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City regains confidence in library
By WAYNE AYERS
| Article published on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009 |
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MADEIRA BEACH – The payment is small, just $250 a month. That’s what the Gulf Beaches Public Library pays the city of Madeira Beach to keep its financial house in order.
In return, the city provides the library with monthly financial reports, issues checks to pay bills, records all financial transactions, and goes through the audit process with the library’s auditor, according to Madeira Beach Finance Director Monica Mitchell.
Following a period of turmoil, providing those services has had a huge impact on restoring confidence in the library’s financial dealings among its five supporting communities. All have decided to continue their monetary contribution to the library, which totals $180,000.
The Madeira Beach Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to renew the accounting and financial services agreement with the library at its Oct. 13 regular meeting. Kochick said the agreement has been “very beneficial” to all parties.
“We now have a clearer discerning as to where the finances are, where they’re going and where they have been,” he said.
Mayor Pat Shontz added, “The communities are very appreciative of what Madeira Beach has done for the library.”
Having the city take on the library’s financial accounting was the idea of City Manager W.D. Higginbotham. He presented the plan to the library board last year after questions arose over the library’s use of the reserve funds and lack of transparency in financial matters.
The chaotic situation that developed following Treasure Island’s pullout from the library consortium prompted the firing of Director Jan Horah and a demand for the remaining communities that the library’s financial issues be cleaned up. New procedures and reforms were implemented, with the financial oversight turned over to Mitchell and her staff.
With the continued supervision assured, the commission then moved quickly to approve payment of $46,115 as its share of the interlocal support agreement.
Bel Arte buyers to be billed
The required undergrounding of utility lines in front of the Bel Arte condominium buildings will be paid by buyers of the condo units.
City Attorney Michael Connolly announced the city had obtained a court order in the foreclosure proceedings that will require condo buyers at an upcoming auction to pay $3,000 per unit purchased toward the utility undergrounding costs. If the building’s 17 units are sold, the city will get $51,000.
An ordinance was passed in 2004 requiring that utility undergrounding be done on all new developments and improvements.
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Article published on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009
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