Royal council looks at FY22 budget projections

A lengthy review of the City of Royal’s 2021-22 budget was the major item of business during the Jan. 13 council meeting.

Council members and City Clerk Barb Fletcher looked at projected revenues and each expenditure line item of the budget that goes into effect on July 1. Revenues are expected to increase due to higher property valuations and will total approximately $470,500.

The majority of expenditure increases reflect higher wage and insurance costs. Council members also decided to budget additional expenditures from the local option sales tax fund. They include purchases of a new mower for the parks and a blade for the plow truck, as well as costs related to construction of a street in east Royal. Excess sales tax revenues may also be used to retire a portion of the city’s debt.

The FY22 budget will also include funding for the recreation program. It was not held in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and no firm decision has been reached regarding this year’s plans.

The maximum levy hearing, one of two required before the budget is officially approved, will be held during the Feb. 10 meeting.

• Code update options

A Zoom meeting with Darren Bumgarner, of Northwest Iowa Planning and Development Commission, regarding updates of Royal’s code of ordinances was delayed until the February meeting.

NWIPDC did submit a quote of $4,500 to assist with a complete ordinance update. Council Member Matt Goyette suggested looking at alternative ways to complete the task.

“There has to be resources available,” he said. “Having [Bumgarner] here at the end is fine, but I don’t think we need them every step of the way.”

“Let’s keep it on the February schedule but if it is something we could do ourselves, we’ll keep it out there,” Mayor Josh Toft said.

The Iowa League of Cities will also be contacted to see what options are available.

• Appointments, service counter

Annual appointments for 2021 include: Barb Fletcher, city clerk; Sherman Nielsen, sewer, public works and maintenance superintendent; Home State Bank, official depository; The Sentinel-News, official newspaper; and the office of Montgomery, Barry, Bovee, Steffen and Davis, city attorney. Council appointments will not change this year.

A new service window and counter will be installed south of the clerk’s office door. Fletcher will wait on most customers there rather than having them come into her office. Swanson Construction’s quote of $850 includes all materials and installation of a mirrored window and counter.

An alternative was to convert the office entrance into a Dutch door with a counter on top.

“I like the window idea,” said council member Jeff Van Westen.

“I like it too. That will make it look more professional,” Toft added.

• Truck lights, street closure

Nielsen requested permission to mount new lights to shine over the blade on the dump truck. He said the current lights are “pretty weak” and new LED lights would improve visibility, especially during snow plowing. The council authorized the purchase, with a spending limit of $300.

Construction of AgPartners’ new grain storage facility is progressing. Nielsen anticipated that concrete pouring would begin within a week. The street south of the construction site will be temporarily closed during the process.

“That project’s moving along really well,” Nielsen said.

The stump removal project was completed except for an area covered by snow drifts. Those stumps will be removed in the spring.