Budget, sewer proposals headed for council
In the News
The Maryville City Council gathers for its first regular session in May at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
Most of the agenda appears fairly routine, however topics listed for open discussion — meaning that no ordinance is under consideration — include efforts to encourage property owners to work with the city in decreasing storm water inflow into the sanitary sewer system.
In the past, such discussion items have sometimes led the council in new directions or served to pinpoint emerging issues and priorities.
As for regular business, the council is expected to consider several amendments to the 2016-2017 budget.
The changes reflect the need to account for debt financing related to construction of the Mozingo Lake Recreation Park conference center. Other revisions pertain to new revenue in the form of grants from the Gladys Rickard Charitable Trust.
Amendments also cover the decision by the Parks & Recreation Board to outsource the mowing of city parks; the addition of a Transient Guest Tax Fund embracing revenues earmarked for tourism and economic development; modification of the TIF Fund to reflect a new voter-approved eighth-of-a-cent sales tax; modification of the Water/Wastewater Fund to account for an ongoing water meter replacement project; modification of the Mozingo Recreation Fund to reflect debt financing related to conference center construction; and the addition of a new Conference Center Construction Fund that will track both debt proceeds and revenue from the one-eighth-cent sales tax.
According to municipal documents, the amendments will result in revenue and expenditure increases as follows: General Fund, $403,738; Parks & Recreation Fund, $20,048; TIF Fund, $8,085; Water/Wastewater Fund, $3.1 million; Mozingo Recreation Fund, $230,000; Transient Guest Tax Fund, $102,500; and the Conference Center Construction Fund, $4.9 million.
A second ordinance calls for the execution of a proposed contract with Visu-Sewer Inc. for sewer main lining efforts.
The council budgeted $500,000 this year for projects designed to reduce inflow and infiltration of storm water into the sanitary sewer system and received two bids.
Visu-Sewer is the apparent low bidder at $342,000 with SAK Construction coming in slightly higher at $409,000. Staff is recommending acceptance of the Visu-Sewer bid, which would leave nearly $160,000 in budgeted funds available for additional sewer upgrades.
Proposed work embraces more than 2.5 miles of pipe identified during citywide smoke testing conducted earlier.
Also proposed for council approval is a resolution accepting Volunteer Avenue, which serves the Southview apartment complex south of Wal-Mart, as part of the city’s street system.
Acceptance is subject to a two-year review period designed to ensure that construction meets with municipal standards and that any needed repairs have been made.
