City council approves fire inspections; does not provide details of fines, penalties for noncompliance

As expected, Hillsboro City Council voted to accept a proposed ordinance from the Hillsboro Fire Department that mandates as of Jan. 1, 2010, there will be an annual fire inspection performed on every commercial business and multiple family dwelling in the city of Hillsboro.

Council voted to waive the fire department's proposed fees at its Monday meeting.

Council did not provide a detailed account of the fines and/or criminal penalties businesses would face for failure to comply with the ordinance. Numerous business owners had signed a petition urging council to rescind the ordinance. 

Local business owners have spoken out in opposition to both the fees and the inspections, as well as the city's failure to fully explain the possible fines and penalties for noncompliance.

In other action Monday, Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink and City Auditor Gary Lewis exchanged heated words regarding overtime for city department managers who had previously been considered salaried employees.

Lewis had presented legislation to council that "needed to be passed in order to keep our budget in line," he told The Highland County Press. "One was a resolution to change department heads to salaried positions. This was recommended by the Finance Committee. They passed the suspension of the three-reading rule and then the mayor says he has a problem with it because he felt the assistant fire chief should be on an hourly rate."

The assistant fire chief, Ed Puckett, received $80,255 in compensation, excluding benefits, in 2009. The fire chief, Jerry Powell, received $96,106, excluding benefits in 2009. The city had six firefighters/EMTs above $80,000 in annual compensation, excluding benefits, last year. The benefits cost approximately an additional 23 percent of the annual compensation. Lewis said his proposal to council could save the city approximately $50,000 a year.

The mayor rejected the proposal and said he wouldn't be "held hostage" by the auditor.

The auditor said council now has a budget that going to be difficult to balance for 2010.

"The mayor was present at the Fi

As expected, Hillsboro City Council voted to accept a proposed ordinance from the Hillsboro Fire Department that mandates as of Jan. 1, 2010, there will be an annual fire inspection performed on every commercial business and multiple family dwelling in the city of Hillsboro.

Council voted to waive the fire department's proposed fees at its Monday meeting.

Council did not provide a detailed account of the fines and/or criminal penalties businesses would face for failure to comply with the ordinance.

Numerous business owners had signed a petition urging council to rescind the ordinance.

Local business owners have spoken out in opposition to both the fees and the inspections, as well as the city's failure to fully explain the possible fines and penalties for noncompliance.

In other action Monday, Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink and City Auditor Gary Lewis exchanged heated words regarding overtime for city department managers who had previously been considered salaried employees.

Lewis had presented legislation to council that "needed to be passed in order to keep our budget in line," he told The Highland County Press. "One was a resolution to change department heads to salaried positions. This was recommended by the Finance Committee. They passed the suspension of the three-reading rule and then the mayor says he has a problem with it because he felt the assistant fire chief should be on an hourly rate."

The assistant fire chief, Ed Puckett, received $80,255 in compensation, excluding benefits, in 2009. The fire chief, Jerry Powell, received $96,106, excluding benefits in 2009. The city had six firefighters/EMTs above $80,000 in annual compensation, excluding benefits, last year. The benefits cost approximately an additional 23 percent of the annual compensation. Lewis said his proposal to council could save the city approximately $50,000 a year.

The mayor rejected the proposal and said he wouldn't be "held hostage" by the auditor.

The auditor said council now has a budget that's going to be difficult to balance for 2010.

"The mayor was present at the Finance Committee meetings and didn't raise any concerns," Lewis said. "It was only after the matter was brought before full council that he objected."
 
Council will now have to find other areas to cut spending, Lewis said. The budget included these reductions (in overtime), the auditor said. 
 
Council President Lee Koogler told The Highland County Press Tuesday that the projected budget deficit will be addressed in the Finance Committee. "This (council's failure to rein in overtime) does create a shortfall. "We will have to work together and explore our options."