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2009-07-03

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City departments facing budget cuts

By JODIE GARCIA, Herald Staff Writer

The City of Ottawa is going back to basics.

When talking about the 2009 budget, that means considerable cuts, commissioners were told Monday.

City commissioners Monday discussed the city’s general fund, which includes such departments as police, fire, public works and planning and codes.

“It’s a pretty critical fund,” Richard Nienstedt, city manager said. “It’s really the fund that does the business for the city.”

Nienstedt said he met with all department directors and asked them to project a five-year budget. Positions, equipment and other needs were cut in many cases, he said.

“I tried to have us put together a back-to-basics budget,” Nienstedt said, adding that it didn’t mean those items weren’t important. “We have a responsibility to the taxpayer and the organization to be as responsible as we can.

“This year is just a little tough to fit a square peg in a round hole.”

Scott Bird, city finance director, said in a recent memo that about $1.2 million in budget requests were cut.

“These were not merely ‘Wish List’ items, but most are actual needs that would enhance the city’s ability to provide service to the community,” he wrote. “Some of these requests will have to be addressed in the future.”

Ottawa Police

Restoring one officer position, fees for a joint city/county records management system and skyrocketing fuel prices contributed to some of the increases in the police department’s proposed 2009 budget.

Police Chief Dennis Butler said because of high gas prices, he proposed an increase for vehicle operations to $75,000, up from $56,200 for 2008.

He said he’s instituted changes in driving habits across the department to lower fuel usage and that he hoped it would carry over into next year.

Ottawa Fire

Some of the more significant proposed increases included an increase in vehicle operations, which covers fuel expenses, and capital outlay for building improvements, Fire Chief Jeff Carner said.

The proposed vehicle operations line item increased to $15,000 for 2009, compared to $7,000 for 2008, while building improvements increased from $2,000 to $11,000.

Public Works

Several staff positions and capital outlay items were removed from the public works budget, Andy Haney, public works director, said.

Haney said the commodities line item in the streets budget proposes about a $30,000 increase because of vehicle operations, equipment repair supplies and ice control materials. Some proposed equipment replacements include a flatbed truck, tractor-mower and pickup truck.

In other matters, commissioners:

• Recognized Carolyn Snethen, former deputy city clerk, who now is city clerk and who recently became a master municipal clerk. Scott Bird, finance director and former city clerk, said the certification process is long and challenging and that Snethen is one of only a few clerks in Kansas to earn the master municipal clerk certification.

• Placed an ordinance on Wednesday’s regular meeting agenda for a conditional use permit for a day care at 424 S. Poplar St.

• Placed a resolution on Wednesday’ agenda that would create and enter into a contract with American Eagle for a property tax exemption not to exceed 10 years.

The regular meeting is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 101 S. Hickory St.

Herald staff writer Jodie Garcia can be e-mailed at jgarcia@ottawaherald.com.

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