City Council hires RTC for engineering project

The Hallettsville city Council took the first step towards using the bond passed May 4.

The council voted to hire TRC to provide the engineering for the project.

In what was called a “lump sum project,” $757,855 will be paid to TRC for its services.

Some of the cost for engineering include $19,240 for topographical surveying design, $28,270 for geotechnical bores/ report, $2,266 for environmental services, $30,790 for bidding administration and $135,590 for construction administration.

Council received the 2023 audit report from Melissa Terry, who represented Waldorf and Uherek, LLP, the accounting firm from Victoria.

Terry said there were no deficiencies found and the city had a good fund balance of $2.43 million with $137,466 considered nonspendable for inventory and prepaid items as of Dec. 31, 2023.

The general fund’s unassigned fund balance at the end of the fiscal year was $2.29 million of 86.41% of general fund expenditures.

The utility fund’s total net position was $14.89 million of which $5.52 million was considered unrestricted as of the fiscal year end.

The city’s utility fund had a increase in net position of $2.05 million, or 16% as a result of operations. The city’s fund balance in the general fund increased $236,371 (10.76%) as a result of operations.

The council okayed an application to the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Travel Assistance through the office of the governor.

Hallettsville police made 18 arrests for 26 violations last month.

Six were for burglary of vehicles which occurred April 23 during the Hallettsville-Columbus baseball game.

The city received $66,604.49 for sale and use taxes in last month compared to $71,767.49 in May 2023.

The Friench Simpson Memorial Library had 1,516 visitors last month and a total circulation of 3,859.

Revenue for the library was $252.50.