Council approves water rate increase, tables library permit discussion

JOSEPH — As budget season approaches, the Joseph City Council at its meeting April 3 heard concerns residents expressed in a letter.

Mark Lacey read the letter, which 17 other residents signed. Mayor Stephen Bartlow said some of the signatories live outside of town.

The thrust of the letter was a demand for more transparency from city government on financial matters.

“According to information presented at the recent budget committee meeting, the city of Joseph has not completed an audited financial statement in over two years,” the letter stated. “It was also noted that the city does not currently produce standard financial reports such as profit and loss statements, nor does it have documented internal controls in place.”

Bartlow said he was a member of the administrative committee last year, along with then-Mayor Lisa Collier and Administrator Dan Larman, and they regularly reviewed city expenditures and were well aware of where city spending was going.

“Everything is above board and proper in terms of transparency,” the mayor said.

In another matter, the council agreed unanimously to raise water rates, which was a part of the city’s loan agreement for the recent water main replacement project.

“None of us love the idea, but it is a fact of life and we do have a contractual obligation,” Councilor Brinda Stanley said.

Also, former Mayor and Councilor Teresa Sajonia applied to serve on the city’s budget committee, which has a vacancy. However, state law requires a committee cannot have more members at large than from city government. Diane Daggett, who chairs the city’s planning commission, accepted Bartlow’s request to resign from the budget committee.

But the council still is short one member since last month when Councilor Mike Lockhart resigned. The council tabled Sajonia’s application because there’s no room on the budget committee.

The council also:

• Set a work session for April 16 at 6 p.m. at the events center. On the agenda for the session are city assets, real property and public safety funding.

• Tabled a decision on a conditional-use permit for the Blackburn Building that is intended as the site of the new city library. It is in a residential area and several neighbors objected, so the Planning Commission denied the permit. The council will decide to appeal or pursue another course at the upcoming work session.

• Set the date for a Clean-up Day for April 26. The council urged any residents in need of assistance removing waste to contact city hall.