The Sutherland City Council held a budget hearing for the proposed 2023-24 fiscal year. There were no written comments or questions about the proposed budget.
Approval of this budget by passing Resolution 2023-19 allows the City of Sutherland to collect up to $93,988 from property taxes. The city can also collect up to $30,000 from a .06750 cents pre $1000 of property valuation to pay for liability, property & self insurance costs. Library support from the Local Option Sales Tax may generate an additional $3,133.00 for the library. Ag land levies is budgeted to bring in another $1288.00. Special revenue for specific city activity comes from an emergency levy, FICA & IPERS levy and other employee benefits levy on property. Charges for fees and services are estimated at $347,000. Other revenue sources include TIF, Intergovernmental and miscellaneous sources. Estimated revenue for the coming year reaches $947,958. That is a decrease in estimated revenues by $261,831.00.
Costs to the city taking on significant increases are for liability, property & self-insurance, also Tort Liability Insurance. FICA & IPERS as well as other benefits are due to increased health insurance costs. The reserves for those expenses have been spent down and it is time to again levy to cover those costs.
Total expenditures, including transfers are estimated at $1,051,083.00. That is a decrease from the current year’s re-estimated budgeted spending by $677,677.00.
Mark Cody, representing Willoway attended the April 3 meeting to make 2 requests of the city. The first was for a letter of support for their O’Brien County Foundation Grant application. The grant is to repaint the indoor swimming pool. The second request was for assistance to refill the swimming pool. He guessed it takes 35,000 gallons to fill the pool. He estimates the total project at just over $15,000.
Kiana Johnson gave an annual update to the council. In addition to sharing the dollar value of loans provided over the years of the revolving loan fund she shared some interesting information about tourism in O’Brien County, particularly Sutherland.
From 1993 through 2022 OCEDC has approved 67 loans with a collective value of $5,136,246.00. Those loans are credited with creating 215 jobs and retaining 312 throughout O’Brien County. She also noted that $809,210.00 have been made to Sutherland businesses.
Johnson showed cell phone data indicating the number of cell phones that originate from outside Sutherland pinging in Sutherland. The data was broken down from cell phone “homes” trips by day of the week, trips by month, and the length of the stays. The data showed the most frequent source location was from Sioux City. The least visited day of the week to Sutherland is Wednesday and the busiest month is May. Most trips are day trips with 1 night stays next. Sutherland was a destination, according to cell phone data 3,896 times.
During upkeep of the library, some cracks in the foundation were uncovered. Several bids were collected and each described how they would repair the cracks. Council accepted the Library’s recommendation to accept the bid of Bob Hatch of Cherokee. That bid for corrective and protective work was for $9600.00. The fire and ambulance department reported that both of the new vehicles would be on display at the annual BINGO night. The ambulance has been upgraded and the fire department took possession of a new ladder truck.
The date of a budget amendment was set for May 1 at 7:00pm. O’Brien County Foundation Grant letters of support were approved. More than $20,000 has been raised to replace the electronic sign downtown. The sign has been ordered.
Bids deadline for property at 210 W 2nd Street in Sutherland was set for June 5, 2023 at 7:00pm. The structure on the property cannot be rehabilitated. On April 11 the O’Brien County Supervisors agreed to abate back taxes on the property.
Replacement of the water meters is underway. The installers will need access to homes. Appointments can be made by calling the city office to set a date and time. Ferguson Waterworks estimates they can change 110 meters each week. The new meters are paid for largely by the American Rescue Funds. Water usage can be measured remotely with the new meters and are said to be more accurate.