| Middletown City Managers Weelkly Update To Council April 19, 2009 |
| Wednesday, April 22, 2009 11:06:43 AM - Middletown Ohio |
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Weekly Update to City Council
from the City Manager
April 19,
2009
Finance and Safety Committee meetings this week
Safety meeting will be held Thursday 4/23 at 3:00 p.m. in the Police Training Room and Finance Committee meeting will be held Thursday 4/23 at 5:00 p.m. in conference room 2C.
Budget Reductions
We will have a discussion at Finance Committee on priorities for budget reductions. Our current shortfall estimate is $750,000 to $1M in general fund revenues. I have asked each general fund department to create a list of reductions equal to 2% of their budget. We will have more information toward the end of April on our income tax situation. Nonetheless, we will be prepared for a discussion. Obviously, on the other end, we are examining ways to increase revenues.
Pioneer Cemetery Vault
I met with interested parties once again about the cemetery. Quotes that Vivian Moon received to renovate the decorative vault are in the $65,000 - $80,000 range. There is a great deal of stone work to be done. I believe that we can come up with the $11,000 match required of the Community Foundation which would provide a total budget of $22,000. We are also asking contractors for additional quotes. We will either renovate the vault or demolish it this year. The point is well taken that the city needs to keep up its property when we are asking residents and businesses to do so. While demolition of the vault is not my first choice, we have park equipment that needs to be replaced, we have a pool that needs attention and we have many beautiful significant historic structures that are in disrepair. Tough choices.
MYSA and SDS Softball
Thanks to Ralph Conner of the Park Board for his assistance in working with staff, MYSA and the SDS for use of Lefferson Field. We hope that we have reached a workable compromise which will assist both softball groups this year; we will have more information in the next day or two.
Tree City USA
Members of the Tree Commission, Bull’s Run, Council Member Jim Armbruster and I attended the Tree City awards last week. By capitalizing on our efforts already underway, we were able to gain Tree City status for the second year in a row. Thanks to the Tree Commission, Park Board, Keep Middletown Beautiful and Bull’s Run volunteers!
Section 8 Update
We have agreement with CONSOC on the language and the fee! This is a fair agreement and I am happy with the results, notwithstanding the amount of work and time that went into this process. We have this item as a first reading on the agenda tomorrow night, we will present a thorough review of the document at the meeting tomorrow.
Clean-up Middletown Day
Thanks to the many volunteers who worked on Saturday to pick up litter throughout the community. Keep Middletown Beautiful did a great job in coordinating the efforts!
Upcoming Events
April 21- City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers
April 22- Earth Day – Volunteers will be working from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in Sunset Park 10:00 a.m. - Tree planting and Earth Day Ceremony – 20-25 Duke Energy employees will be there for the ceremony and tree planting (16 big trees).
April 23- Safety Committee Meeting, Police Training Room, 3:00 p.m.
April 23- Finance Committee Meeting, Conference Room 2C, 5:00 p.m.
April 24- Arbor Day – Noon, Sunset Park. Planting of a small tree at the Pool’s Walk-In Entrance
April 25- Middletown NAACP Freedom fund Banquet, 5:30 (social), 6:00 p.m. (dinner), Tried Stone Baptist Church Banquet Facility, 621 Lafayette Ave. Tickets are $35 and can obtained by calling 513-571-8560 or 513-464-0420
May 1- Aldi’s Ribbon-cutting (11:00 a.m.) and Open House Event, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., 3536 S. Dixie Highway
May 4- Park Board meeting, 5:30 p.m., Conference Room 2C
May 5- City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers
Links for additional information:
City Manager’s Weekly Update: www.cityofmiddletown.org
Middletown Community Calendar: http://www.calendarwiz.com/middletowncalendar
Pothole Patrol: www.cityofmiddletown.org or call 727-3691 (Option 2)
Have a great week! Judy
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