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Florence council approves fiscal audit, IT upgrade and creek remediation; charges cemetery for garbage
Summary
At its Nov. 3 meeting the Florence City Council approved the fiscal audit for the year ending Sept. 30, 2024; authorized an INCODE software upgrade with associated costs; accepted a USDA watershed protection agreement for Salado Creek with a $3,750 in‑kind city match; and approved charging the Florence Cemetery for garbage until tax‑exempt proof is provided.
The Florence City Council on Nov. 3, 2025 approved several administrative and budget items, including the city’s fiscal audit for the year ending Sept. 30, 2024, an information‑technology upgrade, and a U.S. Department of Agriculture watershed remediation agreement.
Mayor Ben Daniel called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and the council moved through routine reports before taking action on consent and regular agenda items.
The council approved the fiscal audit for the year ending Sept. 30, 2024, presented by Donald Allman, CPA. Council Member Debra Bivens made the motion to accept the audit and Mayor Pro Tem Mary Condon seconded; the motion carried with no opposition. The audit approval was presented during the regular agenda and did not record further discussion in the transcript.
Council members approved an INCODE software upgrade to be billed at $17,579 per year for the next three years and a one‑time migration fee of $13,260, with the migration fee to be paid from the fiscal year 2026‑2027 budget. Mayor Pro Tem Mary Condon made the motion and Council Member Debra Bivens seconded; the council recorded no opposition to the motion.
On infrastructure and environmental work, the council accepted an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program to clear and remediate portions of Salado Creek. The contract was described as having an expected dollar amount of $15,000; the city is to provide a 25% in‑kind match of manpower valued at $3,750. Mary Condon moved to accept the agreement; Mary Jane Swope seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
The council also voted to begin charging the Florence Cemetery for garbage collection and to collect sales tax on the service until the cemetery provides documentation of tax‑exempt status. The motion was made by Mary Condon and seconded by Mary Jane Swope and carried without opposition.
Other actions taken included rejecting an offer from the City of Georgetown to purchase Florence’s Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN); approving RESOLUTION 2025‑23 to dispose of city assets; amending the child safety zone map to include a new elementary school; and approving several personnel and schedule items (closing City Hall for lunch for 90 days, authorizing up to $1,500 for a holiday party, and approving specified holiday closures with paid administrative leave and library closure dates).
Council tabled several items pending additional information: a request by Ray Standridge regarding removal of garbage collection from the Masonic Lodge #338 utility bill (staff was directed to contact Al Clawson Disposal), a discussion about installing a street light near Well #2 pending cost estimates, and employee health insurance for 2026 pending more cost details. The council discussed renting the water tower to a local internet company but took no action on that item.
The council set its next regular meeting for Dec. 2, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. and Mayor Daniel adjourned the Nov. 3 meeting at 9:06 p.m.
