By Tiffany Green
The Cullman Times
WEST POINT — The West Point town council passed its 2009-2010 income and expense budget at a special meeting recently.
“There were no cuts this year. We have done a balanced budget,” Mayor Kenneth Kilgo said. “The town of West Point is doing good.”
The main expenditures were for the recent sanitary sewer system the town installed.
“Everything else is just normal operating expenses,” Kilgo said.
The main expenses are for the maintenance of the sewer system. The total budget for the sewer system is $75,670.
In the general fund, the expected income is $122,006, with sales tax and sales tax income totaling $91,237.
The town has also decided to donate land on Hwy. 157 to the West Point Volunteer Fire Department in lieu of the normal monetary donation.
Kilgo said the town is in need of a new fire station.
The council also discussed the sewer rates for residents who chose to hook on to the new sanitary sewer system. The rate will be $19 per month with a $1,000-$1,500 hook up fee. The town will finance the fee for any resident with no interest and allow the residents to pay over a few years.
The sewer system’s pump station is located across from the new Jack’s Restaurant. The system runs along County Road 1242 from the northern boundary of the town, to the intersection of County Road 1141 and west to the Gerdye Howell Library. It will include residential sites along County Roads 1140 and 1143, as well as the school, a church and businesses.
“We don’t want any resident paying up front,” Kilgo said. “We will work with everybody.”
The council and mayor are using the existing meters installed by the Vinemont Area Water (VAW) System.
Questions have been raised as to whether the town has the right to read the VAW owned meters
There will be a special called meeting regarding the sewer system and the meter reading issue on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the town hall.
In other business, the council:
* Announced six new 25 mile an hour speed limit signs have been installed along County Road 1141.
* Announced the Fun For Fall Festival will be Saturday, Oct. 17 at the West Point Park.
* Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.
