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Staff asks council to prioritize public-safety hires, courtroom upgrades and a $75,000 hillside rehab
Summary
City staff asked the Columbia Falls City Council to fund four police officers, 2.5 firefighters (partially paid by the rural fire district), courtroom modernization and a proposed $75,000 hillside rehabilitation project, while recommending the council delay the large contract and keep minimal brush-clearing to reduce liability.
City staff presented the draft general fund priorities at the budget workshop, urging the council to fund four additional police officers and 2.5 firefighter positions this fiscal year while relying on rural fire contributions to cover part of the firefighter payroll.
The presenter (Staff member) said the staffing increases are intended to maintain service levels and cover overtime and training costs. "Our recommendation is to fund four police officers, two and a half firefighters," the staff member said, describing the funding as part of the proposed appropriations.
On facilities, staff described a court modernization plan that would replace old courtroom furniture, upgrade lighting and install a secure public-entry vestibule with protective glass to improve staff safety. The same presenter said the city currently budgets a $7,000 annual contract for prosecution services and recommended hiring a legal assistant to move toward an in-house prosecutorial model if council approves the position.
Council members pressed staff about a recommended $75,000 rehabilitation project at 2nd Avenue East Hillside, a small slope-stabilization effort staff characterized as necessary to address brush and leaning trees after a large water leak. One council member raised liability concerns and questioned whether the work must be budgeted now; staff recommended removing the full $75,000 contract from this year's budget and instead doing limited brush-clearing by city crews or a smaller contract.
A council member who has reviewed the engineering recommendation said the immediate danger appears limited and supported delaying the major contract while keeping an eye on the area. "We'll keep an eye on it, but maybe look for a smaller contract or city staff to go ahead and clear out some of the trees," the staff member said.
Staff closed the general fund discussion by noting plans to transfer a modest reserve (about $81,000 in the plan) to keep the reserve near $500,000 and to incrementally raise it by approximately $100,000 a year if revenues perform as projected.
The council will revisit the general fund proposal and is scheduled to consider capital and final budget approvals at the council meeting on the 20th.
