Angela Henline, PE addresses Eutaw,City Council
The Eutaw City Council met on May 28, 2024, for its regular fourth Tuesday meeting. Mayor Johnson and all the council members, except for Valerie Watkins, were present.
Patricia Stough, CPA with Harbin and Stough, presented the audit report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023. The report was presented with an unqualified opinion letter saying that the audit, “presents fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position of the governmental activities, the business type activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining information for the city as of September 30, 2023.”
Stough summarized the report and referred to pages 12 and 14, which was the Statement of Net Position on September 30, 2023, government-wide for the City of Eutaw. This report shows Total Assets of $12,840,650; with Liabilities of $3,245,940; and the Net position of $9,532,347. The report shows the annual revenues and expenses for specific governmental funds and activities. The Council accepted the audit as submitted. The audit report will be helpful to the city in pursuing grant funds for specific needs.
Angela Henline, Engineer from Cassady Company, who is working on improvements to the City of Eutaw water and wastewater systems, gave a progress report to the Council on the status of current projects. The Backflow Meters Project for residences is complete. The Boligee Tank Rehabilitation Project is 95% waiting on a control valve. The Backflow Prevention, Monitoring and Flushing Project is 50% complete, waiting for materials to be delivered.
The Stand-by Emergency Sewer Pump Project, for a trailer mounted sewage pump,is complete. Critical Pump Station Improvements Project is awaiting pumps and other materials to be installed. The Upgrade Low Road Force Main Project is 405 complete. The Lagoon Improvement Project design is 90% complete to be used seeking construction funds next year. The Boligee Manhole Rehabilitation plans and specs have been approved, waiting on funding.
Henline proposed a $101,669 project to ADEM for an inventory of lead in the service lines of projects. The inventory is required to be completed by October 16, 2024, to be in compliance with Federal guidelines. The Council approved Resolution No. 2024-05#8, for a forgivable loan from ADEM, to finance this project. Henline said a local Greene County company should be eligible to do this inventory work, since it does not require construction licenses and other requirements. Companies interested in doing the work should contact her office in Northport, Alabama (phone 205/330-0098) to request an RFP packet. The deadline for proposals is June 28, 2024.
At the recommendation of Councilman Jonathon Woodruff, the Council approved an amended policy for the use of city vehicles that would end the policy of allowing police officers to drive cars home even if they live outside the city limits. Woodruff argued that since the police were receiving higher salaries, they no longer needed the benefit of driving cars home. Mayor Johnson objected and said allowing police officers to drive city vehicles home would allow them to respond to emergencies in a more timely manner. The Council voted 4 to 0, over the mayor’s objections, to approve the amended policy.
The Council approved a recommendation from Ralph Liverman, Financial Adviser that they seek $130,000 in matching funds from Sheriff Benison for the Lower Gainesville Road and Streetscape Projects. The Sheriff is no longer giving municipalities a set amount of bingo funds each month, but he is willing to consider specific requests for bingo fund allocations.
The Council received a series of reports from Ralph Liverman, Financial Adviser, concerning the City’s finances. Liverman reported that at current rates of revenues and expenses, the City would end this fiscal year on September 30, 2024, in a deficit position unless the city watched finances closely. He recommended that the city increase water and sewer rates as these activities are not generating enough funds to cover expenses. He recommended closing the Robert H. Young Community Center because of high utility bills.
Councilman Woodruff asked what the City of Eutaw charges to dig graves outside the city, since he said he saw city staff and equipment digging a grave at a church in Clinton. The Mayor said there was a policy on this that she would have to research. She also said that she was not aware the specific instance that Councilman Woodruff was raising.
In other actions, the Eutaw City Council:
• Approved travel and expenses for City Council members and staff to attend various trainings in the coming months.
• Approved placement of an antenna for the Greene County Fire Association on the Boligee Water Tank.
• Approved 2023 Municipal Water Pollution Prevention report from consultants, Living Waters.
• Tabled a request to pay light and gas bills for the Goodson Storm Shelter, which is in the Eutaw fire district, pending a discussion with the City Attorney.
• Took no action on a request to acquire a credit card account with Citizens Trust Bank.
• Approved use of the Robert H. Young Community Center for the Greene County Children’s Policy Council and the University of Alabama Center for Business Research. Denied approval to Order of Eastern Stars #699 and Eutaw High Class of 1979, because their events did serve a public purpose.
• Discussed the arrangements with the Sixth Day Saddle Club on their use of the City’s Lock 7 Park. Councilwoman Hunter said that members of the Saddle Club were blocking other city residents from using the park. The Mayor agreed to gather more information to decide on control of the park and locking and unlocking of the gates to the park.
• Approved payment of monthly bills.