By Paige Nash

Following a lengthy discussion regarding raises for Springhill Police Department (SPD) officers at the Springhill City Council workshop last week, nothing was mentioned on the subject at Monday’s regular January meeting.  

Although, the council did approve of hiring Mr. Jimmy Faulkner to the SPD. Faulker was originally going to be hired as a part-time officer, but SPD Chief Will Lynd requested he be hired as a full-time officer now instead. He said, “We had a resignation as of today. One of our cadets that was in the academy decided he did not want any more of that, so instead of part-time I would like to make him (Faulkner) full-time.” 

It was previously mentioned in the council workshop that the council could possibly schedule a special meeting soon after all the department heads have been met with and can individually discuss raises for all city employees including the SPD. According to Lynd, more than a handful of officers are on the cusp of resigning if something is not done soon.  

Lynd also made a special request right before adjournment of the regular meeting on Monday.  

“Mayor, I would like to invite you and the council, any time you would like to come out, and ride with our patrolmen,” said Lynd. “See what it’s like to be a police officer and don’t just come out for an hour. Try to come out for 6 –12 hours and get the full experience.” 

Mayor Ray Huddleston replied, “I done rode one day and it wasn’t no fun. Y’all have a tough job.” 

Monday was also Audit Report time for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023.  

According to Vickie Case, CPA with Cook and Morehart, the city had three findings that included public bid law violation, credit card and vehicle usage.  

The public bid law violation was pertaining to a used GMC truck that was purchased in July. It was not advertised for bid in the city’s official journal and was not purchased on a state contract.  

Case said, “That was just an issue of not realizing the bid law applied to used vehicles. Quotes were obtained just not the formal bid process.” 

As far as credit card usage, invoices were attached but there were no detailed descriptions written on them that would explain the business purpose of those purchases.  

The last finding concerning vehicle usage was for payments made on tires and insurance on personal vehicles that are being used for public purposes. “We recommend the city establish a formal policy governing the use of vehicles whether it’s city owned or personal vehicles,” said Case. “You want to make sure you have a formal policy that governs all of that.”  

Case moved on to the finances section of the audit. The City of Springhill saw an increase in their fund balance by $77K for the year ending with the fund balance of just over $2M. “We call that close to a break-even,” said Case.  

The sales tax fund saw a decrease of $162K Case explained with an overall $600K being transferred to the utility fund. “We transferred out to other funds more than we collected in sales tax this year. That shows how much we are having to supplement the utility fund out of your other funds.” 

On the subject of utility funds, the cash flow schedule with water/sewer generations by authorizations was $298K. “That was what was generated by water sales and sewer charges less your normal operation costs. Not large projects or that type of thing, but just normal repairs and maintenance and other operating costs,” explained Case. “You want that number to be large enough to cover the principal and interest payments on your debt as well as any capital projects that aren’t going to be funded by grant income.” 

The department has an overall $786K annual debt service. “You can clearly see the shortfall,” she said. “We are doing a lot to have to supplement the utility fund because the rates have just not been where they need to be.”  

Approximately $565K in total is owed from the utility fund to the sales tax fund and general fund. Case explained, “This is reported as a loan – your other funds have loaned it to the utility fund.” 

According to Case, they would see how the new rates will “pan out” and that it should be self-sustaining. She said, “Time will tell if that’s enough to make up that large of a short fall.”