Clermont Council Passes 2008 Budget(posted Sept 18) A quorum of three council members passed the Town of Clermont's budget September 14. The adopted budget remained unchanged from the August 31 public hearing. Council member Vonda Kiger left when she saw that Councilor John Miller was coming to the Friday meeting. She said she would verbally approve, but her early departure annoyed council members Nancy Baxter and President Bob Hinshaw for not fully participating in the budget process for the second year in a row. "It would be nice if she would participate in the budget process in the area of cemetery, building maintenance and mowing. The things she is involved in," Baxter said. Baxter called Vonda a hard worker in the area of town maintenance and upkeep. Hinshaw even remarked that he saw her out pulling weeds on a very hot day. "She could be a tremendous asset if you would apply this energy in other areas of the town," Baxter said. Hinshaw said the budget does not fluctuate that much for her input to make a big difference. He noted the 2008 budget actually dropped by $4,000. Clerk Treasurer Kathy Arauco explained the fire budget was shifted into the general fund 2008 budget year since the fire territory dissolved July 1, 2007. The general fund is $642,000. The motor vehicle fund and local roads and streets fund have 2008 budgets of $50,000 and $24,000. Arauco said this money comes from the state gas tax. The amount is based on the town's population. At the Aug 31 meeting, it was reported that the Department of Local Government Finance calculated the town's net assessed valuation at $58,000,000, a 5 percent drop since last year. Hinshaw said all of this could change after the reassessment is conducted. Councilor Miller commended Police Chief George Hughes for declining his pay raise of $1,114 and distribute it to his deputies. The proposed total salaries for a three full time police department is $96,468. The council is expected to draft an salary ordinance effective January 1, 2008. Miller said. He said former Police Chief Bill Newman declined a pay raise in order to increase the deputies' salaries to make them more competitive. Prior to this these extra increases, the town was lucky to have a deputy to stay two years. In other matters, the council discussed the Kiger's decision not to run for election in November, thus leaving the seat vacated since no one in town has filed to run. Hinshaw contends the council will appoint a person to fill the expired term. He noted from his research if the vacancy occurred from a resignation, the political party would elect the person through a caucus, but since the vacancy is created by the law, the council makes the appointment. On September 15, Kiger cited the reasons for not participating in the budget process for the last two years. "I don't understand it and what I do approve is overridden by the board," she said. She admitted that she has had personality conflicts with the other board members. "I have been talking with family since January that I was not going to run. I am tired. I can't accomplish what I would like," she said. Kiger ran as an independent. Kiger said nobody decided to challenge her earlier before deciding no to run because "nobody can beat me." "I am Clermont. "Everybody loves me." She excluded the town board from this statement, noting their differences about the best way to operate the town. "People came up to me after they I heard I was not going to run and said 'What is going to happen to Clermont?' My only concern is for Clermont and Clermont residents," she said. Walt Miller was not present for the budget adoption due to being out of town. |
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