by Allison McLean
posted November 20, 2009
) Photo by Bryan Boling Vice Mayor Privett asks the city manager to get more architectural bids for the police department building |
Thursday approved a sewer line extension from Lake Caroline through the Dayton Pike towards Springfield Road.
The commission voted 5-0 to unanimously award the contract for the extension, entitled No. 3 Fire Hall Project, to the lowest bidder, McGinnis Brothers.
The project is part of a sewer system improvement designed over seven years ago, explained City Manager Hardie Stulce.
The McGinnis Brothers firm projects that the No. 3 Fire Hall Project will be finished within 45 days.
In other business, Brian Wright, a certified public accountant (CPA) and shareholder of Johnson, Murphey & Wright, P.C., reported to the board that the findings of the 2008-2009 audit for the Soddy Daisy city government are satisfactory.
According to Mr. Wright, the income statement showed that the deficit in the general fund was partly due to the reduction in taxes. However, even though there was a deficit in the general fund, the city's expenses were down $72,000, and other government funds operated with a surplus.
"Basically, everything is in good shape," Mr. Wright assured the board.
However, in the future, Mr. Wright said, a CPA must be added to the city staff because the current personnel was not qualified, according to the findings in the audit.
City Manager Stulce took exception with the condition in the audit that says, "the city did not have accounting personnel on staff that had sufficient expertise as to the selection and implementation of proper accounting principles."
"Our track record has proven over the years that we have very qualified people," City Manager Stulce said, saying that city records were scrupulously kept and that contracted auditors have been hired to help with this process.
Also, during the city manager's report, the board members authorized City Manager Stulce to acquire quotes for the construction of additional space for the city police department.
Vice Mayor Bob Privett said that this space is needed for the police department because the unit does not have enough room to secure seized vehicles, guns and drugs.
"There's no doubt that the police department has outgrown the police department building," Commissioner Jim Adams said. "I just think the community deserves better than what its got."
Vice Mayor Privett agreed with the need for a bigger facility, but thought the project was more expensive than necessary.
"I think you can build a nice building for less," Vice Mayor Privett said.
The commission authorized the city manager to acquire more bids for the building and said the project will be funded with drug money.
Also, the commission passed a motion to raise the cost for reserving the Senior Neighbors Center on Depot Street with a unanimous vote.
Because citizens who use the facility have not cleaned up after themselves in the past, the commission changed the reservation fee to a $25 non-refundable flat rate for Friday evenings through Sundays and a refundable fee of $50 for Mondays through Thursdays. Those who use the community center on a routine basis, however, will not be charged.
This fee will pay for the cost to clean the community center, Vice Mayor Privett said.
) Photo by Bryan Boling Discussing the need for more space for the police department |
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