Budget Workshop
The Holmes County Board of Commissioners met in a Budget Workshop on the above date with the following members present: Commissioner Ron Monk, Commissioner Kenneth Williams, Commissioner Jim King, Commissioner Phillip Music, and Commissioner Monty Merchant, Chairman of the Board.
Alice Vickers, Deputy Clerk, was present and kept the minutes.
Chairman Merchant opened the meeting with prayer and led the pledge.
Chairman Merchant asked for permission to negotiate the fee with Metric Engineering, the firm chosen for “stimulus” funds projects. The Board agreed.
The following changes were made to the General Fund proposed budget:
Sheriff + $10,000
Building Department - $10,000
The following changes were made to the Transportation Trust proposed budget:
Eliminate Vacant Position in District 2 - $34,110
Additional Roll Forward (Site Preparation + $25,000
Payment from Emergency Operation Grant)
Surplus Auction –
Ann Payne, Recycling employee, spoke
with the Board regarding the operations of the
1 - Ms. Payne would poll customers
to see how many would agree to pay the monthly charge for cardboard pickup and
would report back to the Board on
2 - the route must generate enough revenue to fund a driver’s salary and benefits, fuel, and maintenance costs of the truck
3 - all
revenue generated by the
4 - a $25,000 annual baseline for revenue
5 - to consider raises for Recycling employees after the program is established and revenues cover all operating costs
The Board discussed that the Building Department’s roll forward was increased to $29,000 which would leave a balance of $10,000 for the Board to fund if the budget remains at $144,484. The Board discussed changing Mrs. Tink Brown’s position back to part-time to enable the department to operate within their revenues. Discussion also included raising the Building Department fees to increase revenue, paying a portion of Mrs. Brown’s salary from the Planning budget, or creating another part time position in the 911 department to allow her to work full time.
Commissioner Music offered a motion to keep Mrs. Brown full time with Commissioner King offering a second. The motion failed with Commissioners Music and King voting yes, Commissioners Monk, Williams, and Merchant voting no. Commissioner Merchant relinquished the chair to Vice-Chairman Music and offered a motion to change Mrs. Brown to twenty (20) hours per week. Commissioner Monk offered a second. The motion passed with Commissioners Monk, Williams, and Merchant voting yes, Commissioners King and Music voting no. Vice-Chairman Music relinquished the chair to Commissioner Merchant.
Commissioner King discussed combining the Shop Foreman position with a Mechanic Position to have a “working Foreman” and advised that it would save approximately $40,000. Commissioner King offered a motion to combine the two positions. Commissioner Music offered a second. Commissioners King and Music voted yes with Commissioners Monk, Williams, and Merchant voting no. The motion failed.
Mr. Hubert Hendrix, Shop Foreman, requested that all purchase orders for the Road Department should be approved by him since he is accountable to the Board for the budget. The Board agreed.
Commissioner King advised that Tri County Community Council was receiving a considerable amount of “stimulus” funds. Commissioner King offered a motion to eliminate funding for Tri County Community Council in the budget. The motion died for lack of a second.
Commissioner Williams discussed that since District 3 was getting a new grader, the old one could be sold as surplus to help balance the budget. Commissioner Williams offered a motion to declare the grader as surplus and to set the lowest acceptable bid to $48,000. Commissioner Monk offered a second. Commissioner Williams rescinded his motion with Commissioner Monk rescinding his second. Commissioner Williams offered a motion to declare the grader as surplus and to set the lowest acceptable bid to $60,000. Commissioner Monk offered a second. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Williams offered a motion to take $10,000 from the sale of the grader and add it to the Sheriff’s budget. Commissioner Music offered a second. Commissioner Williams, King, Music, and Merchant voted yes with Commissioner Monk voting no. The motion passed.
Mr. Bobby Bryant asked that the County parks be cleaned up and that a deputy stop by occasionally to ensure that the rules are followed.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
__________________________________ ____________________________________
Clerk Chairman