LAHARPE — Transfers between LaHarpe’s various utility funds took center stage Wednesday as City Council members began discussing the city’s 2011 operating budget.
Council member Harry Lee Jr. noted, for example, that the city transferred $55,682 this year from the electric to sewer fund. And the city’s $4,000 expenditure for mosquito spraying was paid with portions coming from the electric, sewer and water funds.
The transfers, Lee said, made it difficult to determine if various rates needed to be adjusted. Does the electric transfer to the sewer department mean the city needs to increase its sewer rates, he asked.
“I would like to know what it really costs to operate each department,” Lee said.
As for the city’s 2011 budget, council members scheduled a special meeting for 5:30 p.m. July 22 at City Hall to finalize their spending plan and to schedule a budget hearing in August, at which point it would be ratified.
WEDNESDAY’S meeting was the first with new Police Chief Brian Crites, who also serves as LaHarpe’s animal control and code enforcement officer.
Crites, who took office July 1, spoke about his getting acclimated to his new duties, as well as his needs to get the police department up and running again.
Council members approved spending $3,000 to set up a laptop computer donated from the Allen County Sheriff’s Department to operate a Global crime records system. They asked him to seek bids for a second computer he needs for day-to-day operations.
They also directed Crites to change a number of locks to his office to ensure his evidence room, a closet, is secure and isolated from the rest of City Hall.
Council members also approved spending $250 for Crites to purchase such things as muzzles, collars and pet taxis for animals he picks up.
Crites said the city’s patrol car is nearly ready for service again as well.
Another personnel change at City Hall was discussed.
Lloyd Wayne Turner announced in a letter to the council his retirement as LaHarpe mayor, effective July 1.
His position is automatically filled by the president of the council, in this case Cynthia Carr, which in turn leaves a vacant council seat.
Council members said they would gauge the public’s interest in the seat, as well as look at recent election results to determine if any hopefuls want the position, before acting on it.
Council member Gerald Clay suggested the vacancy be filled immediately. His motion to do just that, however, failed due to a lack of being seconded by another council member.
THE CITY is one step closer to having its own library.
Council members approved allowing one of the rooms at the new City Hall to be used for a “drop box” library. They also said a key would be made available to the Southeast Kansas Library System to access the room for book deliveries.
The drop box library will feature several crates that open to reveal hundreds of books that can be checked out to the public. The boxes will be changed out periodically to allow residents access to a larger number of reading materials.
Council members said they would begin asking for volunteers to staff the library when it is open. The hours of operation were not set.
COUNCIL members visited with Art Chapman, president of the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility’s board of directors. The ACARF shelter in LaHarpe “very quietly” opened its doors this week.
Chapman said the low-key opening was preferred, “because we didn’t want to be swamped with 400 dogs on our first day.”
ACARF is offering contracts to LaHarpe and the other communities in the county to take unclaimed dogs and cats. The city would pay $75 per animal taken to the shelter.
Council members wondered if the price could be adjusted, such as when animal was taken to ACARF to be euthanized.
Chapman said private residents who take animals to ACARF will be charged $20 if the animal is a stray, or $35 if they previously owned the animal as a pet.
“I know that sounds horrible, but we can’t feed these animals for nothing,” Chapman said.
Chapman said he recommend Allen County commissioners and law enforcement agencies in the county strengthen or better enforce anti-dumping laws.
He said animals already have been deposited at the front steps of the ACARF facility in LaHarpe when nobody was around.
Chapman said ACARF also offers micro-chipping, spaying and neutering and would assist any city with their annual pet registration programs.
Council members said they would discuss the ACARF proposal further in August.
