Members of Shelby City Council received an update on the city’s financial status as well as a short list of summer activities to mark on the calendar at Monday night’s City Council meeting.
Councilwoman Pat Carlisle, Chairperson of the Finance and Personnel Committee, shared with council a comparison of financial statements for the city from May 31, 2014 compared to statements from May 31, 2013. Total city income tax receipts were down from the previous year by nearly 7 percent, with the greatest decrease in the business sector. In addition, income tax transfers to the General Fund were down by $34,512.
“The General Fund showed a positive balance of $147,322, which is approximately $56,000 less than last May,” said Carlisle. “There were some city income tax deposits made in early June that will hopefully help the June 30 balance.”
To date, the General Fund expenditures are less than revenue, and both the Police and Fire Pension funds are looking better but not out of the woods yet, said Carlisle.
In other police news, Councilman Garland Gates stated Capt. Lance Combs had approached him regarding a person who has contributed significant service over the years to the police department. Legislation in the form of Ordinance 14-2014 was drafted to honor this person, who was not named on Monday. All members of council chose to sponsor the ordinance.
“We wish to honor this individual with an honorary position within the department,” explained Gates. “City Council cannot name anyone to any position, but we create positions, and that’s what this ordinance would do.”
The ordinance, which passed unanimously, allows Mayor Marilyn John as Director of Public Safety to recognize civilians who have rendered significant service to either the Police Department or the Fire Department by naming them to honorary positions within said department. The ordinance states persons named to honorary positions are neither officers nor employees of the city and may be removed from their positions without cause.
Mayor John mentioned two summer staples coming soon in Shelby, starting with the opening of the Shelby Farmer’s Market on Saturday. Located in Central Park in Shelby, the market is open from 9 a.m. to noon every Saturday from mid-June to mid-October and includes Richland County’s Farm-to-Plate cooking demonstrations. Also coming up on July 4 is the annual Fourth of July Ice Cream Social, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Veteran’s Park.
Finally, continuing with his annual custom, Councilman Gates commenced with the reading of the Declaration of Independence.
“I suppose it falls under new business because these words should be new to us in our hearts and minds every year,” said Gates.
At the last council meeting that falls before the July 4 holiday, Gates traditionally reads the historic words of the Declaration of Independence as a reminder of the true meaning of the occasion.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” he read. “That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
