Baxter County Friends of the Taxpayers

MEETING NOTES

BAXTER COUNTY FRIENDS OF THE TAXPAYERS

SATURDAY, JUNE 24, 2006

The meeting was called to order at 1:05 pm by BCFT Director Frank Kaye.  Treasurer Ken Blade gave the following report:  Checking account balance as of this date was $515.20; this amount takes into account deposits of $21.00 (pass-the-bucket at May meeting), and checks written in the amount of $64.22 ($7.50 for hall rental, $16.72 for candy for the Red-White-&-Blue Parade, and $40 to Ozark Mountain News for our monthly ad).

Old business

Committee Meetings:  Frank reported that in his opinion, acceptance of BCFT’s presence/positions seems to be growing among the council members who sit on the various city committees.  In some cases they have even asked “What do you think?” on certain issues.  We still need volunteers to go to the meetings – requires a one-hour-per-month commitment.

Parks & Recreation:  This month the meeting took place at the pool, which had just opened for the summer.  Parks & Rec director Jackie Leatherman showcased the facility, building a case for more money in the department’s budget.  A week after our striping project at the Senior Center, the Parks Department found the money in its budget to seal and restripe the rest of the lots at Cooper Park; they still have given us no public credit for the work we did.  The pool is doing well – averaging over 17,000 visits per year.  What about the need for resurfacing the pool?  Ken Blade said that he and others in his swim group would look more closely at the lining and give a more complete report next month.  There is no money in the city’s budget for this – city should be setting aside money every month for this type of expenditure.

Streets:  (Secretary’s confession:  I neglected to take detailed notes during this part of the report; Frank’s notes for this meeting are no longer available [deleted off handheld computer].  Sorry!)

Public Safety:  Police – this was Phil Frame’s first meeting as committee chair.  He reported that the department had applied for a grant to purchase body armor for the officers – approval is pending.  Another grant was applied for to cover overtime funding (what is the funding source of this grant?).  Also received a grant to provide safety seats for children.  The department had a busy month, between the American Legion baseball tournament, the first Citizens’ Police Academy, Junior Police Academy (for 11-14 year-olds), Click It & Ticket campaign (behind other states – need to do at least 2 per year).  There is a new black-&-white police car in town – a spiffy little Mustang, which was purchased with donations from the community (the city is helping pay for the upgraded radio system).  Sam Seamans, Community Services Officer, now drives this car – it is very visible and appeals to young people; the goal is to improve relations between the kids and the police.

Fire – Engines 1 & 6 (Station 1) are having their external speakers replaced.  Engine 2 (Station 2) needs new alternator.  Rural districts would like to purchase 5-gallon backpacks for brush control.  October is Fire Protection Month – the department is asking for donations from the community to provide booklets on fire safety to area kids.  They’re also testing hydrants this month.  Carl mentioned that he has seen hydrants of all different colors, and knows of one that is completely lost in a weed patch.  Frank told him to bring the issue to the next committee meeting.

Water & Sewer:  6^th & 7^th Streets at College – need to replace cast-iron lines before streets get repaved.  This project will be paid for out of the depreciation fund, which is proper use of the fund (intended for replacement of old parts).  The department is looking for a new TV camera inspection system – have found a lease-purchase plan that will cost $110,000 over 3-4-or-5 years (more info at next meeting).  The city is starting to look at new sewer improvement districts (based on a 2001 master plan for the city) – two potential locations have been identified.  Current capacity of the wastewater treatment plant is 5-million gallons per day, actual use runs about 2.5-million gpd; predicts they’ll be able to continue to use the current plant for at least 20 years.  Garver Engineering will send Frank a copy of their current SID topo map.  Cost of a second plant would be approximately $15-20 million; problem is that several bonds are already in existence.  Baxter County needs to do its part toward any expansion plans – phase in over several years, beginning with high-concentration areas.  Don’t look to existing customers, but to new construction, new subdivisions, to pay for this expansion.  Baxter County MUST get over its resistance to impact fees.  On the stormwater issue:  member told to “take it to the street department.” 

Meters – City will be switching over to “drive-by” meter readings.  Current meters are inaccurate at “low-flow” and at “high-flow.”  New system from a company in Tulsa, OK, can record usage to 1/8 of a gallon, is all electronic; meter reader drives down the street and computer records meter readings; has a 1200-foot range.  This new system will increase efficiency and revenue for the water department.  Radios are solid-state, waterproof; the company will do changeout.  Cost is projected to be $1-million for 7128 meters (lease-purchase agreement).  This changeout is not supposed to cost the individual customer, though there will be an increase in monthly bills, due to the increased accuracy of metering of water (likely 6-10%).  Payback on the new meters should be 6-7 years.

Pool Committee:  Having a meeting on Monday (6-26-06) so will have report next time.  Meeting is with committee members and several new people, members of the community who contacted us wanting to become involved with the project; they are potential investors who want a new facility that will be completely separate from the city.  Several members expressed concern that BCFT is losing its objectivity by getting involved with the pool issue.  Frank explained that the issue was brought to us by folks outside BCFT who hoped we could help them get the swim season extended – their dealings with the Parks Department and Pool employees had gotten them nowhere.

New Business

Assistant Director Position Open:  Jim Bond has resigned from his position as Assistant Director, effective immediately, citing philosophical differences.  Anyone interested, please call Frank (424-6235) to discuss.

Bylaws:  Along with the agenda today, we passed out copies of suggested bylaws for BCFT, something that we’ve been talking about and working on for quite some time.  These bylaws were “borrowed” from another group here in town, and modified to suit our organization.  Please look them over and make any corrections or suggestions for improvement and bring to our next meeting.

The meeting was adjourned.  Next meeting will take place Saturday, July 29, 2006, at 1:00 pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church.  (Please note and mark your calendars:  There will be no meeting in August.)

                                                                                                                                    Suzan Kaye, Secretary
Monday, July 24, 2006