News For Week Of July 1 2009

Jamestown City Council Adopts $6.1M Budget, Sets Tax at 54¢

The Jamestown City Council, meeting in a special called meeting on Monday, June 29, took action on three items of business, including the adoption of the fiscal year 2009-10 budget in the amount of $6,119,359.00 and setting a property tax rate of $0.54 per $100 of assessed vaulation to fund the budget.

With all members present, the meeting was called to order by Mayor Gwenith Duncan, after which Thomas M. Bennett, P.E. with McGill Associates, updated the council on the possibility of obtaining grants from the American Resource and Recovery Loan Fund (stimulus plan) to fund some needed water and sewer projects.

He said that through this new program, that municipalities could be eligible for up to 75% grant money, with the remaining 25% to be paid back through a low-interest (2.5%) loan over 38 years, making the plan very attractive to small cities such as Jamestown.

He said he felt that most of the projects currently on the drawing board, such as the water tank renovation at the hospital, and the needed water plant upgrades, including the raw water intake clean-out, would  qualify for this funding, as well as the White Oak sewer project, upgrades at the sewer system pumping stations, and the sewer collection system.

After more discussion of the long-term benefits the city could gain through these grants, the council, on a motion by Joan Bailey and seconded by Keith Conatser, voted to authorize Bennett to pursue making application for these grants.

Next, City Recorder Sarah Ann Threet read Ordinance No. 1100, authorizing the council to adopt a budget and establishing a property tax rate for the fiscal year July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

The proposed budget included appropriations and expenditures of $1,382,834.00 in the General Fund; $50,000.00 in Special Revenue Funds; $1,669,663.00 in the Water & Sewer Fund, and $3,016,862.00 in the Gas Fund, for a total budget appropriation of $6,119.359.00.

The budget also established a Property Tax levy of $0.54 per $100.00 of assessed valuation for the purpose of funding the budget.  This is the same rate is currently being levied, and represents no increase.

On a motion by Joan Bailey, seconded by Gene Holt, the council approved the budget on first reading, with all present voting for.  The budget must pass on second and final reading at the regular monthly meeting on July 13 before becoming official.

Scott King, Assistant Fire Chief, then addressed the council concerning an opportunity through the new stimulus money, to obtain  funding to construct a new fire hall.   Current plans call for a new 6,000 square foot facility, with 3 bays to house up to 6 fire trucks, plus accommodations for full-time firemen should this become mandated at a future date.

 He said that while it was possible to get 100% funding, he felt that the city’s chances would be better if they would offer a local match, and said he was going to go before the County Commission on Tuesday night and ask for the same amount of local funding that the city gave.  The deadline for application for the grant is July 10.

 There was some discussion about making a 5% local match, which would require both the City of Jamestown and Fentress County to put up $15,000, which would be 5% of the $605,000.00 cost for the facility as estimated by the architect.

City Building Inspector Bob Lane said that he felt that the building could be constructed for much less than this estimate.

Following more discussion, the council, on a motion by Bailey, seconded by Cooper, voted to appropriate $15,000 toward the local match for the grant, with the motion passing without opposition.

The meeting then adjourned.