Budget fine-tuned at recent council special meeting

Budget work and ordinances were on the agenda when the Lovell Town Council met for a special meeting on Wednesday, April 24, at town hall.

According to town administrator Jed Nebel, three of the five council members were present in Mayor Tom Newman and council members Carol Miller and Bob Mangus.

The council passed on third and final reading Ordinance 1011, 2024, which updates the town code regarding telecommunication system franchise agreements, then voted to approve a new franchise agreement with TCT, a 10-year agreement with the telecommunications company that will see TCT pay the town a fee of 1 percent of gross revenue. The agreement can be extended for an additional five years unless one of the parties notifies the other in writing.

The council also passed on first reading Ordinance 1012, 2024, which establishes the annual tax levy for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Tree City concerns

Nebel said the council heard a report from Town of Lovell Parks Director Kelton Wagner, who expressed some concerns about new guidelines from the Tree City USA program. Wagner told the council that new criteria under the program would require property owners, before planting a tree, to conduct a tree survey of the site and obtain a permit from the town, Nebel said.

He also said the town council would have to establish a dedicated enforcement official to make sure that tree ordinances are enforced.

Budget work

The council discussed a pair of fiscal matters as part of the ongoing process of formulating the new budget for Fiscal Year 24-25, Nebel said. The town is looking into applying for a Community Oriented Policing Services grant that would pay for three-fourths of an officer’s base wage for three years, up to $125,000 in total, depending on the level of experience for a hired officer. The grant would help the town build the Lovell Police Department staff.

Nebel said the council is also considering adding a performance stipend for current officers during the time that the LPD is understaffed.

Nebel said a week ago the town budget was $149,000 over budget in department requests compared to revenue estimates, but the administration is working to balance the budget before third reading of the budget ordinance.

“We have a good plan for how we can balance the budget,” Nebel said. “I think we’re in good shape this year.”

Finally, the council passed on first reading a trio of ordinances dealing with trailers and campers in town. Ordinance 1013 would clean up and redefine the section of the town code dealing with trailers and campers. Ordinance 1014 would prohibit long-term camping within town limits. Ordinance 1015 would add penalties to the town zoning ordinances.