By JEFFREY POWELLÂ
The Freeport City Council held its first regularly scheduled meeting of 2016 on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at Freeport City Hall. All council members and the mayor were in attendance. The meeting was also attended by approximately 25 people and covered a wide range of topics.
One subject that came up several times was a review of the city’s personnel policies and procedures manual. Council members stressed the need to review the manual and make adjustments to holiday leave pay and discuss the manual in general.
Under new business the city decided not to get an appraisal of land adjacent to city hall due to the fact that it was deemed too expensive. Everyone there agreed the land would be an asset to the city but for now the cost was simply too high. Mayor Russ Barley gave an update to the gathering as to why the community center had not been completely painted. He said several finishing touches would be performed and the job would be finished as soon as possible. Councilwoman Elizabeth Brannon briefed the council that she would be going to Tallahassee to conduct Florida League of Cities business. Her trip will be in early February.
During Councilwoman Kasey Cuchens’ time Florida Rural Water Association Financial Circuit Rider Bob Mearns gave a power point presentation entitled Freeport Water and Wastewater Rate Study findings and recommendations. Mearns painted a rather dreary picture of the city’s finances as they apply to the water and sewer operations. He pointed out clearly that the city has a lot of debt on the water side of the equation. He stressed in no uncertain terms that the city’s lack of financial reserves will be a problem in the near future if rates for both water and sewer are not raised substantially. He recommended the rate be increased incrementally over the next three years to prevent “rate shock” among customers. The average in-city water-bill using 5,000 gallons per month that is now $12.75 would over the three years increase to $19.63, an increase of 54 percent. Customers using Freeport utilities outside the city limits could also be charged a 25-percent surcharge on top of that figure. The rate increases are a “financial necessity,” according to Mearns. Councilman Eddie Farris suggested streamlining the billing desk procedures to become more customer-friendly.
Under public comments Dixie Youth baseball representatives agreed to help the city complete work on the baseball fields in preparation of this year’s season. The meeting wrapped up with Tim Ard presenting drawings of phase three of the Freeport Veterans Memorial. The new additions, referred to as Heroes Walk, would include honor bricks, new fencing and a walkway. The next Freeport City Council meeting will be on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.