Budgets and Audits
By PJ Martin
Editor
The Herald-News
The Edmonton City Council met in regular session on Monday, June 2nd at the Edmonton City Hall with a quorum present. Everyone was in attendance except council member Tommy England and Parks & Recreation Director Brian Garrett.
The minutes from the May 5th regular meeting were approved as written.
Jeff Carter from the accounting firm of Taylor, Polson, & Company was scheduled to present the 2023-24 Audit results; however, Mayor Doug Smith related, “He stated that he would make plans to be here when we have a special call meeting for the second reading of the budget if it was this Friday.”
The first reading of Ordinance #2024-25-11 Amending the General Fund Budget was next on the agenda. The ordinance amends budget Ordinance #2024-2025-01 for FY July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025. The following items were amended:
Increase estimated appropriation to the general fund by $35,000 for the Senior Center Renovation.
Increase estimated appropriation to the general fund by $9,717 for Edmonton Memorial Park HVAC and Signage.
Increase estimated appropriation to the general fund by $8,740 for Senior Center HVAC
Increase estimated appropriation to the general fund by $7,314 for Chamber of Commerce HVAC
Increase estimated appropriation to general fund by $17,000 for City legal expenses – Open records request
Increase estimated appropriation to the general fund by $3,000 for Police Department – Contract labor – City Hall security
The motion to approve the amendment ordinance was made by Council Member Teresa Hamlett, seconded by Council Member Cathy Nunn, and all approved.
Renovation Bids
Mayor Smith informed the council, “We received bids for the City Hall renovation last Wednesday. There was one bid that came in for the construction and hardware combined, but was not submitted properly; therefore, we’ll need to review the construction portion. There were two bids received for the hardware, one from Shiller Hardware in the amount of $50,840 and one from Inspired Technologies in the amount of $64,870.19.”
“My recommendation is to reject both bids and rebid once the construction part of the project is complete.”
The motions were made and approved to rebid.
Mayor Smith explained the next item, “We have received the approved Edmonton Dispatch 911, Interlocal Agreement back from the Department of Local Government and their recorded copy from the Secretary of State. The budget you will be looking to approve establishes the department and sets the pay scale. Included in your packets are the job descriptions for each position…”
Budget Message
Mayor Smith next presented his budget message. He noted that the unemployment rate in Metcalfe County was 4.3% and 5.5% for the state in February, and added that the city would continue to support shopping at local small businesses.
He noted that the CERS pension contribution requirement has decreased; however, the health insurance premiums have increased by 7%. The city is still waiting for the prices of Property, Liability, and Works’ Comp insurance costs.
The budget allows for the security updates to City Hall and some office furniture replacement. He stated that an extension was filed for the CDB Grant in the amount of $750,000 due to waiting to hear back from the ARC Grant to fund the remainder of the Community Center and amphitheater in the Edmonton Memorial Park.
Each department has requested funds in the budget for needed items such as vehicles, meter replacements, pumps, and road brine distributor. Funds have been budgeted for the water, sewer, and gas department improvements, and seeking a grant for the wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
The Edmonton-Metcalfe 911 will be included in this budget for the first time and the various other contributions are also included. The employee benefits will remain the same, and a cost-of-living increase of 50 cents has been added for all employees. The merit pay increase will be based on employee evaluations.
The first reading of Ordinance #2025-26-01 for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget was approved. A special called meeting will be held on Friday to hold the second reading.
Department Reports
Monthly reports were presented by Public Works Superintendent Moe Hensley, and ABC Administrator Fred Ray. Parks & Recreation Director Brian Garrett’s report was included in everyone’s folders.
Edmonton Fire Chief Jerry Clemmons reported that the fire department made 14 runs in May consisting of 9 medical runs, 1 lift assist, 1 tree down on a power line, 1 non-injury accident, and 2 fires.
Police Chief David Robertson presented the department’s May activity as 17 arrests, 5 non-injury accidents, 3 alarms, 10 animal complaints, 2 domestic disturbances, 3 EPOs served, opened 2 investigations, 8 motorist assists, 6 medical calls, 4 drug complaints, 75 traffic stops, served 10 warrants, 4 funeral escorts, 1 ball team escort, 53 complaints, and wrote 36 citations. They also patrolled 4,888 miles.
Attorney Updates
City Attorney Brian Pack began, “You asked me to spend a little bit more time looking over the ordinance on street, legal, specific purpose vehicles for the Kentucky legislature this past session had enacted a law that if cities wanted to allow these specifically defined vehicles to operate on our street. We could allow that, or we could say, no, they can’t be on there…just so you know, we do have an ordinance from 2018 that allows UTVs. (Ordinance 2018-19-02)
There are requirements to use the vehicles on the streets and these are listed in KRS 186.077. In order to update to the new legislation, the old Ordinance 2018-19-02 was repealed by a unanimous vote. The new Ordinance #2024-25-12 drafted by Attorney Pack was then approved unanimously.
Pack requested an executive session per KRS 61.810(1)(c) for litigation purposes and after the motions, the council went into a closed session for approximately 20 minutes. Upon return, there was no action taken.
Jeff Carter with Taylor, Polson,& Company. Photo | PJ Martin
With no other items on the agenda and no other business, the meeting adjourned.
Second Readings
A special called meeting occurred on Friday, June 6th, with all council members in attendance.
Jeff Carter of Taylor Polson & Company was in attendance as well to present the results of the 2023-2024 Audit to the council.
Carter began by stating, “In our opinion, the financial statement priorly involved with their respects and respect, the financial position of governmental activities.”
In other words, it is a clean opinion. He went on to explain several aspects of the audit.
The second reading of Ordinance #2024-25-11 Amending the General Fund Budget passed with no discussion.
The second reading of Ordinance #2025-26-01 for the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget also passed with no further discussion.
With no other items on the agenda, the meeting was adjourned.
