City manager gives update on Euharlee financials

Euharlee City Manager James Stephens presented financial documents to council members at a work session meeting held on May 17.

"The first page is our revenues through the end of March, year to date, compared to the budget at that same timeframe," he said. "Many of our revenues are recognized and received equally throughout the year … but the revenue's not spread evenly over 12 months."

As of March 31, Stephens said the City held "an unfavorable revenue variance" of $19,370.

"Looking at each line item, that's predominantly composed of $12,000 short in fines and forfeitures," he continued. "I want to point out the school cameras are not included, this is the general fund budget and the school camera is restricted money — so it's not reflected here."

Stephens, however, said he felt "comfortable" that the City would make up that almost $20,000 deficit shortly.

"The total on expenses through March 31, we have favorable variance of almost $80,000," he added. "And also, those will equal out our liability insurance that was paid on May 1 — so we will not continue that favorable of an expense variance, but through March 31 we have spent $80,000 less than what was budgeted year to date."

If the City's fiscal year ended on March 31, Stephens said Euharlee would have used about $152,000 in fund balance.

"We had budgeted through March to use $212,000," he said. "So we have a net favorable variance of $60,000."

The City parks and recreation department, he said, has expended more than budgeted.

"But that's related to signage," he said. "If you go through Joe Cowan Park and you look at the big sign on the back of the scoreboard that faces the parking lot, that was totally replaced — we replaced all of the signing that was in the park, and that is why that is actually over-budget at this point in time."

The City, Stephens said, certainly has concerns about the impacts of supply chain disruptions.

"Currently, SPLOST is 20% higher than last year," he said. "Through three months, we've collected $5,000 more than our budgeted amount."

The majority of the work session meeting revolved around plans for potential Osborne Park upgrades.

No voting actions, however, were taken by council members.

Stephens said three firms have submitted bids for engineering and master planning contracts associated with that project.

"We sent communication out to all three of them asking them to rework their proposals based on the amphitheater being close to the current tennis court location and that the bathrooms would be centrally located," he said. "And to also rework their construction estimate and show us what amenities we could expect to have built if our budget was $1.2 million."

Stephens said a bid from Croy did not include options that would have allowed the City to move forward with "some of our most desired features," like an amphitheater and playground equipment.

Euharlee Mayor Craig Guyton, however, said the proposal from Croy did allow for the construction of an amphitheater and playground parking.

"But based on their response, I have listed them as third in my order," Stephens said.

The City also received bids from a firm Stephens described as "Cooper."

"They, initially, as you recall, showed the amphitheater being close to where home plate is," he said. "They did show reworking the park and the land with an amphitheater close to the tennis court, but even in their rework they're still showing a retention pond in that same area."

That firm, he said, "is very capable" and has performed work from much larger cities.

"I'd have no doubt they could do a great master plan and design for us, but based on their initial response and them still showing the retention pond close at the amphitheater, I listed them as second," Stephens said.

The third bid, Stephens said, comes from a contractor that split the proposed work at the park into two phases of development.

"In their plan, they indicate that we can get $75,000 worth of new playground equipment and a fishing pier," he said. "Their current parking is not asphalt, it is gravel … I feel like Alan Bell has been the most attentive to the communications we provided to them and I think they have more experience in working with municipal governments closer to the size of Euharlee. So I think they would be most sensitive to our construction budget."

That bid, he said, came in at $106,000. The bid from Cooper was just $93,000 — the bid amount from Croy was not publicized by Stephens at the May 17 meeting.

"We have until June 7 for ya'll to take binding vote," Stephens told the council. "I can tell you that the costs for water and sewer that all three firms are showing will come in less than what they're predicting, because they did these projections without having utilities located."

Councilman Jo Turner said he had some concerns about the plans presented.

"Mr. Stephens doesn't like Croy, but it does the least damage to Osborne Park in their design," he argued. "It does not tear down the oak trees that are there … honestly, these first two that's going to redesign that whole park, I just don't like it."

Councilman Tim Abbott said he's also like to see "very few" trees removed as part of any renovations at the park.

"If you went with Cooper, this would be far from the final master plan, and the same thing on any three of them," Stephens noted. "But Cooper, their plan was to take all the trees out and put grown trees back in."