DEXTER -- The Dexter Board of Aldermen voted unanimously Monday night to approve a $10.5 million operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The city will begin the fiscal year with combined city funds carried over in the amount of $5,540,000.
Budgeted receipts are projected at $10,114,382, while budgeted disbursements are expected to be $10,584,577.
The approved budget also projects a fund balance of $5,070,805 at the end of the fiscal year in June 2019.
Prior to the vote, City Administrator Mark Stidham told the aldermen the city's budget committee had voted to proceed with the budget as prepared.
According to City Clerk Crystal Bishop, the city's budget normally is not more than $10 million; however, this year's budget includes several grants for projects at the airport and park-related trails and sidewalks along Business 60 and One Mile Road.
In addition to approving the budget, the aldermen also unanimously approved entering into a contract with the Dexter School District for the city to provide a school resource officer.
City attorney Yewell Lawrence Jr. said "for the officer to do this" there needs to be authorization from the city.
Officer Brad Brown has been appointed to the SRO position. His contract starts July 1.
In his financial report, Eddie Cato with Riley, Stubbs & Cato said the city's cash and cash equivalents for April were $6.4 million.
Receipts for the month, he said, included franchise, sales and use taxes, which were all up as compared to April 2017.
Disbursements for the month, Cato said, included mosquito control purchased for the season, the street department's purchase of a mower, the airport's purchase of a tractor and the park department's purchase of two vehicles.
In the department heads' reports, Police Chief Trevor Pulley thanked the board for "allowing me to do this."
Pulley also reported on the department's May 24 participation in the Special Olympics Torch Run and its hosting of search and seizure training on Wednesday for city and county officers to better prepare cases for prosecution.
The public safety committee, Pulley said, met earlier Monday night in closed session to replace two open positions on the department with Donald Cody Trout and Zachary Caleb Bridges.
Further, Pulley thanked the aldermen for reinstating the SRO program.
"Without the city, we wouldn't be able to do this along with the school," Pulley said.
Street and Sanitation Superintendent Jeff Myers reported culverts have been ordered for drainage projects in the Cotton Belt area and in the alley near Jackson's Florist on Walnut Street.
Assistant Water and Wastewater Superintendent Josh Robinson reported on capital improvement projects that are continuing on the North Sassafras Street sewer and South Locust Street water tower.
Yearly maintenance projects, including hydrant and hose testing, according to Fire Chief Don Seymore, are being completed this summer.
Work, he said, currently is being done west of Walnut Street.
Several firefighters, Seymore said, have completed their firefighter I and II training, taken their practicals and are awaiting results.
Further, he said, the fire department responded to a mutual aid fire on the Interstate at Matthews on Sunday and spent about three hours down there.
Jamie Rowe, Park & Recreation superintendant, thanked the board for its approval to purchase the two vehicles, as well as reported that the department's summer sports programs have started.
The city pool, she said, opened May 26, and the department will host its third annual Grille It up on July 14.
Also under way, according to librarian Pam Trammell, are the summer school class tours of the library. The library's summer reading program, she said, starts next week.
In his city administrator's report, Stidham thanked the aldermen for their work on the budget and in passing it, as well as "appreciates confidence in our department heads."
The city's fireworks, Stidham said, will be held for the first time on July 4.
In mayor's report, the alderman unanimously approved Jason Banken's appointment of Joe Kenley and Donna West to the tourism board and June Lawrence, Brett Miller and Chris Bannan to the library board.
During the aldermanic forum, Frank Killian reported seeing a "much better presence of the police and the police chief ... I compliment you (Pulley) and the police on getting out and being seen. It's very nice."
When school was in session, Lawrence said, there was a police presence there every day.
Killian said he believed the department was moving forward in a positive way.
Tim Aslin agreed.
The "improved presence out in the community" is well appreciated, Aslin said.
In the citizens' input portion of the meeting, the alderman heard from Shelba Grindstaff, a resident of the 1100 block of Draper Lane.
Grindstaff asked what could be done about trees, debris and vines clogging a draining ditch near her home.
Jerry Corder, alderman ward I, asked whether this involved a ditch on private property or if there was an easement.
Grindstaff said there was a utility easement.
"Years ago, no one wanted to give up their property," so there were no dredging easements, Stidham said.
"There is none in the older neighborhoods to allow you to get" in there to do the work as compared to the newer subdivisions, Stidham said.
Neighborhood associations collect fees for such work, Stidham said, but in many areas those associations now are defunct.
Since the water from the streets is coming down through there, Grindstaff didn't feel like the issues are her problem.
If it is a utility easement, "we're only allowed to come in" if city utilities are involved, Corder said. "Everyone wants something done on their property by the city (but) we can't do that."
Corder agreed the situation is "an eyesore," but the problem is who does the ditch belong to.