Auditor: Iola’s 2014 budget comes back clean

Iola’s 2014 budget came back with a clean bill of health, the city’s auditor said Monday.
Neil Phillips of Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips, P.A., spoke to City Council members about the auditor’s report.
The city’s financial reports fairly and accurately represented the city’s spending and account levels, Phillips said.
He touched on one area of concern — utility reserves.
Iola’s gas and electric reserves should have more in the bank, Phillips opined, to cover unexpected costs.
Council members have known this for years, in part because Iola relies on utility transfers to supplement its general fund, in an effort to keep property tax levies lower than they would be otherwise.
As Iola begins planning its 2016 budget this month and next, City Administrator Carl Slaugh said the Council will also discuss utility rates.
Slaugh also touched on the goings-on in Topeka, and one piece of proposed legislation that would put some property tax hikes up for a public vote if the proposed hike exceeds the rate of inflation.
Problem is, the budgets are set over the summer, while the public vote would not be until that fall, Slaugh noted.
The proposed legislation is part of a budget and tax package being considered in the Statehouse as legislators continue to grapple over the state’s FY 2016 budget.

IN A RELATED matter, several department heads appeared before the Council to discuss their respective 2016 budgets. Appearing were Iola Municipal Library Director Roger Carswell, Code Enforcement Officer Shonda Jefferis, Fire Chief Tim Thyer, Parks and Cemetery Superintendent Berkley Kerr, Police Chief Jarred Warner, Street and Alley and Sanitation Superintendent Dan Leslie, City Clerk Roxanne Hutton and Assistant City Administrator Corey Schinstock.
One nugget of information — the fire/EMS budget is about 5 1/2 to 6 percent under-budget, Thyer said.
Meanwhile, Kerr lauded the cooperative efforts between departments to work together on various projects, a fact not lost on Councilman Aaron Franklin.
For a town Iola’s size, having departments work together is a must, Franklin said.

COUNCIL members approved $3,000 to Hope Unlimited to assist the organization’s ongoing services for victims of domestic or sexual abuse, as well as other outreach and child care services.
The Council also approved a $300 donation to Iola Elks to assist the group with putting on an Independence Day fireworks show at Elks Lake July 5.

COUNCIL members accepted the resignation of Kristi Sutherland from the Recreation Department, and the retirement announcement of Charles Sellman from the Water Production Department.
The Council also approved annual or six-month evaluations for seven other employees and subsequent pay raises.

OWNERS of properties at 616 South St. and 210 S. Chestnut were given 180 days to improve their properties.
Jefferis told the Council repairs already have begun.
The Council approved a demolition order to have a property at 1209 N. Sycamore removed entirely. That house was destroyed by fire.

THE CITY will once again prosecute drunken-driving cases in Iola Municipal Court, thanks to a change in the Standard Traffic Ordinances for the city.
The county has handled prosecution for DUI cases in recent years because of fears the city could not afford to handle the caseload.
While the costs to Iola will increase with prosecuting DUIs, the city will recoup added revenues from fines assessed, Slaugh said.