Budget clears way for firehall, Takhini work
Like the general public, city council members had little to say Monday night as they adopted a $32-million capital budget for 2009.
Photo by Vince Fedoroff
ATTENDANCE DEFICIT - City council sat with four members present and Coun. Jan Stick on the phone last night. In council chambers were, left to right, Brian Crist, Coun. Florence Roberts, Mayor Bev Buckway, Coun. Jeanine Myhre, Coun. Dave Stockdale, Robert Fendrick, the city's director of administrative services, and city manager Dennis Shewfelt.
Like the general public, city council members had little to say Monday night as they adopted a $32-million capital budget for 2009.
Coun. Florence Roberts was the only member to bring up any questions prior to voting in favour of the capital expenses for the year. She asked city staff if any budget packages were picked up by residents.
While Rob Fendrick, the city’s director of administrative services, reported some were, he didn’t have a number on exactly how many had been taken.
The adoption of the capital budget comes after city advertisements seeking input into the document were published, along with the full budget being available on the website and in print form at city facilities.
“No written responses were received,” notes a report that went to council members.
Residents were also invited to speak at the Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 council meetings, but no one addressed the city’s planned capital costs.
The only presentation to council came from the Yukon Convention Bureau about its annual funding, which is covered in the operating budget.
Among the major projects in the 2009 capital budget are $9 million for the reconstruction of Takhini North, $8.7 million for a new fire hall at the top of Two Mile Hill and $4.3 million for sewage treatment equipment at the Yukon River outfall.
This year, the city broke up its budget release into two parts, with the $32-million capital budget being released first.
The operating budget proposes spending $55.7 million on running the city.
It also seeks a four-per-cent property tax increase and a 12.5-per-cent jump in water and sewer bills while raising many more fees. There have been property tax increases for several straight years, with more planned for at least the next two years.
Similar to the process in adopting the capital budget, a public hearing on the operating document is set for Feb. 9, with council set to vote on second and third readings later in the month.
Councillors Doug Graham and Dave Austin were absent from last night’s council meeting, while Coun. Jan. Stick attended by conference call.
Anthony
Jan 28, 2009 at 5:23 pm
“No written responses were received“
Any guess as to why? The public has learned that going to council to provide input is about as frustrating as pushing a rope up a hill…..while being berated by Austin and Stockdale. In the end mayor and council dismiss any/all public input.
I look forward to a house cleaning in October, this crew has been a lame duck from day one.