Delphi property tax revenue expected to fall
Services to remain constant despite reduction
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser told city council members at their Monday night meeting the city could experience an approximate $400,000 decrease in property tax revenue from 2008 to 2010 due to the possible adoption of HB1001, which would cap property tax revenue. The figure represented a 19.6 percent funding decrease, according to the mayor.

Strasser said he met with department heads to encourage them to consider any spending decrease possible in order to counteract the reduction.

"I think this is more than manageable," he said. "I'm not looking at losing anything (services)."

He said the council may need to consider imposing user fees for services as a partial remedy to ease the financial impact on the city's budget. He said every department is expected to implement cost-saving measures wherever possible.

Strasser said when revenue facts are known he will host a work session to explain the ramifications of the state action to the city.

Strasser said he requested a federal appropriation from Congressman Joe Donnelly for a $350,000 study to consider a connection modification of the Hoosier Heartland Highway to East Main Street in Delphi. He said federal funds are available for projects through the congressman's office.

Council member Danny Sterrett proposed the city donate two city lots located together just north of the recycling site to Habitat For Humanity.

Habitat representative Terry Calendar said the group "would greatly appreciate the opportunity to receive the lots." He said the lots could "logically be the next building projects" in Carroll County and offered to alleviate the burden of closing costs for the city.

"This is something we may want to discuss," Strasser said.

No decision was made.

A policy and procedures committee was formed to review and propose updates to the city personnel policy. Those on the committee include street superintendent Aaron Lyons, wastewater superintendent Dick VanSickle, council members Kyle Germond and Sterrett, city clerk-treasurer Janice Roe, Nancy Bogan and the mayor. The first meeting will be March 6 at 9 a.m.

Strasser set a preliminary budget work session to help new council members become acquainted with budgetary issues for March 13 at 5 p.m. A second work session was set for March 31 at 4:30 p.m. A city utility presentation will be given at that time.

The lack of handicap accessibility for city council meetings in the council meeting room was discussed. Strasser said he has received several concerns that the room is not handicap accessible. Because Indiana Code dictates the meetings should be open to everyone, he suggested the council could decide to meet in either the Stone Barn or the Canal Center. No action was taken.

Department reports

Lyons reported that due to recent weather, street department workers have either been plowing snow or filling pot holes.

Police chief Justin Darling said his department is researching what services used by residents could be assessed user fees. He said he is working in conjunction with Carroll County Sheriff Tony Burns and Flora Police Chief Paul Redmon to develop a unified plan.

Darling reported increases in warnings (67), misdemeanor arrests (18), information reports (6), felony reports (8), misdemeanor reports (18) and accidents (16) investigated from the same time period last year.

Delphi Municipal Airport manager Brian Stirm announced local resident Andy Cougill was named to the airport board. He also reported the runway refurbishing project scheduled for the fall may need interim financing due to a change in the federal funding structure.

Stirm said the airport sold approximately 60 more gallons of fuel than last year in February.

Van Sickle reported that the SR39 lift station failed twice in February due to rags from Indiana Packers that plugged the impeller. There was no damage done, however correcting the situation took considerable employee time which resulted in a cost to the city. He said plans were underway by IPC to install screening to alleviate the recurring problems.

Van Sickle said the department would use a different laboratory to perform Mercury testing which would result in "quite a savings." He said the city will save between $2,700 and $2,800 each year due to the change in service providers.

Grant coordinator Jean Howell reported the draft of the city's Tree Manual was reviewed by local attorney Miriam Robeson. Q-Graphics is now developing a layout for the publication. Expected date for publication is mid-March.

The next board of works meeting will be March 17 at 4:30 p.m. The next city council meeting will be April 7 at 7 p.m.