HUMBOLDT — Humboldt councilmen Monday night authorized Chief of Police Brian Dillow to purchase a used police car from the pool of retired Kansas Highway Patrol cruisers. KHP cars are taken out of service once they approach 50,000 miles. Most are 2009 and 2010 models.
Councilmen gave Dillow latitude to spend up to $16,500, with money coming from Gas Department reserves.
The city has five police cars, but only three are in operation, Dillow said. The two sidelined have about 150,000 miles each and mechanical problems. One of the three on the street also has about 150,000 miles and its use is starting to show, Dillow said.
In addition to miles of service, the cars spend many hours each month idling, which also shortens their life spans, he said.
Council members decided to dip into Gas Department reserves — a $120,000 certificate of deposit drawing 0.15 percent interest matures this month — to pay off lease-purchase agreements for several pieces of equipment.
The payoff will total about $87,000, which will save the city $22,000 in interest over the next several years, Tucker said, adding that money saved could be set aside in an equipment reserve fund.
A lease-purchase agreement for generators at the water plant, which cost $104,000 in August 2007, has $66,486 remaining to pay and will continue in effect. That agreement will pay out in 2014.
Councilmen also authorized hiring of a police officer in the event one of five on the force, including Dillow, were to leave the force. Discussion of a reserve force was put off until the Sept. 12 meeting.
Tucker pointed out that if an officer were to resign or leave because of injury or illness, “it would be difficult to maintain seven-day, 24-hour police protection with four officers.”
The authorization was necessary because of a hiring freeze councilmen imposed earlier.
OTHERWISE, councilmen:
— Tabled discussion of a trash pickup agreement.
— Approved rezoning lots at 1205 S. Ninth St., from commercial to two-family residential. Apartments may be built on the site, which for years held a retail liquor store.
— Appointed Wayne Carson to the council’s Growth Committee, replacing Otis Crawford, who stepped aside. Also on the committee is Sunny Shreeve.
— Approved employment of Jeff Bauer, Iola code enforcement officer, to do building inspections part time and at his convenience. He will be paid $30 per inspection and $15.34 an hour to review plans.
— Were told an audit of the city’s 2010 financial records revealed no problems, although councilmen were advised it would better if they developed larger reserve funds in several areas.
— Approved the 2012 budget after no public comment came during a hearing. The budget has a levy of 63.618 mills — councilmen raised the levy 2 mills on Aug. 1 — and projects net expenditures at $2,788,235, $124,000 more than this year. General fund expenditures were put at $927,750, $16,448 more than this year. A levy of 1 mill raises $1 on assessed valuation of $1,000. That means city taxes on a $100,000 home will be $731.60, or half as much, $365.80, on a $50,000 home.
— Learned about 1,500 people used the swimming pool in July, compared to 1,151 for the same month in 2010; pool parties increased from 13 to 28.
— Were told street repairs soon would be done to Eighth Street, the route of the Biblesta Parade and around the schools. Also, construction of the senior housing project in north Humboldt is progressing well, Tucker said, with completion anticipated in early 2012.
