CITY OF HOLLAND CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CITY HALL - 104 WEST TRAVIS Monday, July 12, 2004 6:00 PM  Minutes  The workshop was called to order by Mayor Curt Murray @ 6:00F P.M, on July 12, 2004. All council members were present, Sharon Simmons, Barbara Cockrum, Mae Smith, Eddie Bookman. Employees present were Chief Jeff Green, Richard Reaves, Paula Kreinheder, Peggy Tracy. Alton Thiele, CPA appeared and gave There was discussion with Richard Reaves, Utility Director about mowing. Shredder would cost about $1,000. The question was asked, ifv we had the mower and equipment could be do it with the existing personnel or would we have to have someone else (extra person) to do the mowing. The purchase of equipment would be less expensive than the constant hiring of additional personnel to do the job, though you would still have to have someone operate the equipment. Mae Smith stated that some years ago that 3 people used to do all the mowing. The Mayor said that he has been here since 98 and something has always been lacking as far the upkeep/mowing. The need for additional personnel, especially in the summer, was discussed to maintain mowing, roads, Filling position of city council seat. Mae suggested CR Syprian, Minister of the Baptist Church, Terry Crum. Sharon suggested Mickey Barabas. Eddie suggested Dan Grossman, Barbara Cockrum suggested Tony Sladechek, It was suggested that the person cares about the community and has the best interests in the citizens in town and is willing to donate his/her time. Thel Mayor said that Robert Franklin has also shown an interest in the council position.  his report on special audit at 8:30 PM.  water/sewer, machine maintenance.  Mr. Alton Thiele - Special Audit Report Financial Status of the City: Water/Sewer Rate Increases  There is a need to plan ahead as to how to build up some reserves. Future Revenues = property taxi increases. The Mayor related that the last Ifyou don't continue to raise your rates, and keep things current, it does not take much to get behind and then when something unusual happens then you are scrambling. Noted by a councilman, is that the school raises their rates every year and the City has not. The City's water costs have increased, as well as our  increase we had was in 1999, which was 4111.    fuel, and there have been other costs to the City. It was further discussed that for example, the City has taken on several Grants, which require matching funds/participation from the City itself where are these funds supposed to come from. Mr. Thiele stated that a lot of times these Grants may have decreasing participation, depending on whether it is a federal or state grant, which means the City will take on a bigger share and you wind up having cut some kind of service that the grant started. It was reported that there are other incidental costs, like newspaper notices, which the City pays for Mr. Thiele asked if the grant allocation for administrative costs. A council person said that she thought that matching funds consisted that efforts of the City including running ads in the newspaper were paid out of the grant, but that it always seemed that we were obligated to pay the Grant Writer, Leo Wood, with City Funds. Sharon asked Mr. Thiele, will the Council have a report by the Council Meeting on Monday of the City's financial status and he replied that we should be able to do that. The Plan is to reconcile June on Friday and re-format the accounting  set-up, and reconciling bank statements.  2