Perry Mayor and Council met on Monday, August 16 for a work session that covered a variety of topics including the FY 2022 millage (mil) rate, benefits to attract new city employees and recommended amendments to the city’s Comprehensive Plan.
The work session started with a public hearing regarding the continuation of Perry’s 14.05 mil rate that has been in place since 2014. City Manager Lee Gilmour, reminded the council members that the property taxes are allocated to certain expenses that the city incurs including debt service, certified police officers, emergency responders, maintenance and operation of city buildings, parks and residential street lights.
“The administration is recommending to you all to retain the 14.05 mils and with that, we are recommending certain areas for revenue to be used for,” Gilmour presented. “The operating and maintenance of the new city hall, you know we have that building coming on and we want to have that covered.”
Gilmour also recommended adding four new police officers, another code enforcement officer and address funding for blight removal.
“These are all primary topics that you talked about in your strategic plan,” Gilmour told the council. “The administration believes that if we keep the millage rate at 14.05, we’ll be able to provide these additional services as a result of our growth and you will not have to go increase the millage rate at a later date.”
The council then discussed changes to the Langston Road extension’s design. The board concurred that a three-lane road with two through lanes and one continuous turning lane would be less costly and sufficient for expected traffic levels.
Next, City Manager Gilmour discussed benefit incentives to draw in new employees to replace the growing number of employees who will be retiring in the next few years. Gilmour suggested 120 hours of parental leave and PTO to be used however an employee chooses. The council said they would add public hearings to future city council meeting agendas for further consideration.
“I believe that both of these items are extremely important for us to enact in order to effectively hire new employees and also to retain employees,” Gilmour stated.
Gilmour then moved on to give the council recommendations for three changes to be made to the city’s comprehensive plan. He recommended extending the city’s sewer service area, having a service population goal of 40,000 people and limiting structures to four stories.
“I think it’s very imperative that we take these actions and also get together and really define what our community is going to look like in the next 20 years,” stated Mayor Randall Walker.
The council was also presented with a grant opportunity that would help pay for various projects throughout the city including sewer service expansion. The continuation of the application process for the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Project Grant was approved by the council and it was decided that a 30% matching rate would help the city be more competitive for the grant. For all the projects that were mentioned, 30% would cost the city about $2 million.
The council then concurred on a tobacco-free policy for all city properties that would require people who smoke or vape, to do so in designated areas. The city also decided to sod the Stanley Properties and purchase flower pots for the beautification of the area. On the property, there is a large concrete slab covering contaminated soil that will be removed by the city in the future, but it was decided that no temporary beautification of that spot would be done until the city has a clearer timeline on the removal process.
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