State-Journal.com - Spending, stormwater utility top the lists

Among the top issues facing the city in the next two years is Frankfort's prospect of separating storm and sanitary sewers, some commissioners say.

The separation could be accomplished with the creation of a stormwater utility, which would help the city comply with a state consent judgment mandating the mitigation of sanitary and stormwater overflows.

Commissioners Rodney Williams and Sellus Wilder told The State Journal Wednesday sewer projects top their lists of important issues in the coming term.

New leadership publicly takes the city's helm Monday night.

"We still don't know enough to decide whether a stormwater utility is feasible," Williams said.

An important step, he said, is finding room in the budget for potential projects whether they will come to fruition or not.

"It makes a lot of sense for us to start designating revenue sources for particular services," Williams said. "That's a big part of the investigation into a stormwater utility."

Wilder said the possible utility could save taxpayers money down the line.

The utility would charge for excess stormwater but would allow the city to collect fees from state government, which may be a big contributor to the vast amount of water Frankfort treats that it is not paid to handle.

But, Wilder said, the utility is not yet within reach.

"That's something that would have to happen in conjunction with the county," Wilder said. "It would take awhile."

Also at the forefront of leaders' minds is the city's budget - with a tight economy and city revenue on a plateau, commissioners have expressed a desire to keep spending in check.

"The number one thing is the budget," Commissioner Kathy Carter said. "We should strive very diligently to provide efficient services."

Williams said in dedicating funds to services, commissioners should consider what's essential.

"A lot of tough questions about level of services are going to have to be on the table in the next several months," Williams said.

"We can't let expenditures exceed revenue," Wilder said. "We can't keep pulling money out of the reserve funds anymore."

Mayor Gippy Graham said the budget was a top priority for him. "The thing that concerns me is the revenue flow being level," Graham said.

Graham said the unknown impact of smaller state government on city's revenue will bring uncertainty into planning for the coming years.

Graham said a good rule of thumb for the reserve fund is a fourth of the city's annual budget. "Right now we meet that benchmark," Graham said of the city's $31.5 million budget and $9 million reserve.

But, Graham said, in light of future obligations, the city must tread lightly.
And Commissioner Bill May says he hopes to continue with a personnel study he proposed in the fall " a move he says could save the city money by determining where the city has too many staff, or not enough.

May said he would bring up the study at a January meeting.

But, May said, he still has hopes for an aquatic center for the city.

"That's very important for young people and families in our community," May said. "But we're going to have to look at our budget and take care of the basic services first."

"That's the biggest thing on my mind - we're continuing to throw money down the drain on the pools, with all the repairs that need to be made on those constantly."

The new commission is set to take office publicly Monday night at a 5:30 swearing-in ceremony.

The mayor and commissioners were officially sworn in Dec. 11 as a matter of convenience and to prevent uncertainty in the event of an emergency as to which commission is in office.

The ceremony will be followed by a special meeting to elect a mayor pro tem, a spot typically won by the highest vote-getter in the election.

Carter led the race with 5,843 votes. Wilder earned the second most with 5,686.
There will also be public tours of the Public Safety Facility at 300 W. Main St. between 3 and 5 p.m. Monday.