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Council approves city reorganization
By Denise Schoppe
Staff Writer
The Marlin Democrat
July 20, 2005
Twenty-one city positions were eliminated and one of the two city fire stations closed during the Marlin City Council regular meeting held Tuesday, July 12, when the council approved the reorganization of the city.
"It was something had to be done," Norman Erskine, Marlin Mayor, said. "This was not an easy decision, but it was a decision that was necessary."
Reorganization of the city became necessary when a shortfall of $377,879 in revenue for the 2004-2005 fiscal year was discovered due to refinancing the current water and sewer debt service and lawsuit settlements from previous years.
Though 21 positions were eliminated, 12 were already vacant due to attrition. Due to the extreme nature of the city's lack of funds, it was agreed that the nine employees were to be given two weeks notice instead of the originally proposed 30 days.
"This is a radical change and I was hopeful to achieve this through attrition and not be in the position to have to lay people off, " Randall Holly, city manager, said. "Out of a soft spot in my heart I proposed giving those laid off a month, but the pure business need is to go with two weeks."
Holly stressed that once the city is able to put some of the positions back in place, those people that were let go would be given first chance to be rehired.
Within those positions being cut are three fire department personnel. It was voted that the fire department be given 90 days to make the cuts to allow for training with the volunteer fire department.
Cutting the department by three employees makes it necessary that the city rely on the volunteers when fighting a fire. Training will be held to teach the volunteers to use the city's equipment and to create a new list of protocols to be followed in an emergency.
Holly assured the council that concerns for the insurance rates of Marlin residents and businesses had been researched, and he said that with the agreement to have the assistance of the volunteers there will not be an increase in the cost of fire insurance.
With the elimination of three firefighters, it is not posssible to keep both stations open. Therefore it was agreed that Station 1, located next to city hall and across from the Falls County Courthouse, be closed and all operation occur out of Station 2 on Live Oak.
The decision was based on response time in the case of a train blocking the department's way across town.
"If we were operating from Station 1 and a train blocked all crossings, response time to the center of the southeast quadrant of Marlin would be approximately seven minutes," Holly said.
He explained that Station 2 is closer to the areas of Marlin that have the greatest danger of a fire spreading quickly and that all areas of the city will be able to be reached within four minutes.
Included with the reorganization of the city was the elimination of the parks and recreation department. The elimination of the department was possible through contracting out the mowing of cemeteries and parks to an outside company.
Premier Lawn Care out of Waco was awarded the one year contract after being the lowest bidder at $48,000 a year.
There were six bids submitted with a range of $48,000 to $175,225. Among the bids was Lawn Tech out of Marlin, but Holly explained that legally they have to take the lowest bid, or throw all bids out and start over. Due to the city's need to move forward with its plans to reorganize, the bid was accepted by all five council members present.
To help oversee the changes made within the city, a new Director of Public Works was hired.
William T. Maines recently retired from the City of Waco, and has come to work for Marlin as the new Director of Public Works. He will receive a salary of $40,000.
Following the reorganization, figures show the deficit lowered to $36,879 thanks to the elimination of city positions and additional water revenue. Holly explained that the figures also include a bonus program that will not be implimented for another two years, and that he feels confident the changes made will be sufficient to get the city through its current monetary crisis.
In other action, the council accepted the low bid from Jerry Wally Construction out of Lumberton, Texas, for the 18" transmission main replacement as part of the rebuilding of the city's water system. The bid was for $881,477.96 and will be paid by the EDA grant the city has received.
By Denise Schoppe
Staff Writer
The Marlin Democrat
July 20, 2005
Twenty-one city positions were eliminated and one of the two city fire stations closed during the Marlin City Council regular meeting held Tuesday, July 12, when the council approved the reorganization of the city.
"It was something had to be done," Norman Erskine, Marlin Mayor, said. "This was not an easy decision, but it was a decision that was necessary."
Reorganization of the city became necessary when a shortfall of $377,879 in revenue for the 2004-2005 fiscal year was discovered due to refinancing the current water and sewer debt service and lawsuit settlements from previous years.
Though 21 positions were eliminated, 12 were already vacant due to attrition. Due to the extreme nature of the city's lack of funds, it was agreed that the nine employees were to be given two weeks notice instead of the originally proposed 30 days.
"This is a radical change and I was hopeful to achieve this through attrition and not be in the position to have to lay people off, " Randall Holly, city manager, said. "Out of a soft spot in my heart I proposed giving those laid off a month, but the pure business need is to go with two weeks."
Holly stressed that once the city is able to put some of the positions back in place, those people that were let go would be given first chance to be rehired.
Within those positions being cut are three fire department personnel. It was voted that the fire department be given 90 days to make the cuts to allow for training with the volunteer fire department.
Cutting the department by three employees makes it necessary that the city rely on the volunteers when fighting a fire. Training will be held to teach the volunteers to use the city's equipment and to create a new list of protocols to be followed in an emergency.
Holly assured the council that concerns for the insurance rates of Marlin residents and businesses had been researched, and he said that with the agreement to have the assistance of the volunteers there will not be an increase in the cost of fire insurance.
With the elimination of three firefighters, it is not posssible to keep both stations open. Therefore it was agreed that Station 1, located next to city hall and across from the Falls County Courthouse, be closed and all operation occur out of Station 2 on Live Oak.
The decision was based on response time in the case of a train blocking the department's way across town.
"If we were operating from Station 1 and a train blocked all crossings, response time to the center of the southeast quadrant of Marlin would be approximately seven minutes," Holly said.
He explained that Station 2 is closer to the areas of Marlin that have the greatest danger of a fire spreading quickly and that all areas of the city will be able to be reached within four minutes.
Included with the reorganization of the city was the elimination of the parks and recreation department. The elimination of the department was possible through contracting out the mowing of cemeteries and parks to an outside company.
Premier Lawn Care out of Waco was awarded the one year contract after being the lowest bidder at $48,000 a year.
There were six bids submitted with a range of $48,000 to $175,225. Among the bids was Lawn Tech out of Marlin, but Holly explained that legally they have to take the lowest bid, or throw all bids out and start over. Due to the city's need to move forward with its plans to reorganize, the bid was accepted by all five council members present.
To help oversee the changes made within the city, a new Director of Public Works was hired.
William T. Maines recently retired from the City of Waco, and has come to work for Marlin as the new Director of Public Works. He will receive a salary of $40,000.
Following the reorganization, figures show the deficit lowered to $36,879 thanks to the elimination of city positions and additional water revenue. Holly explained that the figures also include a bonus program that will not be implimented for another two years, and that he feels confident the changes made will be sufficient to get the city through its current monetary crisis.
In other action, the council accepted the low bid from Jerry Wally Construction out of Lumberton, Texas, for the 18" transmission main replacement as part of the rebuilding of the city's water system. The bid was for $881,477.96 and will be paid by the EDA grant the city has received.
