On the heels of the declining sales tax collections in the general fund, Sulphur council members received more possible budget woes at last week’s special Sulphur Municipal Authority (SMA) meeting held on Thursday.
With less than two months into the current fiscal year’s budget, the meeting was called for members to approve a $553,750.00 budget amendment for the water, sewer and plant restricted fund.
The amendment was necessary to cover the costs of the West 9th Street project, between Broadway and Muskogee, as well as the drainage box issue on West Muskogee Street between West 15th and 16th Streets.
Treasurer Ginger Cornell told council members it was imperative that the council approve the amendment because work on the projects had already commenced.
Cornell also told members the amendment had all but depleted funds currently available for water and sewer projects for this fiscal year. Cornell also told members that the storm drain bids set to open on August 24 may not be able to be funded for lack of funds.
In other business, members once again took no action on Change Order #3 to Downey Construction for a decrease in project cost by $486,668.00 for changes in drilling, administrative costs and reduced the quantities needed for drilling a second well. The agenda item had also received no action at the regular monthly council meeting pending further details and a contract review by the city attorney.
The request to decrease the project costs also included an additional invoice for $98,117.00 for services not clearly explained. City Manager Andy Freeman told members he would schedule another special meeting and have Downey Construction officials at the meeting so council members could ask questions about the charges.
In final agenda action, members approved a quote from Premier Truck Group in the amount of $2114.16 for a TCM module for the 2022 Freightliner M2 truck.
Ward 4 Councilman Ryan Peters was absent at the meeting.
