Lind Council approves 2018 budget
Last updated 1/11/2018 at Noon
During the Jan. 5 special meeting, the Lind Town Council approved the proposed 2018 budget, totaling $2,720,339.02.
The proposed budget was originally going to be an agenda item on the Dec. 28 meeting, but the meeting was postponed due to extreme weather. Clerk-Treasurer Kim Michaels informed council the Town received an extension to approve the budget in January.
Mayor Paula Bell explained the budgeting process took longer than expected because employees had to create three new accounts in the budget to account for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding the Town received in 2017.
She added the FEMA funds needed to be separate from the rest of the Town’s funding sources.
The proposed budget included a separate account for the FEMA and Washington Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) street repairs, which totaled $904,015.
Accounts were created for the FEMA Airport Repairs, which amounted to $133,656.06, and FEMA Sewer Repairs, which totaled $4,041.49.
Council member Jim Dworshak voiced his concern about passing the proposed budget due to the possibility of discrepancies and errors in the accounting during the year, which he said happened during 2017. He said he does not want accounting errors to occur in 2018.
Bell attributed some of the accounting errors to computer and software problems and said former Mayor Jamie Schmunk spent the two days working with BIAS to correct the issues.
Michaels said she also completed a system update, which also fixed the problems and noted the Town’s current system is fully functioning.
Michaels said software updates will depend on BIAS and how many system updates they issue. She added the company is beta testing an update for its software, and asked the Lind to participate.
Michaels said she declined the offer after contacting the City of Connell, which participated in the testing and had problems with the update.
As for the rest of the proposed budget, $278,950 was allocated for the Current Expense fund and $73,388.95 was designated for Streets.
A total of $837,927.44 was budgeted for the Water fund and $240,515 was allocated for the Sewer fund.
The town included $70,658 for the United States Department of Agricultural Rural Development fund, and $105,105 for the Garbage fund. A total of $37,515.38 was allocated for Vehicle Reserve.
In other business, Bell said she spoke with Public Works employees to learn about their duties and current concerns.
Once council committees are established, council members will be meeting and working with Public Works employees.
Bell also informed council Century West’s Steve Nelson will be contacting FEMA to see how the agency could help the Town with bridge and roadway repairs.
Michaels explained the Town underwent its bridge inspection from Adams County, which said there are some repairs needed to be made.
Bell said Nelson may be able to work with FEMA to help the Town acquire funding to pay for the bridge and roadway repairs.
Michaels added Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) contacted the Town to inform them of some repairs to the roadways leading up to the railroads.
Michaels said she spoke to BNSF personnel and explained employees could not complete work on the roadways due to the snow and ice.
BNSF provided the Town a May 31 deadline to complete the maintenance.
Bell also announced Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner will attend the Jan. 23 meeting and speak to council. She said Wagner wants to reintroduce himself to council and help the Town with ordinance enforcement.
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