CALLAWAY – Commissioner Melba Covey should be the driver of discussion at both Callaway’s budget meeting 5:01 p.m. Monday and Commission meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Covey vowed after the last budget meeting, Sept. 10, that she would try to convince the commission to keep the city’s millage rate at 2.25. The commission approved, 3-1, the rollback rate of 2.77 at the last meeting. Commissioner Bob Pelletier was absent at the previous meeting. He will be back on Monday and is definitely siding with Covey.
“It’s a shame. I’m going to ask the city manager for a hard justification,” Pelletier said. “Every time we look at something we have waste. It’s sad to raise taxes and not have a handle on city expenses. I’m hoping one of the commissioners see the light.”
Residents were somewhat split on the issue at the previous meeting. Planning Board Member David Griggs was in favor of the rollback rate. Residents Bill Brown, Janice Jennings and Jean Champoux were all against the millage increase.
“If you want to elevate the temperature of the conversation, mention water rates and property taxes,” Brown said at the last meeting.
For the regular commission, Covey has posed an agenda item to discuss the city’s contract with Infrastructure Corporation of America. At the Sept. 9 meeting, Callaway approved a contract with ICA for $7,090, $3,844 less than the Florida Department of Transportation paid Callaway for right of way maintenance last year. Covey said she talked with Springfield Mayor Ralph Hammond and Lynn Haven Mayor Walter Kelly and that neither city was planning to accept the contract from ICA.
City Manager Michael Fuller received an email from ICA representative Greg Free who said Callaway will receive roughly $130 per mile, which is the same rate proposed to Springfield. Fuller has argued that ICA, which is contractually responsible to the state to maintain rights of way, will not maintain them to FDOT standards, promising only seven mows and 12 trash pickups annually. Fuller produced an estimate that right of way costs on Tyndall Parkway will cost $10,943 a year.
Covey proposes that the city allow the shoddy maintenance to provide ammunition for complaints, which will eventually mount and force the state to eliminate ICA’s contract
In other business, the commission will discuss:
· Cutting hours for city employees to 40 a week instead of 50. Fuller has argued that the hours at city hall are the problems for utility billing clerks. The commission previously voted to have the city on a five-day work week instead of a four-day schedule.
· An organizational chart for all city employees. The now vacant finance director position is the highest paid in the city with a $51,512 minimum salary and a $87,570 maximum salary and a maintenance worker is the lowest paid at a minimum of $16,307 and maximum of $27,722
· Contract with the Collections Bureau for delinquent water bills. The Collections Bureau is requesting 30 percent of every amount collected. They reported that they have collected $55,483 for the city since 2005 on $443,121 of delinquent water bills.
· A database of contracts with the city as requested by Pelletier. The largest annual contract wit the city is with the Sheriff’s office for $1,406,219. The city also pays Fire Services Protection in Southport $115,003 and Bay County Animal Control $135,095.
· Final reading for land use and zoning changes at 5623 Wallace Road. Christopher Walker plans to relocate his electrical business to the location, currently zoned low density residential.
