Alto council suspends time clock usage, holds budget workshop
BY LELAND ACKER

The Alto City Council took no action on repairing a 1996 Dodge pick-up truck used by the utilities department and voted to suspend city policies requiring employees use the time clock to clock in and out of work during a special meeting and budget workshop Monday.

The meeting began with public forum, where Utilities Director Charlie Luse informed the council that the city had an inspection and received notice of violations.

"There were things on the list, things that have been wrong since 2005," Mr. Luse said. He complained that he has only been on the job since October 2006 and accused the council of depleting the workforce. He said Mayor Carey Palmer had written him up and requested the council remove that write-up from his file. Mayor Palmer said the issue would be placed on the agenda of the next regular council meeting.

The council heard estimates reported by Mayor Palmer that place the cost of replacing the engine in the city's 1996 Dodge truck at approximately $4,045. Councilman Bob Pearman said it is not prudent to spend that much money on a truck that old. Mr. Luse agreed, adding the Dodge truck only has a six-cylinder motor and is a half ton.

Mr. Luse said he prefers to replace it with a bigger truck capable of pulling the city's gooseneck trailer.

The council voted on a motion by Councilman Monty Collins, seconded by Councilman Pearman to suspend use of the city's time clock to track employee hours. The motion came after Mayor Palmer suggested the city resume enforcing the time clock policy already on the books.

Mayor Palmer's recommendation drew protest from Mr. Luse, who said the city would wind up paying more for utility employees to return to city hall to clock in and out. Police Chief Charles Barron said employees quit using the time clock in 2002 in order to save time.

Municipal Judge R. E. Christiansen said the time clock adds logistical problems. Judge Christiansen gave the example of having a utility employee working on a job site in Wells, who would have to return to Alto to clock out, when they might live somewhere closer to Wells.

"It would cost more for them to come back and clock out," Judge Christiansen said. "We're all adults, work it out. We don't need hatred and discontentment. You've set the precedent that you don't need it, take it off the books."

The council voted 4-0 to suspend time clock usage, with Councilwoman Annie Walker abstaining.

Molly Brown was hired in an earlier meeting of the Alto City Council to help the city prepare the 2007-08 budget. Ms. Brown gave preliminary figures during the workshop portion of the meeting. The city will have an estimated income of $1,641,000, with an estimated expense of $1,700,000. The council is continuing to work to balance the budget.

Attending the meeting were Mayor Palmer, Council members Walker, Pearman, Collins, Earl Clark and Michael Sanders, Mr. Barron, Mr. Luse, Ms. Brown and Judge Christiansen. The next regular meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6 at city hall.