City sets up new ‘rolling stock’ fund

by Eric Mullens
WALSENBURG — Walsenburg City Council Tuesday night unanimously adopted a Resolution establishing an (ISF) Internal Services Fund that will be used to purchase equipment and vehicles for municipal use.
The new fund was set up with $65,000 of initial seed money from the city’s Capital Improvement Fund. The ISF fund should, in the future, become self funded as equipment, such as the newly bought vac truck, would be leased to various departments, such as streets, water and sewer and payment with interest would be charged against the departmental budget and returned to the ISF.
City council also voted to purchase the vac truck from Faris Inc., who will also provide operator training for the city as part of the purchase price.
The move to establish the fund, and purchase the vehicle was met with approval from audience members as well as the unanimous 9-0 council vote. Mayoral candidate and long time city employee, James Eccher, and former public works director Richie Tenorio, both voiced support for council’s action.
Laws governing municipal funds place restrictions on what kind of monies may be used and / or transfered to various accounts for city functions. For example, Capital Improvement Funds may not be used for General Fund expenses, such as payroll.
City attorney Dan Hyatt said ISFs are common in most municipalities and he recommended all transfers from the fund for future purchases be done via a Resolution.
In other business, the city council voted 7-2 to pass Ordinance 1039 which establishes pay rates for the City Clerk ($30,000 per year) and City Treasurer ($1,200 per year). Mayor Pro Tem, Craig Lessar and council member Jim Moore voted against approval with Mayor Larry Patrick and council members Rick Jennings Silvana Lind, Charles Montoya, Nick Vigil, Cathy Pineda and Erin Jerant voting in favor.
The city has scheduled two important public work sessions for next week. At 5:30 pm Monday, Sept. 21, council will meet with interested parties and citizens concerning water rate structure for local cemeteries. The next evening, council will meet at 5:30 to discuss and take citizen input regarding proposed modification of the city’s ordinance on medicinal marijuana dispensaries.
The council will meet in their 2014 budget work session beginning at 5:30 pm Wednesday, October 30.