WELCOME — Welcome City Council met Tuesday evening. Auditor, Greg Burkhardt, reported the City of Welcome audit results. The City had an unmodified opinion which is a clean audit. City clerk, Deb Hanson, was praised for her accounting skills and support to the auditors. The firm recommended getting more interest for the investments the City has. A healthy budget would have reserves to run the City for at least a year. The Welcome reserves would let them run for 21 months in government areas such as the fire department and EDA. The business area is a little less and would be okay for 14 months. The reserve should be about 50 percent of next year’s budget but Welcome’s is over 100 percent which is great.

The revenues exceeded the budgeted amount. The general fund balance was $400,000 in the plus category. The utility funds were not as good. The water fund had a deficit when they did the cash flow analysis. They recommended raising the water rates or transferring some from general fund to water or consider it a loan to the water fund. The cash flow analysis for the sewer fund was at a deficit also but not a large one and the rates were sufficient for that fund. There are things that a City audit recommends because of a non-

compliance with the state. One that Welcome needs to work on is to reconcile the audit to what is actually at the city council. The indebtedness report was turned in on time but the report was delayed by the county. The whole council should be looking for anything out of the ordinary. Dispersements from the fire department were asked to make sure the checks are endorsed by the mayor, clerk and fire chief. The council later in the meeting approved that motion. Burkhardt commended the council for the good job they did for Welcome.

In further business, Jay Mulso reported the audit on the fire department. The call fund which is payment from those served at times does not receive the proper payment sometimes 40 percent of the time after an accident on I-90 since the people are out of state. Usually the insurance covers the expense and local calls are usually paid. The equipment fund is owned by the City since they own the equipment. The Relief Association Fund is strictly for retirement and is helped by State aid and yearly dues. They have

investments such as a CD which can be used for large expenses.

The general fund is helped by fundraisers since they are a non-profit 401.3 organization. The council thanked the firefighters for presenting the audit material and assured them that the city council understood and would support them.

In other business, a report from Travis Winter, an engineer with Bolton and Menk, about the EDA-owned land north of County 26 near the pond. He reported that permits had been applied for and that plans for sewer, water and storm sewer for that land were being planned. Those will go toward Dugan Street and Bidwell. He showed the council the plans for the area to make six residential lots. He estimated the cost to be near $300,000 and the project to be a fall one. The council will discuss the plans at the next meeting or plan a special meeting. When plans are made the bids can be applied for.

The City Works employee asked for the council to get some supplies like street sign posts and cones which could be about $1,000+. The council approved the expense and also approved a raise of $2 an hour for the part-time employee. The City Works employee also asked about installing doors in the shelter house and the council gave their approval.

The Chief of Police reported that there is a list of junk ordinance violators and that pictures have been taken. The violators have been informed that they need to clean up the items now. The Clean Up Day in Welcome will be April 29 for Welcome residents only.

A two year contract is almost assured with the officers of the police department in conjunction with the Police Commission.

In other news, the council:

— Accepted with thanks the $2,000 donation from the Fox Lake Conservation Club for the summer festival.

The next meeting of the Welcome City Council is planned for 6 p.m. on May 2, at the Welcome City Hall.