The City of Fredericktown began their annual budget work sessions last Saturday. They asked for any  public comments regarding the budget to be made between 10 AM and Noon during the open meeting. They continued the meeting after a one hour lunch break, but did not accept public comments in the afternoon session, although the meeting remained open to the public.

The majority of the first hour was discussion regarding personnel and salaries.  Mayor Karen Yates said the City is in much better (financial) shape than last year, but things still remain very tight. Yates said the City budgeted higher for expenses and lower for revenues without throwing the whole thing out of balance. In this way the budget will be more representative of the needs of the City and the revenues available to pay for them. However, she did not take claim for the work.

Yates went on to say that Finance Manager Chris Wienecke, “Did an excellent job!” working on the 2008 budget.

Ward III Alderman Mark Tripp asked about future hiring needs the City may have and how that could be a problem if money is not available. He said the City is already working with less employees than they need. The City has supplemented the shortage with the prisoner labor program. O’Gara said the City choose to hire, only about two employees could be considered. Along with the salary and benefits, the $84,000 would be spent.

Electrical Department Manager Don Wasson spoke to the Council regarding employees already employed for the City. He pointed out the employees have been working and remaining on the job while the City dealt with tough financial times They have not left to get higher pay. However, some are right on the edge of leaving now. Wasson said, “ We can’t afford to lose any of them now!” Most of the employees are well trained. Wasson said, “ Everybody’s pulled together and took on more responsibilities. I think they’ve earned it (a raise).” Council agreed that the City is underpaying employees compared to other localities.

Ward I Alderman Brandon Hale said he was concerned about the flat rate raises that were proposed in the budget.  He was concerned the City may not be able to meet the future financial needs once the pay raises were in place.  Hale made it clear that he believed the City workers all do good work and deserved to receive higher pay. He pointed out  two examples saying electrical department employees are out in the rain-storms working on electrical lines and the water department works in very cold and wet conditions at anytime they are called upon to do so. Hale said, “All of the employees are definitely worth more than what their raises show here.” But he was concerned that approving a raise now could financial strap the City in the future. City Administrator Michael O’Gara tried to put the raises in perspective. He said the raises amount to about $84,000 and are about 1% of the overall budget.

Council then went on to hear a presentation from Andrew Green of New Era Bank and Wesley Royer of First State Community Bank regarding the Fredericktown and Madison County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is considering a hiring committee for the position of executive director and invite the City to participate. He pointed out many of the cities he looked at who have full time directors have a higher percentage of success in businesses attracted to their area and those that remain open. Green said, “There are a lot of good things going on in the City.”  He said the Chamber needs support and he believes the City needs support. Green speculated that local businesses will provide more support if they see the City providing more support for the Chamber. Green said the Chamber has only 100 members currently, but the City has 224 business licenses.  Green said he could see the potential for increase membership in the Chamber if the City could help by earmarking funds in the new budget for the Chamber. Ward III Alderman Mark Tripp said he thinks the idea of a  director is a good idea, but questioned why  a full time director is needed. He said the City has three places to turn for economic support and development: Economic Developer Jim Dismuke, The Industrial Development Authority, in which the city has already allocated some support and Community Development Specialist Robert Sullivan. Green said the Chamber needs a full time director to provide information to anyone calling the Chamber. Currently the Chamber is only open four hours a day on weekdays. Anyone calling after the Chamber is closed would get an answering machine. Green said a full time director would be available to take the calls and answer any questions the prospective clients may have. The Chamber could help the City by providing more tourism information and provide demographics for the callers if they are interested in moving to the area.

Ward I Alderman Paul Fritch asked if it is common practice for a fourth class city like Fredericktown to have a full time director. No one could definitively answer his question.

Green said the Chamber may have a membership drive this Fall.  Royer said the director would have to have a focus on the business community and that he would ask the City to do the hiring since he has little experience with the hiring process. Yates pointed out the Board of Aldermen could not commit any funds for the director beyond one year. The Chamber will ask the county for support as well.

In other discussions heard by the audience;

Alderman Hale mentioned that people call him and tell him they don't like the idea that some get an "estimated" bill rather than having the meter actually read:  Hale said the reasons for this are:

a.  Some people have a dog chained to the meter and the meter reader cannot/willnot get close enough to see the actual numbers.  Animal control has been called, but unless the people are home, there is nothing animal control can do to get the dog out of the way of the meter reader.

b.  During the winter, sometimes the lid on the water meter is frozen shut and the meter reader cannot get to it.

c. According to ordinance, all meters must be easily read with no obstructions blocking the meter, such as  bushes,  etc.

There was considerable discussion about how to make the Parks Department generate enough money to pay for itself. 

 There will be a chili cook-off on October 13, 2007 with the proceeds going to purchase a new Jaws of Life for the Fredericktown Fire Department, the cost of which is estimated at $40,000.  They have a Jaws now, but it is old, much heavier than the new ones. There was also a discussion about placing a bronze plaque at the Fire Department to honor the late Darryl Asher’s many years of service to the department and the Fredericktown community. Update to follow in the Democrat News.