By Terry Schrimscher, For The Tribune
CLAY — The Clay City Council met Tuesday night, June 14, for the first of two scheduled monthly meetings. The Council moved quickly through the brief agenda concluding the meeting in roughly 20 minutes.
The Council unanimously passed an ordinance establishing an interlocal agreement with the city of Birmingham. Councilmember Bo Johnson was not present.
“This is an ordinance to provide for an interlocal agreement between the city of Birmingham and the city of Clay,” City Manager Ronnie Dixon said. “The city of Birmingham is asking for all kinds of equipment from neighboring cities to present the World Games.”
Specifically, the agreement mentions borrowing lighting towers from Clay, but the request could extend to vehicles and other equipment.
“They assume all of the rights and responsibilities and liabilities,” Dixon said.
The World Games will be held from July 7 to July 17, 2022.
Dixon spoke about the impact rising fuel costs are having on the city in the May 24 meeting and added some updates in his financial comments early in the meeting.
“The economy is going to continue to deteriorate,” Dixon said. “In May of last year, we spent $121,000 on diesel. This year, in May, we spent $343,000 on diesel. So, we had to move $600,000 out of the general fund into the transportation fund, and that’s only to cover May, June, July, August, and September. We’re going to be over a million dollars in fuel costs which is normally about $200,000.”
Dixon said Clay has instructed staff to be vigilant about conserving fuel, including riding together when possible. The fiscal year starts over in October.
The city’s current balances are:
- General Fund – $2,088,817.50
- Vehicle Registration – $26,381.77
- Contractor Bonds – $155,929.16
- Capital Fund – $1,697,057.19
- .45 cent gas fund – $180,982.71
- .7 cent gas fund – $27,572.52
- Rebuild Alabama gas fund – $159,328.78
- Building Fund – $332,656.23
- Paving Supplement fund – $236,840.98
- Reserve funds – $1,750,000
- BB&T fund – $17,846.88
- Ballpark income – $58,873.64
- Ballpark expenses – $42,488,06
The next meeting of the Clay City Council is set for Tuesday, June 28.