Thayne council adopts budget, approves subdivisions and several contracts

Thayne Town Council approved its fiscal 2023–24 budget on third reading and took a series of routine and project-specific actions at its June 21 meeting.

Budget and parks funding: Mayor Simpson presented proposed changes to Ordinances 376–379, including reallocating a portion of an administrative salary to the sewer and water fund and recommending use of $200,000 from reserves to increase parks spending. The council approved the budget on third reading; the motion recorded an increased parks allocation to $428,450 to support a retaining-wall extension to Heap Drive, an electronic town sign and Heart/Star art.

Subdivisions and permits: The council approved the Lainhart Second Addition Subdivision and the White Barn Second Addition Subdivision, each pending an agreed developers agreement. A Lainhart building permit (#2023-06001) was approved contingent on subdivision approval. Motions were made by Councilmember Passey and seconded by Councilmember Pelletier or Woolley as recorded; all motions carried.

Contracts, payments and maintenance: Sunrise Engineering presented pay request #1 for the East Booster Pump improvements; council approved payment of $27,704.85 after Sunrise confirmed the work fell within contract documents. Council approved a $9,500 contract with Simply Tree for tree trimming in parks. Staff recommended MidCo perform water-tank cleaning for a total of $7,236; council approved scheduling the maintenance pending availability in 2024. Council also reviewed estimates for Community Center camera replacement (options of $15,319 to reuse coax wiring or $20,541 to replace wiring and enable remote monitoring) and postponed action to the next meeting.

Water billing and extensions: Rick Tharp requested a two-month extension to seek financial assistance for a water bill accruing since 2013; Kristy Tharpe described outreach to funding agencies. Mayor Simpson noted bills had been mailed monthly and that a variance would be required to change ordinance-mandated billing; council extended Tharpe's water service until Aug. 17, 2023, after which unpaid balance could result in shutoff.

Other business: Judge Lawton reported concerns about speeding and called for enforcement; council discussed street repairs, equipment transport, a sign change at Wright Street and Meyers to a Yield sign, and a letter to the Wagners about a Dana Street sewer service crossing deadline. Council moved to pay the presented bills and adjourned at 8:24 p.m.

Motions were recorded as carried throughout the meeting; the transcript records movers and seconders (most commonly Councilmember Passey as mover and Councilmember Pelletier or Woolley as seconder) but does not list detailed roll-call tallies for every vote.