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Fort Branch council approves pay requests, authorizes engineering work and moves $100,000 to cover sewer shortfall
Summary
The Fort Branch Town Council approved routine claims and a $150,351 pay application to SLB, agreed to advance engineering work on a water project by self‑funding town share, and approved a temporary $100,000 transfer to cover a sewer operating shortfall while staff investigates accounting issues.
The Fort Branch Town Council approved routine claims and budget items during its meeting and took several finance and project steps to keep town infrastructure work on schedule.
The council approved the claims docket for May 24–June 20 totaling $380,617.13 and accepted the May 2025 fund report by voice votes. Members also approved a pay application No. 8 to SLB for $150,351 related to ongoing town projects and confirmed a project walkthrough is planned for the week of July 7 to verify completion items.
Council reviewed an engineering services letter from Eric Smith that estimated pre‑financing engineering fees at approximately $510,000 and proposed the town cover roughly $200,000 up front so the project could proceed to bidding and financing without a bond anticipation note. Councilors discussed SRF (state revolving fund) priority list treatment and pool financing, then moved and seconded to proceed with self‑funding the town portion of the engineering work so the project can advance; the motion passed by voice vote.
During department reports staff identified a $47,000 negative balance in the sewer utility operating account dating to February. Council approved a temporary transfer of $100,000 from the sewer improvement fund to sewer operating to meet the town’s minimum balance requirement while staff researches whether a coding error or other issue caused the shortfall.
Other routine approvals included a small request for $583.16 and acceptance of a June 2025 adjustment report. Council also tabled a proposal to purchase 24‑hour automatic samplers for the sewer plant while staff confirms quotes and warranty/availability details.
The council set the budget hearing for Aug. 27 and the budget adoption for Sept. 24, and approved travel and class attendance for a member attending ILMCT/State Board of Accounts training in August. The meeting adjourned with the next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 23 at 6:00 p.m.
