“I am concerned about what is to come and how we are going to pay for it,” said Zick speaking about the pending increases that are about to hit the city like a tsunami. “We are going to fall over the edge if some tough decisions are not made soon.”
Zick said he is worried about how the upcoming elections may effect the council and the tough decisions that need to be made.
What the mayor is referring to includes the 13 percent increase on water sold to the city from the Logan Todd Regional Water Commission (LTRWC) coming March 1, as well as an anticipated 15 percent increase on the city’s medical coverage, 17 percent increase on natural gas, five percent increase on electric and another 3 percent increase on gasoline. This does not include capital outlay for future projects and equipment costs, nor does it include a sinking fund for emergencies.
According to Zick the city is looking at way over $250,000 in additional annual expenses in 2010-2011 with no way to pay for it.
“The public asks why we don’t buy a new fire truck, which we need? Well it’s simple, we just don’t have the money,” said Zick adding, “We don’t have any money and are behind the eight ball now.”
The mayor is very disappointed in the council’s decision to take off the fee/tax passed on life and health insurance premiums to those who do business in the city limits. The fee/tax generates over $100,000, but that will cease come June of this year since the council voted not to tax those premiums.
“We are going backwards instead of forwards,” said Zick. “When things go up, we have no choice but to go up with it. They are not popular decisions, but they are ones that will effect the citizens in the long run of we don’t make them. “What will happen if we have to cut more employees and have no capital budgeted for water and sewer projects and upkeep. Will we slip back into a tap-on ban seen here over a decade ago? If this happens we are finished as a city. There is no more to cut, we are to the bone now.”
Zick said he realizes this is an election year but wants the council to “do the right thing and do what they were elected to do.”
“The employees of this city have not had a raise in four years and we have to continue to have the funding to progress in our water and sewer projects. If we do not find a way to generate funding to cover the increases we are going to be facing it doesn’t look good for the city. More personnel and more services will have to be cut, which will greatly effect the progress and general well being of this city,” said Zick.
One of the first moves Zick feels needs to be made is a decision on the LTRWC increase.
“This is coming in less than a month and so far the council has yet to make a decision on what they are going to do. I know some of them want to wait to see if we can recover unaccounted for water through leaks but the increase is going to hit us soon and we need to be prepared,” said Zick.
A couple of hot points the mayor says some seem to focus on are the Carpenter Center and the Parks Department. According to Zick these are two quality of life services the city offers which ultimately bring people into the city.
“I hear every once in a while from citizens and from the council about cutting these services. This would be detrimental to this city in more ways than one.
“First of all the Carpenter Center is at its highest membership and patronage ever. The bonds will be paid off in two years and then the center will hold its own. The parks department is one of the most growing departments the city has. People all over the city and county utilize the parks system and to take that away would be pitiful,” said Zick.
“If we start backpedaling now you can kiss this city goodbye. We have to keep moving forward and overcome the obstacles. I’m not running for reelection and I have nothing to lose so I’m going to tell it like it is.”
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