By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
With the coming end of the fiscal year, financial considerations were addressed by the City Council of Parsons at their regular meeting.
Among the financial considerations the council addressed were two invoice lists. The first concerned the normal assorted bills of the city amounting $92,877.43 and included multiple Mon Power accounts among other vendors that service the city. The second invoice list contained two entries for Kidwell’s Auto Parts, Inc totaling $1,842.08.
The council also considered two quotes submitted. The Final Touch Embroidery and Screen Printing in Cumberland, Md. submitted an order approval for $1,725.00 for Oil Dry red infield conditioner, Oil Dry drying agent, Oil Dry easy mound bricks clay, and Pro Turf home plate mat. Old Glory Resources, Inc. submitted a safety chips quote to the city in the amount of $2,950.00 for 100 yards of Playground Safety Chips.
Also presented at the meeting was the monthly financial report prepared and submitted by the acting treasurer and treasurer in training. According to documents submitted to the council, the General Fund has an end of month balance for the month ending April 30, 2023 of $71,056.67, the Coal Severance Tax Fund a balance of $1,84.22, Wellness 24 Fitness Center – W.M. Harman Fund of $43,871.69, Parsons Parks and Recreation – W.M. Harman Fund of $311,079.11, Library/Park Fund of $5,518.76, Fire Service Contribution Fund of $34,339.56, Corrick’s Ford Interpretive Site – Rental Fund of 7,685.42, Corrick’s Ford Interpretive Site – General Fund of $2,414.03, Cemetery Fund – General Fund of $89,584.47, Cemetery Fund – William M. Harman of $131,693.26, Parsons Railroad Bridge Conversion Project of $3,068.89, Water Fund of $1,277.63, Water Customer Deposit Fund of $11,229.88, Sewer Fund of $824.17, Sewer Customer Deposit Fund of $8,380.12, American Rescue Plan Act Fund of $145,840.86, Garbage Fund of $5,645.91, and the Denzil Earl Evans, Jr. Memorial B/F Lighting Fund of $1,494.81.
The City savings accounts were also presented at the meeting with the General Fund in the amount of $125,299.48, PPRC/Special Projects of $1,492.64, Wellness 24 Fitness Center/Equipment Replacement $2,164.78, Skatepark Improvements of $3,409.43, Cemetery Reserve of $6,981.62, Cemetery of $971.83, Cemetery Perpetual Care of $31,729.71, Water Renewal and Replacement Reserve of $31,729.71, Customer Deposit of $6,093.93, Water of $13,286.37, Working Capital Reserve (Water) of $13,004.71,
Sewer Renewal and Replacement Reserve of $,912.25, Sewer of $46,617.54, Pulp Mill Bottom Storm Drainage Improvements of $46,034.10, Working Capital Reserve (Sewer) of $22,012.44, and Garbage of $96,065.41. The documents also included information on two Certificates of Deposit for Water in the amount of $20,994.19 and Sewer of $22,734.69.
The Treasurer and Treasurer in Training also supplied a report on the General Fund Revenue and Budget Control for the month ending April 30, 2023 in which the total general fund revenue was $711,449.00 under original budget, $489,507.00 in approved revision, a revised budget of $1,200,956.00, an amount received of $561,119.26 and an uncollected balance of $639,836.74. The City expenditures according to the documents were an original budget of $711,449.00 with $798, 507.00 under approved revision, a revised budget of $1,200,956.00 and an unexpended balance of $607,471.20
The Coal Severance Tax Fund Revenue and Budget Control Report was also submitted. According to the report, the original budget was $3,102.00 with $4,414.00 under approved revision with a revised budget of $7, 516.00, an amount expended of $6,446.63 and an unexpended balance of $1,069.37.
The Treasurer and Treasurer in Training also submitted documents related to the TCEF – William Mahan Harman Fund. A Summary of Assets showed that assets totaling an investment cost basis amount of $15,075,284.38 with a total market value of $19,650,488.39 and an estimated annual income of $440,961 with a current yield of 2.24. There was also a document pertaining to approved allocations from the fund in a total amount of $693,278.44.
The Council also considered a recent letter from the West Virginia Department of Transportation Division of Highways requesting the city sign off on an agreement that outlines the manner in which the Corrick’s Ford Battlefield Park Recreational Trails Program will be funded.
The Council was also brought up to date with the latest report from Thrasher Architecture Engineering Field Services. In regards to the Parsons-Hamrick PSD Emergency Interconnection, Thrasher reported they are Working on bid authorization with bid documents ready, all permits received and preliminary title opinion received. The firm also reported that the WV Development office is currently reviewing bid authorization documents on the project and information from the US Fish and Wildlife Service has been accepted, but they are awaiting complete review approval and are reaching out to the Development Office every couple of days for updates.
Thrasher also updated the progress on the Parsons Sanitary Sewer System Improvements. According to the firm, a funding application was approved by WVIJDC. The project has an estimated construction cost of $3,100,000 with an estimated project cost of $4,010,000. In regards to the project, Thrasher reported that a Facility Plan was drafted and being reviewed prior to submission to WVDEP with an anticipated submission of the Facility Plan next week, design plans are being laid out with field work expected to start in two weeks and the firm will work to prepare an easement list for the proposed replacement areas.
Parsons Water System Improvement Project was also updated by Thrasher in the report. According to the firm, a funding application was approved by WVIJDC. Region VII has submitted the application to the DWTRF Program for the project. A $3,184,000 estimated construction cost with an estimated project cost of $3,984,000 was also reported by Thrasher. The firm also said that an application for $500,000 in Earmark Funds was also submitted for this project and had passed through the first steps of approval. Thrasher has also begun work on the layout of design plans for the water system project.
In other business, the city discussed the ongoing GS Millworks LLC request. Documents outlining the flood plain of the area under the request were submitted showing the area is within the FEMA 100-year floodplain and floodway with the danger coming from Shavers Fork. The document also reported a Flood Height of 1650.8 ft, water depth of about 4 ft and an elevation of 1648 ft. A hand drawn map of the proposal area was also submitted showing the areas where proposed signage and access/parking for the protected Butternut tree would be should the request go forward. The map showed a city property access to the tree from Missouri St.
The next meeting of the Parsons City Council will be Tuesday June 6th at 6pm at the Charles W. “Bill” Rosenau Municipal Building, 341 Second Street in Parsons.