Budget talks dominate much of city council meeting

The Ritzville City Council meeting on Nov. 6 lasted nearly two hours as it covered a wide array of topics, as councilmembers and city staff also continued to discuss the 2019 preliminary budget.

The meeting began with a public hearing on proposed ordinance 2116, which would ban cargo containers and pods from residential zoning districts. Coverage of that hearing can be found in last week’s issue of the Ritzville Journal.

Much of the meeting centered around 2019 preliminary budget talks. Councilmembers were provided with physical copies of the 34-page draft preliminary budget by Treasurer-Clerk Julie Flyckt.

Flyckt noted the changes to the draft budget included a list of highlights taken by the city this year that will carry into next year. Highlights included: investing in a Wayfinding Plan to implement a sign system throughout the city; investing in a crack-sealing project, increased infrastructure planning by the Public Works Committee with other stakeholders; continual support of Arbor Day and Tree City USA designation by the Tree Board, as well as the development of the 1st Avenue Beautification Project; grants related to organizing the city’s file room; and supporting the county in placing the 0.3 percent sales tax proposal, which would increase monies for county law enforcement to hire more personnel, on the ballot.

Flyckt also noted several assumptions and impacts that could affect next year’s budget, including the potential retirement of the Public Works Director, Larry Swift, and and a Public Works maintenance worker. In that event, the preliminary budget proposes hiring an interim Public Works Director next May, who will train alongside Swift until December of 2019. The interim Director would be paid $4,220 a month, with the wage being split among the public works departments (water, streets, sewer and parks).

“This was not any kind of a plan, it’s a ‘what if,’” said Mayor Gary Cook. “I asked [Flyckt] to put in some kind of an allocation. It has nothing to do with [Swift], he’s here as long as he wants to be. But in the event that he did make the decision [to retire] this coming spring...I asked her to put in about a half of a year’s Step One wage into the budget. So it’s not necessarily a plan, it’s a contingency, I would say. So please view it that way.”

A 1.5 percent cost of living adjustment increase for all city employees is also being proposed in the preliminary budget. An insurance increase of between 12 to 15 percent is also being anticipated in the new budget, due to the increase in the market, weather-related events and claims.

The budget is currently reflecting a 14 percent insurance increase while the formal invoice is expected to be received in the coming weeks. The employee medical insurance was increased by 3.3 percent in the budget, and employee vision insurance was increase by 3 percent. The medical and vision insurance also cover dependents of city employees.

Revenue assumptions for 2019 anticipates the state-allowed increase of one percent for the property tax levy. Projected revenues in the 2019 budget were estimated by using year-over-year trends and an estimate calculator from the Municipal Research and Services Center.

Flyckt noted that the city’s General Obligation Bond will be completely paid in 2019, and the PWTF Construction Loan was completely paid in 2018. A potential impact to the budget is a possible settlement on the current lawsuit regarding well No. 8, although there is no estimate on the potential costs as of now.

In his message about the 2019 preliminary budget, Cook said that he is “honored to be part of this great city’s growth and progress in recent years.”

“The city has been fiscally prudent in recent years, which provides a solid financial foundation from which to move forward,” said Cook. “We continue to explore economic development, infrastructure modernization and create long term opportunities, which together enhance the quality of life for all residents and visitors.

Cook says that his proposed 2019 budget addresses issues such as continued growth within Ritzville, ensuring sufficient funds to continue ongoing responsibilities such as public safety, streets, parks and utilities, and a renewed emphasis on beautification and tourism.

“I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished up to now and optimistic that our city and its citizens will continue to thrive, thanks to the hard work of our employees,” said Cook. Their commitment to you, the residents of this community, is second to none.”

A public hearing for the 2019 final budget was set for Dec. 4

A discussion regarding abandoned cemetery lots also took up a sizable portion of the meeting, with city attorney John Kragt explaining the issue to the council. A resident asked what process the city has to observe when attempting to establish ownership over abandoned cemetery lots.

In short, Kragt said that if a lot has been unoccupied and in a “state of disrepair” for at least five years, then the cemetery can reclaim the property if it follows proper notice requirements.

Speaking about proposed ordinance 2116, Kragt said that the way the ordinance had been written in regards to fining those who violated the ordinance would essentially allow people to pay a $500 check to keep their cargo containers.

“So if you have an individual that’s put a lot of work into [their cargo container], that’s about the easiest fine they’ll ever pay,” Kragt said. “I don’t think that’s accomplishing what some of [the council] wanted to do.”

Ritzville Police Chief Dave McCormick said the police department is continuing to field some calls on minor burglaries and vehicle prowls, which are burning up a lot of the officers’ nights by responding and investigating them. If it continues, McCormick says the department may want to move more resources into the late evening and early morning hours.

McCormick also shared that federal grand jury indictments are expected to be handed down on Nov. 20 for a case that the police department has been assisting the Federal Bureau of Investigation with, and said that when the indictments are delivered he’ll be able to share more details about the case itself.