Good Samaritan Health Clinic’s Jolanda Hutson explains the clinic’s mission as she requests the council’s support. / W.C. Mann
HOLLY POND – This week, the Holly Pond Town Council passed a $457,179 budget for fiscal year 2018.
The budget is based on last year’s revenues, since the council did not foresee any changes in the coming year, though it did express hope to see an increase. Predicted revenues total $507,975.
The General Fund budget totals $331,664 including a raise in employee wages, office expenses, equipment and facilities maintenance, utilities and others. In a new move for the council, the general budget included a $10,000 appropriation for the town’s schools:
- $5,000 to Holly Pond High School
- $3,000 to Holly Pond Middle School
- $2,000 to Holly Pond Elementary School
The donated funds are to be applied to school expenses beyond regular classroom costs.
Other expenses:
The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office provides a deputy assigned to the town, a position which received funding of $37,565.
Parks and Recreation – $32,525
The sewer system, which Mayor Bill Oliver described as the town’s “Achilles’ heel,” was budgeted $73,750.
Streets – $19,175, most of which will go to street lights
Library – $1,500, not including employee wages, which were covered by the General Fund.
Other council business
Jolanda Hutson visited from the Good Samaritan Health Clinic in Cullman, as part of the clinic’s sweep through all the county’s municipalities. Due to substantial decreases in funding from some of the clinic’s previous regular donors, Hutson is requesting support from the communities served by Good Samaritan. The council did not commit any support immediately, but Oliver told Hutson that it would take up the matter at its next meeting.
Wayne White, of The Middle of Nowhere antique shop, brought requests for assistance with preparation, parking and security for the town’s upcoming “Holly Pond Vintage Marketplace” at the town’s park on Saturday, Oct. 14. The event will feature vendors with antiques, vintage goods, crafts, and food, along with live entertainment.
White also requested reimbursement of more than $600 in expenses he said he has already incurred preparing for the event. Though the council did not vote to reimburse White directly, it did commit $1,500 toward the costs of the event, with reimbursement of certain expenses as one of those possible costs.
The council also briefly discussed the purchase of land for future developments like a senior center or storm shelter. Not wanting to reveal publicly the dollar amounts of three land parcels under consideration, the council set a special meeting for Oct. 16 which will be closed to the public.
The Holly Pond Town Council meets in the Guy Hunt Library at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of each month. The public is invited to attend.
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