North Hills budget set at $301,000
By Greg Rayburn / Editor / grayburn@sherwoodvoice.com
Thursday, December 4, 2008 11:14 AM CST
There is a new line item in the 2009 city budget — the North Hills Park.
Formerly known as the North Hills Country Club and golf course, North Hills Park is projected to need annual operating revenues of about $301,000.
On Monday, the Sherwood City Council conducted a first reading on an ordinance to adopt the $19.2 million 2009 budget.
Under the new budget, operation of North Hills will remain under the jurisdiction of the city parks and recreation department. The budget projects North Hills generating $48,000 in rentals next year.
Salaries are expected to total $76,884 for taking care of the park, with $50,884 for full-time maintenance personnel and $26,000 in part-time help. Utility costs are projected to be $66,000 next year with the city to set aside $30,000 for capital repairs. The city is also setting aside about $57,500 for capital improvements. A total of $22,000 is to be set aside for building/ground maintenance and $10,000 for vehicle maintenance and travel. In addition, $2,500 is being set aside for advertising and $4,500 for phone service.
Besides North Hills, another item being considered in the budget is hiring additional police officers and a larger-than-usual purchase of police cars
“I am request that the police department be granted seven additional personnel,” said Police Chief Kel Nicholson.
Nicholson said his department needs one new detective, five patrolmen and an additional COPPS officer.
“We need an additional detective to cover the crimes against persons and property that are occurring in the northern part of Sherwood, including the Gravel Ridge community,” Nicholson said. “We need the (patrol) officers to cover the Gravel Ridge area 24/7 every day of the year.”
The additional COPPS officer would also be dedicated to Gravel Ridge, Nicholson said.
In 2007, the city had 60 police officers, 45,892 incidents, 142 breaking and entering cases, 78 burglaries, 90 batteries, 297 drug cases, and 716 thefts, Nicholson reported. In 2008, the city has 66 officers and is projecting 47,720 incidents, 140 breaking and entering cases, 110 burglaries, 187 batteries, 340 drug cases, and 785 thefts.
Nicholson also asked for 17 new police cruisers because the current fleet has too many aged vehicles that cost sometimes between $6,000 and $8,000 to repair. He said the repair costs don’t include the time spent by the city’s mechanic to repair models that date back to the mid-1990s. One vehicle has logged more than 160,000 miles.
Nicholson has requested $327,053 for the new vehicles, eleven of which would be marked Chevrolet Impalas totaling $209,528 with each one costing $19,408. Five other cruisers would each cost $18,853 with the final one being a marked Ford Crown Victoria to be used for the city’s K-9 unit, which would cost $22,900.
Alderman Steve Fender asked Nicholson if 17 cruisers were purchased for 2009 if that would lead to less cruisers being needed the following year. Nicholson said he anticipates asking for about the same number in 2010 because of fleet’s current age.
“We are feeling the effects of only buying last year four or five cruisers,” Nicholson said.
Nicholson said if about 17 cruisers are bought for 2009 and 2010 that he anticipates requests to return to the five-per-year range in 2011 and beyond.
The second reading of the 2009 budget will be conducted at the council’s December meeting.
