City
reviews its finances;
stormwater update given
by Kim
Fickett
Landmark reporter
A look at the latest financial reports and an update
on the study of the city's stormwater drainage system
were two major topics facing the Platte City Board of
Aldermen at a meeting Tuesday night.
A review of the fiscal year 2001 financial reports showed
that the city's conservative nature in planning the budget
continues to work.
At Tuesday's meeting, City Administrator Keith Moody
reported that the actual ending cash balance for fiscal
year 2001 reflected a $5.3 million balance, rather than
the estimated $4.6 million balance that had been anticipated.
The actual surplus, which amounted to $695,682 more in
cash reserves than anticipated, is due to major elements
contributing to the variation between budget and actual.
Moody summarized the various funds this way:
• General Fund-revenues exceeded estimates by $53,000.
$230,000 less was spent than estimated which reflects
the fact that the street department didn't complete $93,000
worth of capital improvements.
• Parks Fund-revenues exceeded estimates by $40,000,
the Parks Board spent $80,000 less than estimated which
consists of $48,000 budgeted for capital that was not
spent.
• Capital Project Fund-revenues exceeded estimates
by $64,000 due to stronger sales tax receipts and a higher
than budgeted price for the old police department building
on Main Street. The city did not spend as much as budgeted
because the city had anticipated making final payment
on the 4th Street project, the Highway 92 project and
the Police/Public Works Facility Project in fiscal year
2001. This did not occur and therefore amendments to the
fiscal year 2002 budget will be necessary.
"A number of projects haven't been finalized for
the fiscal year 2001, which is why the surplus is over
$1 million. We were anticipating those projects would
be finalized by the end of the fiscal year," said
Moody.
• Water Operating Fund-less money than budget was
spent in each budget category resulting in an $83,000
surplus.
• Water Replacement Fund-more money than budgeted
was spent ($11,000) on replacing water lines in alleys
and along Main Street. More money than budgeted was spent
on replacing water meter pit assemblies ($7,000) in the
final route being changed to radio-read.
• Water Capital Improvement Fund-a project was budgeted
for but no subdivision required participation in increasing
the size of a water line by the city according to the
connection fee ordinance.
• Sewer Operating Fund-interest and sewer use charges
combined to exceed estimates by $36,000. Fees paid to
OMI ($15,000) for managing the treatment plant while the
city was without an operator were not budgeted for and
contributed to this fund exceeding budgeted expenditures
by $5,000.
• Sewer Capital Improvement Fund-sewer connection
fee revenues exceeded estimates by $17,000.
• Refuse Operating Fund-the balance of our recycling
grant proceeds from MARC and the DNR ($40,000) will not
be received until fiscal year 2002. Two grant items, the
compactor and can crusher, will not be paid for until
fiscal year 2002 ($20,000).
Moody stated that the fiscal year 2002 budget will need
to be amended to include projects that weren't completed,
including stormwater and street improvements.
In other business, Mayor Frank Offutt announced his plans
for Phase 3 of the Capital Improvements Program.
The phase three plan involves residential improvements
to a 55-home area. The phase consists of improvements
to storm drainage, curbs, gutters and replacement of old
water and sewer mains.
The area will encompass the streets of Almond, Academy,
Radar, Todd, Atchison and Cathy Lane.
The projected $1 million phase, may also include constructing
two hammerheads at Atchison and Cathy Lane. The city is
trying to put the t-shaped endings at the foot of the
roads, which are currently dead ends. The t-shaped endings,
which aren't as space consuming as cul-de-sacs, are necessary
because there is currently no turnaround area for emergency
vehicles on these streets.
According to Offutt, the current hammerheads don't fit
inside the right-of-way the city currently has, so they
are asking for additional easements from property owners.
If the city is not successful with gaining the easements
from property owners, Offutt stated the city will just
shorten the T-portion of the hammerhead.
The city published the notice of bids for the third phase
on Wednesday and hopes to have the bids collected within
30-days. City workers are currently working on relocating
the water and sewer mains permanently and hope to have
it completed by April 1.
STORMWATER DRAINAGE
ISSUE
Offutt also asked for the board's approval to enter into
services with Bartlett and West engineers to provide analysis
of culvert sizes for the major streams which run through
Platte City.
The estimated $7,500 fee will involve analyzing 14 culvert
crossings and includes a site visit to each location,
analyzing the street crossings, and recommending culvert
sizes that will handle the 10, 25, 50 and 100-year storm
frequencies. The final product will show the culvert locations,
contributing drainage areas, and a table that will list
different culvert sizes for the different storm frequencies.
The board approved Offutt's request.
"The services with Bartlett and West will eliminate
speculation and come up with hard core data on each crossing
and how they figure into the stormwater issue all together,"
said Offutt. "The analysis will also give us an overall
scope of how one area may affect another area."
Offutt announced that the first meeting of his appointed
stormwater commission will be held Wednesday, Jan. 16.
Board members also approved the hiring of Frank Mabry
as the public works superintendent. Mabry will serve in
the position not to exceed two years.
The board also approved a bid from All-Pro Ford for a
2002 Ford police vehicle. All-Pro Ford came in with the
lowest bid by $7, with a bid of $19,975.10.
Offutt also asked the board for help in ending rumors
regarding him approaching the City of Tracy regarding
annexation. He simply stated to the board, "There
is no truth to the rumors."
The board also held the swearing in for new police officer,
Darrick Bruns, who will serve as the new Platte County
R-3 SRO officer. Also, the board announced Billy Mason
as the Public Worker of the Year 2001.
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