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ARMA —
The Arma City Council passed its Fiscal 2013 budget Monday night.
The budget totals $3,165, 980, and allows for $441,820 in expenditures for the general fund, $280,000 for employee benefits, $100,000 for the special highway fund, and $1,548,100 for electric utility.
The council voted 4-0; Don Zornes and Chris Pommier were not present.
The council also discussed the possibility of \ acquiring Rural Water District No. 7 in Franklin.
Arma has been selling water wholesale to the district, which then supplies residents in and around Franklin.
Council member Buddy Bualle said the district’s board approached the city about the possibility of taking over control of the district.
It would mean that the city would take ownership of all of the district’s assets, including cash in the bank and water lines.
It also means the city would take over the district’s indebtedness of about $80,000.
But that’s OK, city manager Troy Graham said.
The district’s cash amounts to slightly less than it owes, though he wasn’t certain of the exact amount.
Over time, because Franklin residents pay a higher rate for their water than Arma residents — an average of about $22.16 per month for Franklin residents compared to about $15.49 in Arma — the venture will become profitable for the city, Bualle said.
Council member Rock Anderson said council members had done due diligence in researching the endeavor.
“It should be a profitable acquisition,” Anderson said. “Otherwise we wouldn’t be talking about it. It’s good for Franklin and it’s good for Arma. It’s win-win for everyone.”
The board directed Graham and City Clerk Bette Lessen to research the project further, as well as whether the city should use money to fund an additional full-time employee to handle to water acquisition or to fund an additional police officer, and to report to the council at its next meeting in two weeks.
Also Monday, Graham told the council that preparations for Arma’s annual V-J Day Homecoming celebration are set to begin.
“Next week the guys will be hot and heavy setting up electricity and equipment,” Graham said.
Arma Police Chief Al Combs said the mobile command post will arrive Thursday, Aug. 16.
The Arma City Council passed its Fiscal 2013 budget Monday night.
The budget totals $3,165, 980, and allows for $441,820 in expenditures for the general fund, $280,000 for employee benefits, $100,000 for the special highway fund, and $1,548,100 for electric utility.
The council voted 4-0; Don Zornes and Chris Pommier were not present.
The council also discussed the possibility of \ acquiring Rural Water District No. 7 in Franklin.
Arma has been selling water wholesale to the district, which then supplies residents in and around Franklin.
Council member Buddy Bualle said the district’s board approached the city about the possibility of taking over control of the district.
It would mean that the city would take ownership of all of the district’s assets, including cash in the bank and water lines.
It also means the city would take over the district’s indebtedness of about $80,000.
But that’s OK, city manager Troy Graham said.
The district’s cash amounts to slightly less than it owes, though he wasn’t certain of the exact amount.
Over time, because Franklin residents pay a higher rate for their water than Arma residents — an average of about $22.16 per month for Franklin residents compared to about $15.49 in Arma — the venture will become profitable for the city, Bualle said.
Council member Rock Anderson said council members had done due diligence in researching the endeavor.
“It should be a profitable acquisition,” Anderson said. “Otherwise we wouldn’t be talking about it. It’s good for Franklin and it’s good for Arma. It’s win-win for everyone.”
The board directed Graham and City Clerk Bette Lessen to research the project further, as well as whether the city should use money to fund an additional full-time employee to handle to water acquisition or to fund an additional police officer, and to report to the council at its next meeting in two weeks.
Also Monday, Graham told the council that preparations for Arma’s annual V-J Day Homecoming celebration are set to begin.
“Next week the guys will be hot and heavy setting up electricity and equipment,” Graham said.
Arma Police Chief Al Combs said the mobile command post will arrive Thursday, Aug. 16.
