The Budget Ways and Means Committee held their regular meeting Monday evening in City Hall. The agenda included a presentation from the Kellogg Lake Spring River Development Board on their request of $20,000 from the City. Board member Ed Grundy explained that they were applying for a $100,000 grant through the Department of Natural Resources for funds needed to complete trails, parking and the installation of permanent rest rooms at Kellogg Lake. The grant, if approved, will match $80,000 to the Boards $20,000.

"We’re looking to the City for $20,000," said Grundy. "We received the application January 5th and it has to be in by March 15th.

Kellogg Lake Board member Trisha Burgi stated that DNR gives out a million each year in trail grants.

"Sixty organizations apply each year and only ten get $100,000 each," said Burgi.

City Administrator Tom Short stated that the City has not seen a "master plan" for the project at Kellogg lake. Short also expressed the lack of information needed for this request.

"The City should have some input on this plan," said Short. "We don’t have City approval of the plan. I don’t know who will administer the grant, I don’t know how this grant works or who will be liable for it."

Committee member Ronnie Wells said he hated to see us loose a $100,000 grant.

"Don’t we have extra money this year," asked Wells?

Tom Short replied that the budget for next year will be alot like this year.

"The budget is tight," said Short. "We have the computer work for $14,000, the City’s medical insurance is increasing by 20-30% this year and we still have the roundabout plan to do."

Committee Chair and Kellogg Lake Board member Jackie Boyer ask the committee to amend the City Council’s agenda for Tuesday to include a presentation on the Kellogg Lake Board’s DNR grant. Boyer also ask Board member Jo Ellis to provide a resolution regarding the funds for improvements and matching grants to the City Council meeting.

The majority of the committee agreed to forward this issue to the Council.

Committee member Bill Fortune disagreed and stated that this was the first he had heard on this issue. Fortune stated there was a lack of timing on the Kellogg Board’s behalf.

In other business, the committee discussed at length the projected 5 year Capitol Improvement Plans by the City’s department heads.

Public Works Director Craig Menees has projected $7,217,660 over the next 5 years; Carthage Fire Department Chief John Cooper projected $481,675; Parks Department Director Alan Bull has projected $1,042,172; Carthage Police Department Chief Dennis Veach projected $523,893; Street Department Commissioner Tom Shelley projected $899,800; City Clerk Lynn Campbell projected $103,000; and City Administrator Tom Short projected $33,213 for Memorial Hall improvements.

‘Course the really good arguments are when both sides are right. Those are the ones that are the tough calls.

Should the City spend money on streets or police or fire prevention or the parks system and how much will be much discussed in the upcomin’ budget sessions.

Then there are those that are harder to define like economic development and basic quality of life services that make the community an attractive place to live.

The beginnin’s of the annual budget effort was held last Monday. The outline of the departments’ five year capital plan stretched into a three hour meeting.

‘Course the presentation is the easy part, comin’ up with the funds for the proposed projects and equipment will take a little more time.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing

Here's a Tip.

will resume next week.