STATE OF THE CITY OF WYNNE ADDRESS 2010
The financial condition of the City of Wynne is good considering the funds that are available for use by the city.
The city was able to operate the city with the funds that were available this past year, due to the hard work of the department heads. They were able to operate their departments within the budget that was adopted by the Wynne City Council. The money that was anticipated by the city was received during the year.
There were a number of changes that occurred during the year in the various departments. Most of the changes occurred in the sanitation department. During the last year the residential service changed to a completely automated service. This service has worked well and the comments from the citizens have been positive.
Another big change in the sanitation department was in the class three service provided by the city. During the year the revenue generated by the user fees for residential garbage was not enough to cover the cost of the services provided. The city council members looked at a number of options and decided to make the class three removal and disposal service a pay as used program. This decision allowed the rates to remain the same for the citizens of Wynne. This system was used for several weeks and the council held discussions on the service. The council voted to resume the service and increase the rates $3.00 per month to cover the cost of the service. The city council also adopted regulations for the use of the service. The major change was that the city would not pick up limbs and construction waste from residents if the citizens had paid an individual or contractor to complete the work of limb removal or construction work. The city will, for a per-yard fee, accept limbs and construction material from individuals or contractors who wish to pay the fees. Several individuals and contractors use this service.
A few months after resuming class three trash service for an increased fee, it became evident the one truck assigned to this service could not keep up with the volume of trash being generated. The increased residential fee created a small surplus of revenue. With this surplus the city council voted to purchase a new knuckle boom truck and keep the old one in service on a part time basis. This has worked well since the city now has one truck operating full time and one on an occasional basis. If the price of fuel stays about the same the city will be able to continue this service at the present level.
This past year the sanitation department has been able to save money with the elimination of one truck and the elimination of three positions in the department. The commercial garbage truck now empties all of the containers at the location of the customer. In the past an individual and a truck was used everyday to move containers to a central location for dumping. That individual is now a part time driver for the sanitation department and works part time in the street department. Two labor positions were eliminated when the residential service was fully automated.
The sanitation department took delivery of two new trucks for operation of the department during last year. The trucks were purchased on a guaranteed buy back provision from Tri State Truck Center. The trucks will be used for two years and then replaced with new trucks. The trucks have a 100% bumper to bumper warranty. This arrangement has allowed the elimination of repair bills for these trucks that must operate everyday.
The city street department has continued to make improvements in the drainage system in the city. The department has completed a number of small projects that have improved the drainage in Wynne. They also completed one major drainage project in ward two between Block Street and Front Street in south Wynne. This project will greatly improve the flow of water in this section of the city.
This past year the street department continued the use of chip and seal to extend the life of the city streets. The department would prefer to improve streets with asphalt, but the cost of asphalt is such that chip and seal is used. It does not extend the life of the street nearly as long as asphalt, but five times more streets are able to have some work completed to extend the life of the streets.
The Wynne Fire Department purchased a new fire truck last year. Each year the city places $25,000.00 in a separate fund to purchase new trucks. Last year it was time to replace a fire truck. The department also was able to eliminate one truck that was in the fleet. That elimination will not affect the department’s ability to respond to calls in the city. That move will save the department a few dollars to apply to other needs of the department.
Over the past two years most of the fire department building has been repainted inside. It was time to spend some money to protect the investment in the building.
The Wynne Police Department has not made any major changes during the last several years. They have added some auxiliary officers to the force. This has allowed the department to have more officers on the streets at critical times.
THE FUTURE
The city has the need to increase revenue or possibly cut back on some projects in the future if more revenue is not available for use by the city.
There are some critical needs in the Parks and Recreation Department of the city. The department is struggling to maintain the present facilities. Over the past several years the department has had some grant money to replace capital items. That money has all been spent. There has not been any new equipment purchased for the city parks in a number of years except for John Hayden Smith Park. That park was completely furnished with all new equipment by Mr. Johnny Smith in memory of his late son.
Last year a group of citizens appeared before the city council and outlined a number of problems that need to be addressed at the Wynne sports complex. The needs that they expressed are mostly of a capital nature, but they also pointed out that there was a need for more personnel to properly maintain the present facilities.
This year the budget for the parks and recreation budget has been increased. The city has received a grant to build a walking trail at the sports complex. The budget has been increased by $100,000.00 to purchase equipment for several of the mini parks. The city has also increased the budget by $30,000.00 to help with the maintenance of the park system. The 2010 budget also includes additional funds for the maintenance of all the mini parks. The city has also applied for a grant to build a stage at the sports complex and add tables and benches at the mini parks. These improvements will greatly improve the city parks.
The money available for use in the street department has been stable for the last several years, but the cost of maintaining the streets and improving drainage has greatly increased. The budget for 2010 includes money to replace the bridge on Martin Luther King Street. This is a much needed improvement for this street. The city is at the present time working to improve the drainage in the city. We may be able to add some retention ponds to improve the drainage. Our engineer is now working on this problem and if funds are available the city may be able to make some of these improvements.
The police department needs to have more money for capital outlay. This need is mainly for upgrade of the fleet of vehicles. The city is now operating the cars for longer periods of service and the repair costs have increased with the age of the fleet. The 2010 budget includes the purchase of three new patrol cars to improve the police fleet.
The sanitation department is in good shape as long as the fees collected pay for the services. The sanitation department is paid for fully with fees. There is no tax money budgeted for operation of the sanitation department.
Economic development has become an issue for the city with the defeat of the county wide sales tax to fund economic development. The system of funding economic development on a county wide basis worked well for the county for a number of years, but the county residents voted down efforts to continue that funding twice last year. A number of cities fund economic development for the city using city funds. Several residents have suggested that the city fund economic development for the city.
The city has very few options relating to increasing funding for city projects. The city at the present time is charging the maximum for a number of sources of revenue available to the city for funding. The city is at the maximum on utility franchise fees charged except for cable television. The city is also at a maximum charged the residents for personal and real property tax. The max that can be assessed is 5 mills. The city has been collecting 5 mills for about two decades.
The only way that can be used to increase funds for city operation is a local sales tax. A sales tax can be temporary or permanent. If the need is a one time need a temporary tax is the way to accomplish that goal. If the need is of a permanent nature, the tax must be permanent to cover the cost of the service that is desired by the city.
A city sales tax can only be imposed if the voters of the city approve the tax.
I have outlined what I consider the accomplishments of the city for the past year. I have also outlined some of the future needs and for more funds if those goals are to be met. I feel sure that the administration and city council members can and will discuss the present situation and the future goals and make informed decisions about how to move the city forward.
The financial condition of the City of Wynne is good considering the funds that are available for use by the city.
The city was able to operate the city with the funds that were available this past year, due to the hard work of the department heads. They were able to operate their departments within the budget that was adopted by the Wynne City Council. The money that was anticipated by the city was received during the year.
There were a number of changes that occurred during the year in the various departments. Most of the changes occurred in the sanitation department. During the last year the residential service changed to a completely automated service. This service has worked well and the comments from the citizens have been positive.
Another big change in the sanitation department was in the class three service provided by the city. During the year the revenue generated by the user fees for residential garbage was not enough to cover the cost of the services provided. The city council members looked at a number of options and decided to make the class three removal and disposal service a pay as used program. This decision allowed the rates to remain the same for the citizens of Wynne. This system was used for several weeks and the council held discussions on the service. The council voted to resume the service and increase the rates $3.00 per month to cover the cost of the service. The city council also adopted regulations for the use of the service. The major change was that the city would not pick up limbs and construction waste from residents if the citizens had paid an individual or contractor to complete the work of limb removal or construction work. The city will, for a per-yard fee, accept limbs and construction material from individuals or contractors who wish to pay the fees. Several individuals and contractors use this service.
A few months after resuming class three trash service for an increased fee, it became evident the one truck assigned to this service could not keep up with the volume of trash being generated. The increased residential fee created a small surplus of revenue. With this surplus the city council voted to purchase a new knuckle boom truck and keep the old one in service on a part time basis. This has worked well since the city now has one truck operating full time and one on an occasional basis. If the price of fuel stays about the same the city will be able to continue this service at the present level.
This past year the sanitation department has been able to save money with the elimination of one truck and the elimination of three positions in the department. The commercial garbage truck now empties all of the containers at the location of the customer. In the past an individual and a truck was used everyday to move containers to a central location for dumping. That individual is now a part time driver for the sanitation department and works part time in the street department. Two labor positions were eliminated when the residential service was fully automated.
The sanitation department took delivery of two new trucks for operation of the department during last year. The trucks were purchased on a guaranteed buy back provision from Tri State Truck Center. The trucks will be used for two years and then replaced with new trucks. The trucks have a 100% bumper to bumper warranty. This arrangement has allowed the elimination of repair bills for these trucks that must operate everyday.
The city street department has continued to make improvements in the drainage system in the city. The department has completed a number of small projects that have improved the drainage in Wynne. They also completed one major drainage project in ward two between Block Street and Front Street in south Wynne. This project will greatly improve the flow of water in this section of the city.
This past year the street department continued the use of chip and seal to extend the life of the city streets. The department would prefer to improve streets with asphalt, but the cost of asphalt is such that chip and seal is used. It does not extend the life of the street nearly as long as asphalt, but five times more streets are able to have some work completed to extend the life of the streets.
The Wynne Fire Department purchased a new fire truck last year. Each year the city places $25,000.00 in a separate fund to purchase new trucks. Last year it was time to replace a fire truck. The department also was able to eliminate one truck that was in the fleet. That elimination will not affect the department’s ability to respond to calls in the city. That move will save the department a few dollars to apply to other needs of the department.
Over the past two years most of the fire department building has been repainted inside. It was time to spend some money to protect the investment in the building.
The Wynne Police Department has not made any major changes during the last several years. They have added some auxiliary officers to the force. This has allowed the department to have more officers on the streets at critical times.
THE FUTURE
The city has the need to increase revenue or possibly cut back on some projects in the future if more revenue is not available for use by the city.
There are some critical needs in the Parks and Recreation Department of the city. The department is struggling to maintain the present facilities. Over the past several years the department has had some grant money to replace capital items. That money has all been spent. There has not been any new equipment purchased for the city parks in a number of years except for John Hayden Smith Park. That park was completely furnished with all new equipment by Mr. Johnny Smith in memory of his late son.
Last year a group of citizens appeared before the city council and outlined a number of problems that need to be addressed at the Wynne sports complex. The needs that they expressed are mostly of a capital nature, but they also pointed out that there was a need for more personnel to properly maintain the present facilities.
This year the budget for the parks and recreation budget has been increased. The city has received a grant to build a walking trail at the sports complex. The budget has been increased by $100,000.00 to purchase equipment for several of the mini parks. The city has also increased the budget by $30,000.00 to help with the maintenance of the park system. The 2010 budget also includes additional funds for the maintenance of all the mini parks. The city has also applied for a grant to build a stage at the sports complex and add tables and benches at the mini parks. These improvements will greatly improve the city parks.
The money available for use in the street department has been stable for the last several years, but the cost of maintaining the streets and improving drainage has greatly increased. The budget for 2010 includes money to replace the bridge on Martin Luther King Street. This is a much needed improvement for this street. The city is at the present time working to improve the drainage in the city. We may be able to add some retention ponds to improve the drainage. Our engineer is now working on this problem and if funds are available the city may be able to make some of these improvements.
The police department needs to have more money for capital outlay. This need is mainly for upgrade of the fleet of vehicles. The city is now operating the cars for longer periods of service and the repair costs have increased with the age of the fleet. The 2010 budget includes the purchase of three new patrol cars to improve the police fleet.
The sanitation department is in good shape as long as the fees collected pay for the services. The sanitation department is paid for fully with fees. There is no tax money budgeted for operation of the sanitation department.
Economic development has become an issue for the city with the defeat of the county wide sales tax to fund economic development. The system of funding economic development on a county wide basis worked well for the county for a number of years, but the county residents voted down efforts to continue that funding twice last year. A number of cities fund economic development for the city using city funds. Several residents have suggested that the city fund economic development for the city.
The city has very few options relating to increasing funding for city projects. The city at the present time is charging the maximum for a number of sources of revenue available to the city for funding. The city is at the maximum on utility franchise fees charged except for cable television. The city is also at a maximum charged the residents for personal and real property tax. The max that can be assessed is 5 mills. The city has been collecting 5 mills for about two decades.
The only way that can be used to increase funds for city operation is a local sales tax. A sales tax can be temporary or permanent. If the need is a one time need a temporary tax is the way to accomplish that goal. If the need is of a permanent nature, the tax must be permanent to cover the cost of the service that is desired by the city.
A city sales tax can only be imposed if the voters of the city approve the tax.
I have outlined what I consider the accomplishments of the city for the past year. I have also outlined some of the future needs and for more funds if those goals are to be met. I feel sure that the administration and city council members can and will discuss the present situation and the future goals and make informed decisions about how to move the city forward.
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