County considers transfer station's budget
Encumbers funds for 2003
When it comes to budgeting for a new county department, the process of determining revenue and expenditures is anything but exact, as Marion County Commissioners learned Dec. 31.
Commissioners reviewed, during their final meeting of the year, a projected 2003 budget for the county-owned transfer station.
David Brazil, transfer station manager, said he had included money in a capital outlay fund for restroom improvement and painting. However, those amounts were just estimates because he had not taken bids.
Commissioners noted nothing was in the budget for equipment replacement — for instance, a new yard tractor.
"You should put something in with capital improvement equipment," said Commissioner Leroy Wetta.
County Clerk Carol Maggard suggested waiting and seeing how much money comes in during the next few weeks before making any equipment decisions. She noted the new department would not have any money until after the first distribution on Jan. 20.
"You'll want to see incoming receipts and expenditures. We can set this up in the system as a working budget. Then you'll see a January report just like any other department budge," Maggard said.
"You could see how receipts go then set your own equipment budget later in the year," she added.
Encumbrances
"I hate coming in here on this day," Maggard said as she presented information to commissioners regarding moneys the various department officials wished to carry over or encumber from the 2002 budget year into 2003.
Commissioners approved:
— From the county general fund (computer equipment): An encumbrance of $1,872 to upgrade a 56K line to a 512K line for Internet access; a $4,170 encumbrance for a Microsoft small business server to handle interagency correspondence, e-mail accounts and other services. They also approved a $10,000 encumbrance to go toward the purchase of Infinitic RVI (Real Vision Imaging).
— A $5,000 encumbrance from the county clerk's fund to finish a remodeling project. Maggard said the money would be used to purchase new chairs with remaining money rolling back to the general fund.
When they questioned the amount of the encumbrance, Maggard said commissioners would see bids for the chairs before they were purchased.
— Approved a $2,000 encumbrance apiece from the clerk, register of deeds, treasurer and appraisers' offices for RVI.
— Approved a $2,495 from the county treasurer's fund for an Infinitec tax search module (website).
— Approved a $6,000 encumbrance from the register of deeds (tech) for Infinitic document management software.
— Approved a $1,242 encumbrance from transfer station solid waste fund for the purchase of miscellaneous tools.
— Approved a $10,000 encumbrance for the county's planning and zoning department to pay the consultant's fees.
— Approved a $1,250 encumbrance out of the election fund for Maggard to purchase a computer to replace one that is "dying."
— Approved a $1,110 encumbrance from the Noxious Weed Department to purchase a flat bed from the Circle D Corp.
— Approved a $17,900.93 encumbrance from the park fund to purchase fish, brochures, permits, and a sickle bar mower.
— Approved an encumbrance from the appraisers' office for the following: $4,000 to Mid-Kan Blueline to provide PVD-GIS training; $3,000 for new CAMA licensing/equipment; and $2,495 for an Infinitec parcel search module for the website.
— Approved a $20,000 encumbrance from special bridge fund to purchase three box culverts.
Also, the commission voted to unemcuber $1,000 from emergency management funds since the money is no longer needed for the printing of the emergency management plan.
In other matters:
— The commission approved a payday figure of $816,381.71.
— Commissioners heard that $36,901.34 had been collected in sales tax for 2002 as of October.
— Commissioners approved a cereal malt beverage license for Canada Bait Shop.
— Voted to contract with Infinitec for development of a county website with no financial commitments coming from the 2003 budget. The main module and one year hosting fees are free. Commissioners delegated one person to oversee the site, making sure all information is current. They delegated Maggard, along with Lloyd Davies from Great Plains Computing and Networking.
— Directed Michele Abbott-Becker, communications/emergency management director, to visit with the county attorney about the proper tagging of the vehicle recently purchased for use by emergency management.
Abbott-Becker tagged the vehicle as a regular vehicle and not with a county tag. When questioned, Abbott-Becker said she was told by vehicle department personnel and the county treasurer it could be done either way.
Commissioners indicated they would prefer having county-owned vehicles tagged as such.
— Decided that Leroy Wetta would represent the county on a water quality advisory board, rather than Commissioner Howard Collett as previously determined.
— Approved a fuel bid for $6,578.78 to Cardie Oil, Inc., Tampa, and approved a $100,000 transfer from the Road and Bridge fund to Special Equipment.
