voted to suspend the automatic water rate increase scheduled to take effect in January. Without the ordinance suspending the increase, Highfill water customers would have seen a 5 percent rate increase on their water bills in the new year. With the passage of the ordinance, rates will remain unchanged in the new year.

"Everything is going fine," Councilman Chris Holland said of the water department, saying he didn't think the rate increase was necessary for next year.

The council also passed a budget for 2014, but not without first discussing the computer and information technology issues that have plagued the city offices for several months.

According to Mayor Stacy Digby and Treasurer/Recorder Stacie Williamson, Mark Pierce, who has recently taken over as the city's computer technician, was working at resolving the issues, cleaning up city computers and installing a new server which the city purchased. The extent of problems was greater than first thought, according to Digby, and Pierce had not initially been told of all the problems.

Councilman Chris Holland expressed concern that the problems have gone on for too long without being fixed, but Digby and Williamson both offered assurances the problems were being addressed and things would be fixed soon.

The council voted unanimously to pass the 2014 budget but left the information technology line item at zero until it can be determined how much it will take to fix the city's computer problems.

The adopted budget, including all departments, included anticipated receipts of $1,797,620, with expenditures budgeted at $1,686,876. Budgeted disbursements include: $192,870 -- administrative; $125,809 -- streets; $6,660 -- parks; $1,049,677 -- water and wastewater; $226,045 -- police; and $85,815 -- fire department.

An ordinance was also passed designating the district court clerk as the official responsible for collecting fines assessed for and on behalf of the city of Highfill.

General News on 12/18/2013