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COUNCIL From Page 1-A cant positions and save the city over $100,000 in payroll and bene- fits costs. "Some of us will have to double up but it you tell me to cut jobs, that's what 1 will do” said Maney. Maney said he had underspent his utility budget each of the 13 years he has been in Kings Mountain. He recommended that one position be upgraded and he said with reorganization his depart- ment could end up with three peo- ple who might have to call on con- tract help if they got in a pinch. Maney said he could also cut a meter reading position but Council objected, noting that if meters are not read on time that customers will complain when they are billed for 40-42 days instead of 30. "That will really get out of hand during the winter months and at Christmas for low income people," said Mayor Scott Neisler. Maney said the city is moving to prosecute people who steal power and Council Dean Spears asked why this measure hasn't been taken before now. Maney suggested that Council consider an equal payment plan for utility users who could spread out their payments over 12 months and improve the city's cash flow. Council approved the transfer of the meter reading business from the Finance Department to the Utility Department and Maney will supervisor that program. Parsons said there have been nu- merous repeat offenders in power thefts and the city had up to $61,000 in bad debts from power bills recently. "We're tightening up," she said. Council indicated they would not name an Assistant Finance Director and took Parsons’ recom- mendation to place an accounting clerk in that slot to coordinate the cash collections and consolidate other duties in the utility depart- ment at City Hall. Councilman Ralph Grindstaff suggested a "pool" car for the em- ployees who need one for special assignments or training and cut car expenses for certain departments. Councilman Rick Murphrey sug- gested that mileage be paid instead, upping the mileage from 21 cents to 29 cents per mile. After discussion with Fire Chief Frank Burns, the board said it would designate a car presently used by the Fire Department as a "pool" car for the finance depart- ment and Economic Development Office to use. Planning Director Gene White suggested some cuts in his depart- ment and inferred he would make a decision in September on a rumor that he may be considering retire- ment. "I don't anticipate that you will hire a Planning Director in the 1995-96 budget," he said. Jim Guyton questioned addition- al costs for salaries of $4,000 in White's proposed budget and con- curred with White that building in- spector Jeff Putnam should receive a car allowance of $200 per month since he drives his own vehicle. Burns said the only cuts he could make would be to postpone hose and nozzle repairs but Council nixed that idea. "I don't want you to come over in my neighborhood to fight a fire with worn out hoses,” said Councilman Ralph Grindstaff. Guyton questioned the current fire inspection policy and Councilman Jerry White said a lo- cal garage owner complained be- cause he was charged a $40 fee when Bethlehem Fire Department is the first responder. Burns said the city is required by law to do fire inspections also in the extra territorial jurisdiction area. "But we collect $40 from one man and then $650 for the entire year according to the proposed budget," said Guyton. "Something's out of whack." Burns said that only since July 1991 has the state had standby fire codes. "If you inspect one, you should inspect them all," said Guyton. Mayor Scott Neisler asked the Realty & Management 822-6555 TERRIFIC 3/1.5 brick ranch in con- venient location. Lg. yard, carport, fireplace, lots of wallpaper & charm. $70's. 3 BEDROOM/2.5 baths brick ranch in great neighborhood. Formal rooms, den, fenced back yard, nice landscaping. 3/4 ACRE WATERFRONT lot, con- venient location, 2/1 MH pier, boat ramp, deep water. 3/2 HUD HOME in county. $60's. Page 14A-THE KINGS MOUNTAIN HERALD-Thursday, May 12, 1994 ER Sr rR. criteria for the charges and Burns said the charges are set to be com- petitive. Councilman Jerry White said that the City of Shelby makes no charges. Burns says it takes his depart- ment about a half a day to inspect and then another two hours of fol- low up duty. Burns said his department has been going through a learning pro- cess since fire inspections became mandatory with the recent tragedy in Hamlet at a food processing plant. Building Inspector Jeff Putnam said he had a problem with giving up his travel pay and using the fire department car. "That car would not put me in the place I need to be sometime." And Burns said he had offered the extra car to other employees before but the use time would have to be scheduled so it would not conflict with firemen picking up parts or going to school. "You wouldn't want us to take a fire truck out to get these things, would you?" he asked. Librarian Rose Turner said the library will up the price of video tape rentals from 50 cents to $1 and the fee for overdue books from a nickel to a dime. Guyton questioned the addition- al library salary cost, up $5,000 over the $91,340 previous budget. Recreation Director Bruce Clark recommended that some activities be scrapped, including the elimina- tion of Mountaineer Day fireworks which cost $3150 and reduce one full-time secretarial position to a part time position and save $12,000. Clark said the hoped that the July 4th fireworks could continue because of the large drawing crowds it generated but the mayor said he had a problem with paying for fireworks and asking people to cut and make layoffs. Jerry White questioned the Parks & Recreation $19,000 secretarial salary and said that police officers start at that salary. White said he has a problem with telling people they may be out of a job and then spending money for fireworks. "Be realistic," said White. Councilman Phil Hager asked Parsons to "regroup and see if at all possible we can keep the fireworks because families enjoy them." "I can't see the sensibility of paying for fireworks when we ask people to cut back,” said Grindstaff. "Get people to donate if you want them and blow what we can blow, if it's only one pack," said Guyton. The Mayor asked Clark to ex- plore donations for the fireworks. But Clark said that already this year the Recreation Department has raised $25,000 from the com- munity to support ball teams. The board voted unanimously to decrease from 45 to 40 percent the cost the city pays for dependent in- surance coverage which will save another $34,000. Councilman Jim Guyton was vo- rr Pa A. . cal in his objection to dependent coverage. "This is the only busi- ness | know of that pays for depen- dent coverage for employees’ fami- lies," he said. The seven Council members asked Parsons to work up a prelim- inary budget projecting a four cent ad valorum property tax and a 8-10 percent hike in water costs but in- dicated they wanted to take another look at the projected rate increases if enough savings are realized from department cuts to warrant it. After lengthy discussion, in which there was a mixed reaction from council, the board indicated to Parsons that she should not fig- ure in a 2.5 merit increase to em- ployees but over strong objections of Personnel Director Winston Bagley and Utility Director Jimmy Maney. Councilmen Guyton and White said the city could not afford to give raises and layoff people. "Could we freeze merit raises this year?" asked Hager. Councilwoman Norma Bridges suggested that workers who earn $15,000 and less should receive the merit increase but City Attorney Mickey Corry suggested that to avoid confusion that raises be giv- en instead . ; "This is the fourth year we haven't had a cost of living raise and we were promised that you'd take a look at the pay classification plan five years ago," said Maney. "You have reversed what you said last week and now you're tak- ing more and more from a city em- ployee's pockets and they will walk," said Maney. Bagley said he is concerned with the employee morale. "If you aren't willing to pay more for good employees you will lose them." "I fought for employees for cost of living raises but I am referring to city bonuses which I don't think we can give when we are cutting back," said White. Guyton said he disagrees with some who say that city employees are underpaid after hearing a state employee from the state treasurer's office say that the city, in fact,. overpays in some positions. "People get to the top of the lad- der and stay there and a lot of them jumped to the top when they started." Bridges said that $5 million is allocated for salaries in a $19 mil- lion budget. She said a state offi- cial said recently here that Kings Mountain ranked at a per capita “salary of $650 per person as op- posed to the average city of similar size of $355. "When you give a 2 1/2 percent merit raise to a man making $40,000 that's a good raise but when you give it to an employee making $200 a week it isn't much," said Guyton. "Where do we put the cap on payroll?" asked Grindstaff. Corry suggested that instead of trying to figure out how to give the merit raise to those making less than $15,000 to give them a pay raise instead. But the mayor warned that could cause problems in a department where one person got a raise and the other did not. Council, after about a hour of debating the issue, stalemated and generally agreed not to include the item in the budget. They did not vote, however, and the Mayor did not call for a vote. Cutting the mer- it raises on the anniversary date would amount to a savings of $36,000 in the budget. City patrolmen and firemen will still work 12 hour shifts on their regular schedules but vacation time will be figured for all employees based on eight hours. "Calculate hours, not working days, for holidays, sick days and vacations," said White. Guyton estimated that the origi- nally proposed 10 percent water rate hike, could be cut to 7 or 8 percent and lower, noting that wa- ter consumption is up: Grindstaff said that the city took in $5,000 more than budgeted for water during the period January- April. Call 739-3666 * Kings Mountain = WE DELIVER BRICK - BLOCK - MORTAR - SAND - BRICK - BLOCK _ MORTAR - SAND Rayfield's Strawberries You Pick Them CT ei $3.50 per gal. a We Pick Them ne 99,00 per gal. wii SES A A Chios ATE IN! Containers Furnished Ee SS FEAR to take home. HR > xy; From Cherryville on 274 South, “187 turn right at Toney's T-Tops, on SHEP 71 state Road 1416. Follow signs to 2006, turn right, left at farm. CLOSED ON SUNDAYS For more information call: 435-1969 COURT IS IN SESSION ON CABLE TV Throughout May outstanding sports action. Your best source for pro games and all-around sports coverage is Cable TV. I ER Kings Mountain * 739-0164 Cherryville * 435-5449 F or the points, the plays and the stars you love to watch, enjoy TNT - Basketball excitement reaches a fever pitch with the NBA Playoffs this month. See your favorite teams hit the boards as they slam dunk their way into sports history. They'll take you to the net with pulse pounding plays that are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Catch every minute of this season finale of pro basketball all month long. SF, AN Dull Nerdhiobes Lincoln County Horseman's Association at "THE PONDEROSA" SPRING HORSE SHOW (OPEN) May 14, 1994 - 3:00 PM SPECTATOR ADMISSION: Adults $2.00 Children under 12 FREE FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: (704)428-2539 OR (704)735-4481 J, lh Bar H Championship Rodeo & Country Festival sponsored by Flint Hill Baptist Church Youth oT May 2082] Bar H Arena Boiling Springs, N.C. 6:00 pm Country Festival & Supper 8:00 pm Championship Rodeo One admission price for both events More color, action, thrills, and family fun than ever before! sme, Information: 704/434-2866 eT — YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR That's right No Money Down. You may qualify now for a new or late model car with little or No Down Payment. Don’t you owe it to yourself to call? This is for a limited time only. So Call Today! Ask for Mr. Reynolds. 704-536-1410 OR 800-868-2489 1 Proof of Individual or Family Income of 1500.00 Before Taxes 2 Bankruptcy Discharge Letter 3 Valid Drivers license (State of Residence) 4 Landlord or Mortgage Holder Name & Phone Number 5 Social Security Verification 6 Page of Phone Bill with Name & Address 7 1993 10405 - W25 & 2 Current Pay Stubs RR ST
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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May 12, 1994, edition 1
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