Pittsburg approves 2009 budget

Pittsburg will spend more than $37 million in 2009, though Jon Garrison said that number was deceiving.
Pittsburg City Commissioners passed the budget following a short public hearing at Tuesday night’s meeting. The budget shows an increase of close to $1.3 million over the 2008 budget.
But Garrison, Pittsburg director of finance, said about $900,000 of that increase was made up of paying off bonds on the police and fire station, which is essentially paid through a flow-through created by the 1/2 cent sales tax. The other $400,000 or so will be used to deal with increasing insurance and utility costs.
The mill levy stayed the same as last year.
Commissioner Marty Beezley said she had her concerns about the budget, ranging from the reduction in debt service from 10 mills to eight mills to the rising costs of insurance claims and overtime hours in the police and fire departments. She also said the city needed to look at maintenance workers who were working for below market salary.
John Van Gorden, interim city manager, said two goals included upping the city’s cash reserve and getting those workers’ salaries upgraded.
All five commissioners attended the meeting. In other business, Pittsburg City Commissioners will vote on:
• approved a petition and authorizing resolution for the Pittsburg State University sanitary sewer. The sewer started when Russ Hall was constructed back in 1907, and has seen problems from both the expanded use of the sewer and the lack of maintenance. It now runs from Lindburg to Cleveland in the alley directly west of Broadway.
When installing the new public sanitary sewer section, the existing alignment will be relocated to utilize existing easements. Other parts of the existing sewer will be quickly replaced with little disruption to PSU’s campus.
• approved the estimated fees provided by Professional Engineering Consultants, P.A., for construction administration and construction inspection services for the Manhole Rehabilitation Project Year 5 and the Cleaning and TV Inspection project.
• reconsidered purchasing a 2008 jet aircraft refueler. Commissioners talked about possibly adding a used refueler, but in the end elected to stick with last meeting’s decision to proceed with a new one.
• sent a request to rezone 601 W. Martin from R-1B single family residential to R-1C single family residential back to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The request was submitted by Kevan Schupbach.
• approved a request to rezone 309 N. Joplin from IP-2 planned medium industrial to CP-2 planned general commercial. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the request submitted by Holiday Terrace, LLC. Todd Kennemer, assistant public works director, said the plan was to build a car wash in the area.
• approved two ordinances levying special assessments against property owners who had the city come out and deal with various nuisances.
• approved the appointment of Sara Henry to the board of zoning appeals.
• approved a Cereal Malt Beverage license for the El Rancho Mexican Restaurant, 2420 S. Broadway.

Kevin Flaherty can be reached at kevin.flaherty@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 Ext. 134.