The issue is leaving some council members asking if certain items are needed.
One item that appears to be headed for the chopping block is a new double basketball court in Helena.
Other projects up for discussion include an EMS substation in Silverstreet, a helicopter landing pad in Chappells and the use of pagers.
Council is also starting to discuss the sale of property such as the condemned Highway 219 Sheriff’s Office building.
Helena basketball courts
The proposal is to spend $98,355 for a double basketball court next to the Helena Community Center.
The courts will be 84 by 48 feet in size, which is the smallest size for regulated school courts. Bathroom facilities are planned for next to the fenced courts.
County Councilman Bill Waldrop says the courts will be locked unless reserved for use.
While no vote was taken to remove the courts from the budget, Councilmen Edgar Baker, Kirksey Koon, Les Hipp, Steve Stockman and Henry “Buddy” Livingston indicated opposition to funding the request. Waldrop and John Caldwell appeared in favor of it.
Baker said he was getting “a lot of flack” about the issue.
“It is not the primary objective of the county to provide recreation,” said Hipp, adding state Rep. Walt McLeod has told the county they can expect more state cuts next year.
Hipp also said the county should not build courts in one community and not be able to provide them to all communities.
“It would be good to have, but not in this economy,” said Hipp.
Waldrop countered that the courts would help the people in Helena and the entire county.
“This would not be an increase in millage or taxes,” said Waldrop.
But again members of council said it would be cutting $100,000 out of savings for hard times.
“If this keeps someone from being incarcerated it is worth it,” commented Caldwell.
“It has value... but we may need the money next year,” said Livingston.
“In these hard times we need to toe the line,” added Stockman.
“There will also be recurring costs. We don’t need to spend the money,” voiced Koon, adding there would be cost such as upkeep, maintenance salaries, cleaning materials, utilities and repairs.
While council seems reluctant to spend money on the courts, it was suggested that members of the community start raising funds for it. They also suggested that companies in the community such as Louis Rich, ArtiChill and Food Lion be asked to contribute money toward the project.
A possible vote on the issue could come at council’s May 5 meeting during second reading of the budget.
Silverstreet EMS
sUBstation
Council will also be deciding if the former Silverstreet fire station will be turned into an EMS substation this budget year.
Planned renovations include a front office, dayroom, male and female bunkrooms and an enclosed area for an ambulance. In addition, two bathrooms in the station and community center complex will be retrofitted to make one bathroom with a shower and a second that is handicapped accessible.
The EMS station would use the kitchen connected to the rear of the community center.
The cost of the renovations is estimated at $141,125 with the money coming from the county’s savings account.
Since the first of the year, the county has experimented with stationing an ambulance 12 hours a day at the station.
EMS Director Bill Grigsby says the move from the Evans Street station in the city to Silverstreet has had no effect on overall response times in the county, but has improved response times to the Silverstreet, Chappells, Stoney Hill and Bush River areas.
The plan calls for the Silverstreet station to be manned 12 hours a day, with the crew on duty for 24 hours heading back to the Evans Street station at night.
“The people in my area deserve it as much as the city people. I will fight for it to the living end,” promised Waldrop.
Hipp questioned if putting the substation at Silverstreet would result in Grigsby requesting an additional ambulance at the Evans Street station.
Grigsby responded that he had made it no secret that he would like to see the night ambulances on duty in the county doubled to four.
Baker questioned why the substation needed a bunk area if the medics were there just 12 hours, and Grigsby said so they can get rest during the day since the crew will be working a 24-hour shift.
No consensus was taken on the issue during the work session.
Chappells landing pad
The request is to put a helicopter landing pad at the Chappells fire and rescue squad building at a cost of $22,610.
Council members questioned how many medical helicopters landed a year in the current natural landing area at the station.
A response of three to four times a year was given, but Grigsby added that was a high number and it was “rare.”
Grigsby was asked to get information on the total number of landings in Chappells, and on other medical helicopter landing pads in the county, and to report back at the May 5 meeting. He was also asked to determine if any grants could fund the work.
Publics works complex
The county is looking at spending $2.26 million on a public works complex to be built behind the current facility on Highway 34. The complex would include a public works office, animal shelter, maintenance building and an access road.
County officials would use $660,000 in capital sales tax overruns, $100,000 from the sale of timber and county savings to fund the project. The council will also ask the County Transportation Committee to pitch in with money from gasoline taxes to help fund the road work.
The work would include the sale of timber on the property and once the complex is completed, the county hopes to put the vacated road and interstate frontage property on the market.
Constructing the facility includes getting approval from the Department of Health and Environmental Control. And construction would not begin until October.
Discussing the plans led Hipp to question whether there was other county property, such as the abandoned Highway 219 Sheriff’s Office, that could be sold.
County officials were instructed to make a list of marketable county properties.
Pagers
While the expense is $5,037 out of a budget totaling almost $21 million, even the smaller items got attention. Koon questioned why the county is still using pagers.
Koon noted the county is paying more than $60,000 for cell phones for employees and asked why the county is budgeting for pagers.
According to records, pagers are still being used by the magistrate’s office, public works and the probate judge.
However, Magistrate Judge Gordon Johnson and Public Works Director Kyle Nash, who both were in attendance at Monday’s workshop, said they did not know of anyone in their offices with pagers.
The county administrative team will be questioning the use of pagers before the second reading of the budget on May 4.
Medically Indigent
Due to state mandates, the county must allocate money for the medically indigent assistance program. This year, the county will see a $6,930 increase in its portion of the medically indigent program. The county will now pay $92,527 into the fund.
Post a Comment
