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TRUMAN-- The Truman City Council heard a number of updates on Tuesday dealing with economic development and public works. It also looked at the 2027 budget and levy.
Amber Patten with Martin County Economic Development Authority had some information to share regarding the Jones development, which is four city-owned, shovel-ready residential lots on the Bau Court. She spoke to the council about some marketing options, including direct mail/emails to realtors, billboards, social media posts and other advertising.
Mayor Jake Ebert said he was in favor of adding information about it to the city's website.
Council Member Ron Kelley added that he thought they could both send out emails and mailings.
Patten said that unfortunately she learned that plots like this are not allowed on the online real estate website, Zillow, so they will not show up on there.
Patten also spoke about a grant opportunity through the Taylor Family Farms Foundation for fire departments and EMS. After reaching out, she said Josh Kitzerow with Truman Ambulance reached out asking for assistance and said they would be interested in purchasing a defibrillator if the grant is awarded. Patten said she would work with him on it.
Utility Foreman Brent Brown said that on the Bau property there's a small piece of land that's too small to build on. He said he's talked with Patten about grant opportunities and wanted to gauge council's interest in putting in a small playground.
"I'd love to see something in there. A sport court or something," said Ebert.
Brown also asked for an increase to the per diem policy for travel and training and the council approved increasing the amount for city employees to $63.
Martin County Deputy Sheriff Matt Owens gave a brief update from his office and said that they're putting together the 2027 budget numbers to be shared soon and questions about it should be directed to the sheriff's office.
Council Member Danielle Williams asked if anything had been resolved regarding grass clippings blowing into the street. Owens said he hasn't heard any updates and asked if it was still happening.
"Unfortunately," Williams said.
Owens referenced a list of property offenders he had been given by the city.
State Representative Bjorn Olson was also at the meeting to provide a quick update.
Olson shared that there is $125 million in property tax relief for the state so he told the council that if anyone local has an especially high increase there is some possible relief.
He also thanked the council for doing its job and said he often defends city councils and county boards because the state has pushed a lot of mandates down to cities and counties.
"You've been forced to do what everyone has to do. You run out of services to cut and have to raise the taxes," Olson said.
On Tuesday the council also looked over the 2027 budget and levy.
Right away, Ebert mentioned the estimated cost of $68,000 for a new boiler and whether it could be paid over two years as it will increase the levy by about 8 percent.
Brown added that he was told the boiler is on its last leg and was encouraged to look at a forced air system.
"Is it going to save a lot of money? We're not sure but it would work well and provide air conditioning," Brown said.
"Right now we're at 1 percent (increase to levy) but if you add all that in, it jumps up, just because of that one, basically," Ebert said.
A few other additions to the budget, including an asphalt roller, chipper and the establishment of a Jetter reserve, would increase the levy by about 4 percent.
Ebert asked City Clerk Melissa Sivory to remove $5,500 from the street department budget for asphalt mill as that was done this year and to split the cost of the boiler over two years to see where that would put the city's 2027 budget and levy at.
It's expected that the preliminary budget and levy will be set at the council's next meeting on Sept. 21 though the final amount does not need to be adopted until December.
In other business, city clean up day will be 9 am. to noon on Sept. 19. Older people or those needing assistance with removing their items are encouraged to contact city hall at 507-776-7951.