Hulbert councilors keeping eyes on budget

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November 14, 2008

By JOSH NEWTON The Tahlequah Daily Press Fri Nov 14, 2008, 10:14 AM CST

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — HULBERT – City councilors here are keeping their eyes on the year’s budget, looking for ways to save money and get through the year as planned.

“If everything went right, we’d be fine,” said Councilman George Truitt. “But everything hasn’t been fine.”

Clerk Leona Welch said the biggest expense is the water plant.

Mayor Ed Beckham said that because the plant had been over-budgeted, the city hasn’t been able to receive matching grant funds it had originally counted on.

But Welch said the city’s budget is actually OK at this point.

“Revenue will start picking up in two months,” she said.

Councilors agreed to keep an eye on the budget and look at making amendments when they decide if they need to transfer more money from Hulbert Public Works Authority to the city.

“We’re spending a lot,” said Truitt, “but nothing that’s frivolous.”

Beckham noted that spending has gone down, but income has as well.

Thursday night’s agenda also called for discussion with engineer Ralph Handlin concerning gas rates and possible increase for utilities, and an RDA loan consolidation/remortgage, but Handlin did not attend. The matters were tabled until the next monthly meeting.

Christmas bonuses were approved for HPWA and city employees.

The agenda also called for Vivian Lamb to discuss the police department with the city’s officials, but Lamb did not show up for the meeting.

Beckham said a woman called him and offered to help with cleaning duties at the Hulbert Community Library following an article that ran in the Daily Press last month.

In October, councilors expressed the need to conserve as much energy as possible in the new library building, especially when it isn’t in use -- and that a lengthy list of extra janitorial duties supplied by EODLS wouldn’t be likely with a tightening budget.

Beckham had sent a letter to the Eastern Oklahoma District Library System highlighting a potential need to cut back on janitorial services, and the EODLS responded that, if services were discontinued by the city, the library would have to be closed.

Beckham also said one woman offered a thermostat that would kick on and off when programmed, which would help cut costs.

Councilwoman Shirley Teague commented on playground equipment that had been placed in the city park, and thanked whoever did so. HPWA Superintendent Rick Lee said the funding originally came from the Modern Woodsmen.

Police Chief Jim Morgan told the board that Cherokee Nation District 1 tribal councilors Bill John Baker and Tina Glory Jordan helped the department secure $4,000 for maintenance on patrol vehicles.

Police report

4 arrests

7 impounds

48 speeding tickets

What’s next

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Hulbert Public Works and town council will be Thursday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. at the town hall building.

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Hulbert councilors keeping eyes on budget

Last year, Cherokee County was hit with severe snowstorms in the winter, followed by devastating floods in the spring. What have you done to protect your property, in case it happens again?

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