Budget gets spot review

The Moorcroft Town Council called a special meeting last Thursday evening to get a report from Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Schneider on the quarterly overview of the town’s budget to date.

The conversation began with a rundown on the added cost to the town for road work needed on Campbell Street and Big Horn Avenue in the coming weeks. Also included in the needed upgrades are the drainage issues along the alley east of the fire hall and west of the post office, to be funded through the town’s third specific cent tax fund.

The cemetery road is high on that list and Councilman Ben Glenn has been advocating the need to upgrade the roadway: “I talked to some people who are willing to help us out with that and it will be done right and it shouldn’t cost the town much money at all. They’re in town with equipment and they care about this town.” He said they will recover at least the first 300 feet as a first phase right away.

The projects further out on the list include a splash park at Noonan. However, the council voiced their desire to see new bathrooms installed much sooner than the water works. “[Even] if it takes us five years to get a splash park,” said Glenn, “I think we need a restroom.”

At the request of Mayor Dick Claar, Schneider informed the council that the remaining balance in that account is $211,785 before the anticipated remaining invoices are paid, after which the Mayor estimates an approximate $170,000.

Schneider reported that the operating budget revenues are currently “spot on” with no major changes. The expenditures, though, shows one issue: the town received several invoices from HDR Engineering from the 2017/2018 fiscal year that were presented and paid in the 2018/2019 budget, “Our engineering fees are already at 90 percent [of the amount budgeted]. We’re not over, we’re just up there.”

The mayor advised that future engineering bills that come in can be withdrawn from the third specific cent tax fund when related to infrastructure projects and Schneider assured him that she does that for project related fees, but these are for work not associated with any project.

“It’s stuff we have to have done, but just keep it in mind when you look at [that] and ask why are we at 90 percent,” she said.

The water testing was also already at 130 percent of the budgeted line item for this fiscal year due to extra testing the DEQ is mandating from the town. Public Works Director Cory Allison said he has written to the agency asking for consideration as the cost is prohibitive.

“They don’t have any records for when the Madison well first kicked on [after replacing the pumps this spring] so they’re making us redo all of that. We have to test multiple times a month beyond what we’re already testing,” he said.

The water and sewer accounts are reading over budget, but the project payments will not reflect correctly until later in the year. With no questions or comments, the meeting was adjourned.