By JEAN OUZTS

Climax Correspondent

Bainbridge CPA Bruce Mann presented the annual Climax City audit at the regular council meeting on Monday night Aug. 12. He stated that he had examined the city’s financial statements, auditing those financial statements for the city, year ending Dec. 31, 2012, and the city presented fairly as in the past. He also reported that the city was still in good financial shape.

Mann said the general fund was budgeted at $207,614 in revenues and the final budget came to $208,043 only around a $400 difference. All departments he said were in good standing, and he felt the city was being well managed, running along very well.

The council voted unanimously to adopt the Georgia National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) as a city ordinance. This will not cost the city anything according to reports from Mayor Hadsock; neither will it cost the citizens. This is to make it easier for those who wish to purchase flood insurance to do so, and to help protect the citizens in the event of a natural disaster.

It was announced that qualifying dates for the Nov. 13 city elections will be Aug. 26 through Aug. 30. The offices open in Climax are the two council seats currently held by Gwen Wingate, and Robert (Bob) Thomas; and the Mayor seat now held by Charles Hadsock.

The council voted to continue to delegate authority to issue permits for the operation of non-profit food service at events that last 120 hours or less to the county board of health.

Approved by the council was a request by the city to the Department of Transportation local maintenance and improvement grant program, to escrow the 2014 allocations until FY 2015. This will provide for one mobilization to complete West Broad Street from Attapulgus Climax Road to the Climax City Limits and will result in savings due to the high cost of mobilization. The Mayor announced that the city was hopeful that increases in domestic oil production will reduce the current price of asphalt. Current resurfacing prices are $25,600.00 (.141 miles).

The city of Climax will maintain the property tax rate of 6.5 mills and no increase.

The council approved 3 to 1 the purchase of a tag reader system for the city police car. The high potential for fines is not included in the 39% allocation. It was noted that the system investment is $24,683.00, and should pay for itself within a short time period.

After a question about the status of workman comp. for former Police Chief Joel Jenkins, it was announced that the city had sent a letter to Jenkins stating that the city was discharging him, and his insurance would be paid by the city through the end of August. The city has received no reply.