Breckenridge Texan

Breckenridge City Commissioners approve budget adjustments, purchase of street sweeper, ball park leases

Breckenridge City Commissioners approve budget adjustments, purchase of street sweeper, ball park leases
July 11
10:33 2020

The Breckenridge City Commissioners approved several items, including the purchase of a street sweeper for the City, a new lease for the ball parks and an update to the City Budget, at their regular meeting on Tuesday, July 7.

Street Sweeper

Interim City Manager of Operations Houston Satterwhite explains to the commissioners about the street sweeper he wants to buy for the city. The commissioners approved the purchase. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The street sweeper, a 2007 Freightliner M2 Business Class with Elgin Cross Wind Series J, will cost the City $25,000, plus the cost of some repairs. According to information from Eileen Hayman, the city’s attorney, the purchase can come out of the street maintenance tax funds and will not be taken from the City’s general funds.

Houston Satterwhite, Interim City Manager of Operations for the City of Breckenridge, said he recently inspected the street sweeper in San Antonio and that it’s in good shape, needing a few gaskets replaced on the mechanical pieces that sweep.

“$25,000 is a lot cheaper than the $115,000 we were thinking about,” he said. “So, for $30,000 in, we can go back to getting our streets maintained, curb and gutter cleaned, downtown looking good…This is just an opportunity that doesn’t come along very often.”

Satterwhite said that since the machine can only be used the maintain the streets, the street tax can be used for the purchase. The street maintenance fund is set to about $580,000, he said.

“If you can get it out of the funds you’re talking about and not out of the general fund, I don’t have any problem with it,” City Commissioner David Wimberley said. “That’s what the money is in there for.”

Ball parks

The commissioners also approved new 10-year lease agreements with Brad Woodward and Steve Whitmire for the baseball fields and softball fields, respectively. Due to budget and staffing issues with the City, the agreements stipulate that no rent will be charged in exchange for the lessees performing maintenance and upkeep of the properties. The fields are to be used by the Breckenridge Little League Baseball and Breckenridge Girls Softball Association.

“As we’re going through this time, and since we’ve had a reduction in staff, it’s difficult for us to get around to all the areas that we need to, to maintain. I have visited with Brad and Steve, and they have both agreed to help us out by maintaining the ball fields and picking up the trash and taking care of the restrooms, to take a little bit off of us,” said Stacy Harrison, Public Services Director for the City of Breckenridge. “One of these days when we can replenish our staff, we might want to revisit this. But, for now, it’s our recommendation that we let Brad and Steve take over maintenance of the ball park.”

Budget

In light of recent changes to City operations, the commissioners approved an ordinance amending the 2019-2020 City Budget, which ends Sept. 30, 2020. The amendment includes multiple changes throughout the budget.

“We went through and we did mid-year budget adjustments,” Heather Robertson-Caraway, Interim City Manager of Administration/City Secretary, explained to the commissioners. “Basically, what you’re looking for in all of your major funds is if something’s been posted incorrectly and we corrected it. And, if you’ve gone over budget in one area and we need to move money to that area, then we do so. If it’s over-budgeted and we can reduce the budget number, then we do so. And, we found about $200,000 in moving and making budget adjustments, which helps for the end of the year.”

Other business

In other business, the commissioners also approved the following items:

  • A resolution to approve a Homecoming Parade on Oct. 14. The parade, held in association with the Breckenridge Independent School District, will require the temporary closure of U.S. Highway 180 (Walker Street) in downtown Breckenridge.
  • Requests to authorize Robertson-Caraway to sign documentation providing insurance coverage and workers compensation coverage for the City and its employees.
  • An order to set the postponed May 2 general election for Nov. 3. In the City election, voters will cast ballots for the City Commissioner Place 2 race between incumbent Rob Durham and challenger Gary Mercer. Also on the ballot will be two unopposed races: Breckenridge Mayor, with Bob Sims as the only candidate, and City Commissioner Place 1, with Russell Blue as the only candidate. Additionally, the ballot will include a proposition to reauthorize a ¼ of 1 percent (0.0025) sales tax used for the City’s street maintenance fund. The sales tax used for the street maintenance fund is required to be renewed every four years.
  • The transfer and exchange of the City’s 2009 Ford Escape for Stephens County’s 2007 Ford F350.
  • A donation from ACH Child and Family Support Services of a city lot that was donated to ACH decades ago.
  • A change order for the water line relocation project on U.S. Highway 183 North. The project requires the removal and replacement of some brick pavers, a cost that was not included in the original bid.
  • A Budget Workshop set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23.
  • A resolution to approve the City’s investment policy.

 

Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: The Breckenridge City Commission, including, from left, Rob Durham, David Wimberley, Tom Cyprian, Mayor Bob Sims, and interim city managers Houston Satterwhite and Heather Robertson-Caraway discuss items at the July 7 regular meeting. The City Commission meets the first Tuesday of every month. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

 


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