Meeker’s Town Board of Trustees have approved the proposed budget for 2021-2022 and they also have approved the proposed Public Works Authority budget for the new fiscal year as well.
The Trustees have agreed to lease the Meeker Lake from July 9-11 for a Medical Marijuana Education event.
Town Administrator Dickie Walton explained the General Fund budget totals $906,525 and that figure includes $190,000 in carryover cash.
It also includes a three percent raise for all town employees.
He noted that three percent is across the board including himself and Town Clerk Mary Conner.
A couple of the Trustees, Rick Hill and Billy Walker, said the three percent wasn’t sufficient for Police Chief Trent Norton and Assistant Chief Scott Wilson. But Norton and Wilson, who were in attendance during the special meeting last week, indicated they were okay with that amount.
Conner and Walton both said in order to give those two more, some town employee would lose his or her job. Norton and Wilson said they were aware of that and they didn’t want that to happen.
“I appreciate it. If three percent is what the town can afford, then it’s three percent. I do not need to lose any officers,” Norton said.
Walton emphasized to the Trustees and others who were in attendance, “We never figured a budget where we would lose employees.
Following the discussion, the Trustees voted 4-0 in favor of the proposed budget.
Later, meeting as the Trustees of the Public Works Authority, they again voted unanimously to approve the proposed PWA budget for 2021-2022. Walton noted it totals $757,968. 25 and that includes a cash carryover of $255,000.
The PWA budget also includes a three percent across-the-board pay increase for Authority employees.”
Last year’s budget was $474,955, Walton said, and didn’t include the carryover.
In other business, the Trustees voted to lease the Meeker Lake to allow Chronic Palooza to hold a Medical Marijuana Educational Event.
It’s expected to begin the morning of Friday, July 9, and go until sometime Sunday, July 11.
“This will be something new,” Meeker Mayor Jeff Wilbourn noted.
He said he understands it’s the first time for the business to conduct this and allow it go from Friday through Sunday without any stopping time until Sunday.
Meeker Police officers, board members, and those who hold annual permits can come and go at the lake as they wish, Wilbourn explained.
“It’s intended to be so people can come and see what Medical Marijuana is all about,” the mayor said.
Hill commented, “I still have no clue what this really is.”
The mayor stressed the company will provide the town with a copy of their insurance.