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Tampa City Council approves budget

Contributing writer

A budget hearing preceded the Tampa city council meeting Aug. 8, but no citizens came to present questions or protests concerning the 2007 budget. Mayor Jim Clemmer explained the city was required to pass an ordinance stating that taxes have been raised, even though the mill levy is exactly the same as last year. A rise in assessed valuation will generate more income for the city without a raise in the mill levy. After some discussion, Paul Backhus moved to pass the ordinance. On a second from Tim Svoboda the motion carried.

Dan Holub, county commissioner, introduced Bobbi Strait, the new head of Marion County Planning and Zoning. She informed the council that she is a certified building inspector willing to offer her services to inspect new construction at the owner's request or to assess storm damage.

Clemmer asked Strait how much space is required for a septic tank and laterals. The city is considering building rest rooms at the ball field, and the septic tank might be more feasible than connecting to the sewer system. This potential project is still in the fact-finding phase with no decision made to go ahead with it. Strait recommended a 1,000-gal. tank and 100 feet of laterals.

As usual, the conversation with Holub turned to road conditions.

"The new machine we're using is working real well," said Holub. "The thickness is controlled by computer, so you don't get the variations we got when we did it by hand."

Renee Rhodes from the Insurance Management Association, which oversees workman's compensation, talked to the council about safety issues and procedures in case of injury to an employee.

The mayor told the council the elevator wants to begin clearing Fourth Street. "I need a motion to authorize the elevator to move vehicles in the street and trim trees obstructing the street." Paul Backhus moved, and Tom Moldenhauer seconded to allow said action.

"Are we going to buy culverts for the streets?" Clemmer asked.

Paul Backhus reported that Wilbert Backhus had given him a price quote from a Salina company for $14.05 per foot for 15-inch culvert.

"We already had a quote of $14.50 for that heavy metal culvert," Clemmer remarked. He added that culverts could be obtained from the county for roughly $9 for concrete and $11 for metal, delivered.

In discussing places where culverts have deteriorated, the council arrived at a consensus that some places could be repaired instead of replacing the entire culvert. They decided to get a 30-foot length of galvanized culvert and six feet for repairs from the county.

The mayor asked Ron Mueller, fire chief, to clean out the culverts with the fire hose. "Just make a note of where you want them blown out," Mueller replied.

Mueller attended the meeting to update the council on the fire district's efforts to get a tornado siren which could be activated by telephone. There are still some questions to be explored regarding the cost of different options. The district hopes the city will pay for the installation and split the monthly cost of service with the fire district. Action was postponed until more complete information is obtained.

The mayor asked about a clean-up day, and the consensus was to let him set up a day with the transfer station, preferably in September.

Cody Steele had approached the mayor with an offer to trim the trees in the park as a community service. "Let's have him trim out the dead trees and branches," Willis Herbel suggested. The council agreed.

Clemmer said two of the ceiling fans in the senior center are not working. He had talked to an electrician, who recommended replacing all of the fans, since they have been there for a long time and are showing wear. He said he would have an opportunity to check on prices. Svoboda moved, and Backhus seconded to have the mayor check on prices and related information and report to the next meeting. The motion carried.

The mayor told the council Frank Stika has been mowing the parking lot next to the park and suggested paying him for that service. Svoboda moved and Herbel seconded to pay him $100 for this summer's mowing work. The motion carried.

Among the bills approved for payment were $70 to repair the door to the city office and $500 for preparing the budget.

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