WELCOME — Welcome City Council heard from the auditors, Burkhardt and Burkhardt, at their meeting on Tuesday evening. Greg Burkhardt reviewed the audit of the city’s finances. He explained that his audit had to be based on sufficient and appropriate audit evidence. The internal report and the compliance report were in good shape. There were no legal issues and the suggestion that the council segregate duties and help in the preparation of financial statements was made. He said that his was an unmodified opinion which means that all was in order. He praised the clerk, Deb Hansen, for doing a very good job and having all in order. A suggestion that a resolution and not a motion was in order for an inter-fund loan to EDA and to possibly have the software create a check for money to EDA were made. He also suggested that the council update the investment policy. That policy was updated at the last meeting. The City has a large cash and investments balance of almost $4 million. The revenues column was about $1 million and expenditures were under the budget at $700,000. The City has a good amount of unassigned funds which they could use for unexpected expenses. The water fund had a dip but that was for repair and maintenance and was still enough to operate. The rates were a good amount. The sewer fund rates are okay and there was a repair and maintenance small loss there too. The storm sewer fund had less revenue than it needs to operate. The rest of the operating cash flow looked good. There is a percentage of what is collected as fees that go back to the funds and the water percent was 53 percent with the sewer fund percent at 30 percent. As an overview, he commented that Welcome is in fine shape and in some funds is in very good shape.

The meeting continued with a discussion on the sample of an ordinance concerning solar power in the city. The council decided to look over the ordinance and bring it up at the next meeting for a reading and possible approval of the ordinance.

Discussion about adding bereavement leave to the city employee handbook concluded that the time of the day of death until two

days after the funeral was sufficient for leave when the immediate family was deceased.

They approved moving funds from water and sewer to the main fund.

A city employee asked for permission to purchase four tires for the diesel at around $874 plus he was authorized to purchase them. He mentioned that the fire hydrants will be flushed later this week and

into next week. The council asked him to get six loads of gravel for the ball diamond parking lot.

A discussion about leasing a 7.5-foot mower attachment for the back of the tractor from John Deere at $5 per hour was held. The council asked that more information be brought to the next meeting such as how the hours of mowing would be counted, could the city use it for only one season, could the city return it in two months or so if they did not like it. The council discussed what would be mowed with it and the city employee said he mows outside the fences at the ballpark and it could possibly be used for that and the old ballpark.

The new water meters are being installed at about 10 or so a day depending on if the resident is home. There have been 19 installed so far.

The next meeting of the Welcome City Council will be held at 6 p.m. May 4 at the Welcome City Hall.