City Council Looks At Goals, Future

Editor

Canton Mayor Rusty Wilson brought the three new council members up to speed during their regular council meeting last week as he reviewed the city’s goals, and each department head gave a report for the year.

Canton Municipal Judge Lilia Durham administered the oath of office to new council members Clay Nicklas, Charles Huddle and Ross Maris.

After the oath of office was given Wilson went through goals and objectives for the city.

"One of the first and foremost things that we need is to reduce our overall debt," Wilson said.

He expressed his desire for the "new" council to review these goals and look at making it part of the long-term plan.

In a handout presented to those at the meeting it states that the city of Canton’s key financial objective is, "to reduce the current debt to zero by the end of 2015. Understanding emergency and unique situations may occur. Any additional debt incurred shall not take the overall debt beyond 2020."

Wilson went on to point out that before 2020 the city will be in need of a new city hall, and water/sewer plant improvements.

"We want to make sure we have our city in the most financially safe and secure position going forward," Wilson said.

Another objective is the city of Canton’s long range water objective in preparing the city for the future with additional water resources.

Three points mentioned in literature handed out during the meeting included: "Additional well water, potential water discharge re-use, and potential surface water reservoir."

City manager Andy McCuistion then went over the 2008/2009 goals and objectives:

Improve communications with the citizens, improve the city Website, adding a sound system and projector in the council chambers, posting meeting notices in additional locations other than city hall, review and adopt new financial policies, develop a multi-year plan to begin using First Monday funds to retire debt, and develop a multi-year plan for water and waste water funds to become self-supportive.

Also, reduce long-term debt and improve their credit rating, improve credibility of city staff and council with the citizens of Canton, training and professional development of staff, review the organization and realign the workloads, promote a positive environment for economic development in the community, and enhance the quality of life in Canton.

Then staff reports were given:

City secretary/financial officer Julie Seymore reported the audit has been completed and will be presented at the June meeting.

Seymore said city has now audited the animal shelter financial activities and has implemented changes at the shelter, as well as the city implementing several new programs, and some other changes.

EDC and Main Street Director Jim Stephens gave his final report to the council as his last day was May 23.

"I just want to say I certainly enjoyed working with the city of Canton," Stephens said.

He spoke of the leadership of city manager Andy McCuistion, mayor Rusty Wilson and the volunteer base in the community.

"We have tried to create a downtown atmosphere that would attract people, that would attract tourism and we as a group have accomplished that along with the chamber of commerce," Stephens added.

He pointed out the added infrastructure in water/sewer to FM 859, I 20, SH 19 and SH 243 to attract businesses.

Stephens also spoke of the distribution of community enhancement grants, and the help offered by the Reclamation Station to start a recycling program in the city.

He also spoke of the success of the Welcome Home Soldier Program in Canton

Municipal judge Lilia Durham then gave a report on her office, stating that the court clerk position had gone from part-time to full-time status.

She reported that past due cases have been distributed and she is now offering payment or community service plans.

Durham also reported they are looking at an online vendor collections program

Police chief Michael Echols reported that his department has purchased their new vehicle, and he then went into a goal for his department which has been to expand the police department’s relationship with the community.

He explained that although they first considered a citizens police academy, they then decided to go to a neighborhood watch program.

Echols said he sent officers to training for the program.

"One of our main goals is to keep crime down," he said.

Echols reported that "crime is dropping" in the areas of assault and vehicle theft, and that arrests are up.

He also said that his department is sending cases to the District Attorney’s office and that the conviction rate is high.

Fire chief Charles Bazhaw reported on several grants his department has received this year.

Those grants have helped the fire department receive eight sets of bunker gear, wild land fire gear, gloves, self contain breathing apparatus bottles, a hydrocarbon detector, and a HAZMAT detection device.

He also reported starting a Citizens Fire Academy.

"What we did start back up this year also was a revenue recovery program," he said. "That allows us to recover some of our lost costs that we incur associated with handling calls outside the city limits."

Seventy to eighty percent of the calls the city handles, Bazhaw pointed out, are outside the city limits.

Public works director Rick Malone said there is now a citywide e-mail and each city council member will have an e-mail address.

He reported work on the wastewater treatment systems.

Malone also reported that crews have started on the Etheridge Road project, have resurfaced Shady Lane and part of Tower Street.

First Monday Director Lonny Cluck said city staff is developing a First Monday master plan, resurfacing the senior citizens parking lot, making improvements to the creek, building two creeks, increased RV rates, and started Code Red for emergency situations.

Also, they have keyed all outside gates and given police and fire department a key for emergency situations, created a first Monday policy and procedures manual and implemented a recycle program for cardboard boxes.