The Board of Aldermen on Monday approved a 'bare bones' budget for the city during its meeting in the council meeting room at the California City Hall.
The budget, which goes into effect April 1, was described as a "bare bones budget" by City Clerk Brian Scrivner. Mayor Norris Gerhart commented that it had been necessary to cut a lot of spending from the original proposals from all the city departments, since there had been quite a bit of spending over the last year. The budget, as originally proposed, required much discussion and review to bring the expected expenditures down by about $1.5 million. The reduction was needed to bring the expenses within the amount of revenues expected to be received.
One new police vehicle is in the budget. This replaces one which was totaled when rear-ended in 2016. A new garbage truck will be leased. Scrivner said a new chassis is to be leased from Hogan Trucking, with a new packer (garbage hauling and packing body) purchased and mounted on the chassis. This will be approximately $1,500 a month.
The bulk of the street work planned for the year is to be done on North Street, east of the courthouse square. Because of the budget constraints, no overlay work is currently planned.
The bid was accepted at the February council meeting for the 2016 sewer improvement project. Lehman Construction, LLC, has been given a notice to proceed with construction to begin March 20. The project involves work on sewer lines on Howard Street, east of Oak Street, and Moniteau Street and Versailles Avenue in the area of Bonecutter's Body Shop. The work is to be completed by Aug. 6. The project cost is $579,800.
In other business, the council approved a request to allow the installation of "platform wheel chair swings" for Proctor Park. The request was made by Jane Blank, director of Community Connections of Moniteau County Inc. The group plans to raise funds for the installation. Plans are to place the special swings in a level space between playground equipment at the new shelter house on the east side of the park. Instructions and rules for use of the equipment will be posted on a sign. In addition, rubber mats will be placed under it to prevent injuries to young people who might climb on the equipment.
Also approved was permission by the Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA) to conduct a 5k event on May 6. It will use the Ham and Turkey Festival 5k route.