Concerns about trees
An audience of four sat in on the Sept. 24 meeting of the Centralia Board of Aldermen.
Firstly, they swore in Jessica Orsini as Ward III alderman to fill out the rest of Lonnie Cox’ term.
Orsini previously served as a Ward III alderman from 2006 to 2012. The audience was entertained by a discussion regarding one-block’s worth of speed limit on Jefferson St.
Ward I Alderman Harold Deckerd for
warded a citizen’s concern regarding the speed limit changes on Jefferson St. between the Centralia Public Library and Chester Boren Middle School..
Then they heard from Amanda Schultz from William’s Keepers regarding the recent city audit.
Ward III Alderman Jessica Orsini sworn in by Centralia City Clerk Marilyn Dick
The city received a clean opinion, meaning no errors or misstatements.
Points included,
•Expenditures were down
•Non operating expenses increased
•No issues with internal controls
•The same two concerns as always, regarding number of personnel and bank reconciliation
“The last several years have been great,” Schultz said, responding to a question from Centralia Mayor Chris Cox, on the working relationship between Williams Keepers and city staff.
Orsini had a question about some long-standing overdrafts, interfund payables and if some could be resolved. Tara Strain, Centralia city administrator, said staff would address them.
They also voted to sell some surplus equipment, such as a sewer camera and control unit, the old bucket truck, the old slaker and a trencher. They unanimously voted to do so, minus Landon Magley who was absent.
They also voted to allow benefit-enrolled employees an additional 4-hours paid time off for wellness checks. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Orsini said before moving the motion be approved. They unanimously approved it.
From there, Strain introduced budgeting for tree-removal. She said an average large tree contract averaged $2000 per large tree and $800 per small trees. She also said dealing with power lines during the work is also consideration.
Cox said there was an estimate of 900 trees that would have to be removed in the next three years.
For the complete article see this week’s edition of the Centralia Fireside Guard.
