In a flurry of moving monies from one line item to another in several departments and encumbering money for 2009, Delphi City Council voted to put money where it was needed to bring positive balances to all accounts at a special council meeting Monday night.

A total of 86 transfers that amounted to $183,160.28, and 15 encumbrances for $89,913.95, were approved when ordinance 2008-15 was passed in three readings, after the rules were suspended.

"This takes care of all of the negative balances," clerk-treasurer Janice Roe said.

"I'm not happy about a lot of the transfers," Mayor Randy Strasser said. "The key is to forecast the right numbers."

He explained that historically, department heads prepared future budgets by using past budget line item amounts and did not take into consideration the total appropriation after additional money was transferred into the line items at the end of the year.

Council member Carolyn Pearson questioned Roe about the reasons for many of the transfers because there were no explanations included on the ordinance form. Kyle Germond requested explanation of transfers be provided in the future.

Trash ordinance

An ordinance to formally amend the existing trash removal ordinance and establish user fees was adopted in three readings after the rules were suspended.

Residents will be allowed one 33-gallon container or up to two garbage bags containing no more than 40 pounds, per week, for a $10 per month fee. According to Strasser, the container can be filled with bags to equal up to 40 pounds. The fee will be reflected on residential water bills. Strasser said the program is mandatory much like other city utilities such as water and sewage.

Each additional bag of trash will require a yellow sticker for the outside. Yellow stickers can be purchased from city hall, Wallmann's or Delphi Hardware and Paint.

The ordinance also established a solid waste management fund in which all fees will be deposited and from which the vendor will be paid. The ordinance will be effective Jan. 1.

Both ordinances can be reviewed at the clerk-treasurer's office in the city building.

Other business

Strasser reported new personnel policy manuals have been printed and are being distributed.

Dispatcher Marilyn McKnight accepted the position of city administration assistant.

Garrison requested minutes from the Dec. 15 meeting be amended to state that he asked Roe what steps she had taken to correct the errors in her office cited in the 2007 Indiana State Board of Account audit results.

The next meeting will be Jan. 5 at 7 p.m.