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Harris cuts treasurer position to save moneyBy Danielle Strenke The Harris City Council held a closed meeting to conduct performance reviews for city personnel following its regular council meeting Thursday, Feb. 5. Based on a recommendation from City Attorney Kevin Shoeberg, the council voted unanimously to cut the position of city treasurer. Mayor Richard Hanson said it was a surprise to receive the recommendation to cut a position at the city, but the council knew it was an option. ìWe asked the attorney in January to look for ways to cut back on expenditures,î he said. ìWe have to look carefully at spending because of other issues coming up like the water treatment facility.î City Treasurer Cheri Vant was given the option of finishing out the two-week notice, but declined. Her last day with the city was Thursday. Shoeberg told the council that the city could realize a savings of $10,000 to $15,000 by eliminating the treasurer position. The duties of the treasurer, which include water and sewer billing, will now be combined with duties performed by City Clerk Kim Hugger. Hugger said it would be an adjustment, but one that would be easier because she had taken over the treasurerís duties when the previous treasurer resigned. Hugger was given a $4,000 raise for 2004, reflecting the additional duties along with a 1 percent raise of her previous salary. Despite the immediate cost savings to the city, Hanson said it was a ìtough thing to do.î The council also approved a new fee schedule for building inspections. The city will now receive 40 percent of fees collected by City Building Inspector Steve Thorp through building inspections. Hanson said the city will continue to scrutinize expenditures as costs for major projects and equipment are coming up in the next year. The council was told in January that the planning phase for the water treatment plant is estimated at $90,000. ìThe planning phase needs to start whether we know about obtaining grants or not,î Hanson said. He is hopeful that the city will qualify for various grants on the project to offset some of the total cost. At Thursdayís meeting, the council also approved going out for bids on a new equipment van for the fire department, a cost that Hanson said is estimated at around $90,000, which would be amortized over a 10-year period. Water, sewer rates increase The council approved rate increases for residential and business water and sewer rates through the rest of 2004. Water usage rates will increase from $48 per quarter in 2003 to $66 this year for both residential and commercial use. The 1,000-gallon surcharge increases from $3 to $3.11. With similar rate increase projections through 2010, the city still anticipates a deficit in its water account by 2007 and in the sewer account by 2008. ©ECM Post Review |