Plains council passes annual budget

The Plains Town Council unanimously passed a $7,866,168 budget for 2023-2024 at last Monday's monthly meeting at City Hall, only $555,596 more than last year.

Water and sewer were again the biggest ticket items of the budget, but they don't come out of the general fund because they are self-sustaining, according to chief clerk Cathy Emmett. The budget for water this time is $3,129,881, but $2,670,715 of that comes from an American Rescue Plan Act - ARPA - grant. The sewer budget for the next year is $2,688,988, but $1,614,740 of that comes from seven grants.

Mayor Chris Allen noted that a good portion of the town's infrastructure is connected to water with two wells, a large holding tank, and countless water mains and service lines. "Our First Street project this summer was mostly water related. I'm thinking between $400,000 and $500,000," said Allen, who added that it's the water and sewer dollars that pay most of the town's wages.

Allen said they've been working on the budget since April and was pleased it was done. "It's important. You want to make sure everything balances and everything works," said Allen, who has decided not to run for the permanent mayor position.

The budget begins in July, but with a cushioned carryover and with a preliminary budget, the town can pay for bills until the final budget is passed. The mayor said it's an integral process that involves every department, though most of the work was done by the administrative committee of council members John Roesler, Connie Foust and Chad Cantrell.

The town council held a special budget meeting on Aug. 21, followed immediately with a public hearing at City Hall, though no one from the public showed up.

Law enforcement had the largest piece of the financial pie at $348,400, a $105,300 jump from last year, but a large portion of that revolves around a grant for two new police cars. The swimming pool's budget was $62,195; last year, it was $59,030. Though most department budgets went up, there were some that had a decrease, such as capital projects, which went from $851,000 to $549,500, the lagoons, which was $6,840,376 to $2,323,588, and facilities administration, which went from $113,900 to $65,000.

Roads and Streets Services has a new budget of $206,890 at a 251% increase. At the council meeting, Allen brought up his disappointment with the failure of the Referendum for Street District, which was a mail-in ballot Road District Tax. A similar tax passed the first time in 2018. It was a five-year program designed to pay for maintenance of the town's streets and alleys. The referendum called for $50,000 a year for five years. Allen said the referendum failed by three votes, but he was more bothered by the residents' apathy with 60% of the residents not even taking the time to vote. He said some of the business owners asked why they didn't get ballots. Business owners who live in the town limits would have received a ballot, but those Plains business owners who live outside of town would have had to request a ballot. Allen was disenchanted with the results, which he thought would pass and would mean more funds for road work. He said that this year is covered, but added that it leaves "a big hole" for 2024.

The council also approved the first reading of the Decay Ordinance Amendment, which dealt with fines for offenders. This was the second time of the first reading. It was sent back to the town attorney, Loren Fitzpatrick, last month for minor changes. In the civil penalties section, it contained a charge of 25% for administration and a "civil penalty of $500 for each nuisance abated or $25 a day until the nuisance is abated commencing on the date notice is given, whichever penalty is greater." Ordinance No. 23-4 was passed five years ago, but it had no fines attached. The council passed the first reading 5-1 with Foust casting the only no vote. The second read takes place at the Oct. 2 council meeting. If passed, the ordinance goes into effect 30 days after that.

Allen said that he was getting tired of people saying the town should have some sort of ordinance for trashy yards and telling them they already have one. He's pleased that the police department is taking a more proactive role enforcing the ordinance.

The council continues to look into becoming a "Tree City" in order to get an Arbor Day Grant to financially help with the removal of trees around town. To qualify for a grant, the town would be required to create a tree ordinance, have a tree committee and celebrate Arbor Day each year. In return, the town would receive $850 a year to help with tree problems around town. John and Kelly Dossett and Sandy Thompson of the town's Parks and Recreation Committee were also researching the program. They have compiled a list of good replacement trees and earmarked three trees that need removal.

The mayor passed several other items of interest to the community. The Department of Environmental Quality approved the site of the town's new well, a procedure that took eight months. Allen said that the town's other two wells are on the same aquifer, which he said is dangerous. The new one will be on a deeper aquifer. The sludge from the old lagoon is slated to be moved in the near future. It was planned to be moved last year, but it got cold too soon and the spring was too wet. It will be transported to Alan Hafner's property.

Allen also wanted to dispel the rumors that the gun range was shutting down. "Nobody has the power to just shut it down; it's not getting shut down," said Allen. He said that the town pumped 13,957,000 gallons of water and sold 11,449,000 gallons for a 18% loss. Last month, it was a 19% loss and the prior month, it was 21%. Allen, Shari Johnson, the town's contract engineer, and Greg Dicken of the Public Works Department, looked at the old jail to see what can be done to divert rainwater from the front of the building. The jail on McGowan Street is over 100 years old and a tourist site in Plains. Plains resident Tony Ferlan did extensive work on the jail last year.

In the public comment period, resident Loren Hutnik said that rumors are circulating that there might be mandatory mask mandates coming back and he proposed that Plains make the town a mask free zone. "If people want to wear them, that's fine, but I don't think the government should force people to wear them," said Hutnik, a Constitutionalist who moved from Oregon to Plains last November. "I don't want to rock the boat, I just want to do it the Montana way."