Rincon City Council approved the 2009 operating budget during last Monday night’s meeting. And once again, they have done so without charging its resident city property taxes. They voted to set the 2008 millage rate at zero mills.
The 2009 general fund is set at $2.85 million; utilities fund at $3.095 million; fire department at $213,000 and the SPLOST at $1.862 million.
In other business, council voted to increase the penalty fee for returned checks from $25 to the legal amount set by the state. The initial consideration was to increase it to $30; however, Councilman Paul Wendelken said he wanted to discuss their options. Mayor Ken Lee pointed out that most companies charge $35. The change takes effect in January.
Council also moved forward on the drainage issues at 124 St. Andrews Road. With the exception of Councilman Ken Baxley, council voted to absorb the cost of raising the culverts to help offset the flooding problems the residents have had.
The city already has made several cuts, said Councilman Reese Browher, who had went out to the property recently.
Council also directed city staff to move forward with the other property located on St. Andrews Road.
Other actions by city council included:
• Approved final approval of construction plans for an additional storage building at 1210 Patriot Park Dr.
• Approved first reading of an annexation petition from Paul V. and Sherry M. Wendelken for five acres at 455 Ackerman Rd.
• Approved resolutions to submit grant applications for Georgia Department of Transportation state aid grant.
• Approved a drawdown request for the final payment from their Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority loan in the amount of $183,841.01. (Within 60 days of final payout, the city will have to begin making loan payments.)
• Approved a refund to Lee Sikes in the amount of $853.87 for sewer and other related charges. Sikes recently discovered that he had been paying for city sewer despite having a septic tank. Although Sikes didn’t attend the meeting, councilman Wendelken said he felt it was important to go ahead and reimburse the funds since the city was at fault.
