Meeting of April 16, 2025

Good evening. I'd like or good afternoon. I would like to call this u meeting of this actually Davis County budget work session to order. Uh today is Wednesday, April 16th and it's noon. Um Mr. Johnson. Yes, sir. Following the agenda that you all have in front of you, beginning with item A. This will be a summary of changes from the initial draft of the fiscal year 2526 budget. I only have three. None of these items are reflected in your current packets. One is to cover the firefighter fundraiser fund, which is just the name of a bank account that we've added to the general fund. The fire department used to run um its contributions to Christmas wish and the the donations that it received through a private bank account that has swelled to an amount where it would be proper for the court to house those funds. So that's all that change will be. The Davis County ASAP board has consistently been getting its opioid harm reduction grant. uh we have a change to accommodate that and the parks entrance signs have been delayed due to several factors per Mr. Smith and that will not be completed in this year. So

the three changes are in addition to the revenue account firefighter fundraiser donations in the amount of $50,000 an increase to the expense account of fundraiser contributions of $50,000. An increase to the miscellaneous government revenue account of $20,000. That's for the ASAP grant. An increase in the expense account of DJJ ASAP grant of $20,000. An increase to the expense account parks entrance signs for building and construction under parks for $55,000 and then a decrease to the expense account of the reserve for budget transfers of $55,000. Do any core members have any questions on those changes? Yeah, I'm going to go first, Commissioner. Um, just on the U the 20,000 for ASAP, that's the normal amount that they received, is isn't it? So, they received two grants. They have a traditional grant that's 20,000. The state introduced an opioid harm reduction grant several years ago. That's in the same amount. Since they've been getting it consistently, we're going to formalize that in the budget. So, their line will be $40,000 representing both grants. Okay. And then and then on the donations, is that still

going to be the Christmas Wish dollars or is that is it going to be other dollars that the department may receive for their benefit? No, it will only be for the charity. Okay. It'll cycle about 35 to $45,000 a year. The account will swell. It will empty out to the charity at the end of the year. Okay. Thank you, Commissioner Coller. Uh yes, Jordan, the um do you have I know that in the previous budgets we had the park signage in at 30,000 I believe. Is that correct? I believe that is correct. That's correct. And has now gone to 55. Mhm. Uh seems as if time is of the essence. So uh this project in particular has been of need and necessary for at least what two years now since the other sign was blown down. Um, is there issues with basically the uh designer of the signage or do we even have a narrative we can present to the public when and if it's going to get done? We there is a delay in receiving approval from the designer for us to use uh that that design document so that we can bid it. Understand that there's illness involved and that they can't get back to us in a

timely manner. The increase in price is a is a reflection of updated estimates. It looks to be about $20,000 per sign and another 10 to 15 to bring electricity uh to one of the parks. Thank you, Jordan. Thank you, judge. It is um just a little problematic to hear that and how long it's been out there waiting to get done, especially when it was budgeted. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Mr. Johnson or any anyone else? I have some you have something, Chris. Okay. Our county is drowning. Never has this been more evident than the last few years of driving our county roads. And we have no money set aside in this budget to fix it. To me, that is not acceptable. Jordan, do we have a line item in this proposed budget for drainage or flood water management? We do not. I don't believe in the vein that you mean. Okay. So, there's nothing in there currently. There there's a minor amount in the road department's budget to address storm water, but um but nothing else. Okay. I have a proposal and I'm not sure if this

is the right time to make it, so I don't know if I'll have time to speak later. Go ahead. Okay. All right. So, I've heard all the arguments that we as county officials really can't do anything about this flooding issue. I do not accept that flooding and drainage in Davis County is the number one problem that we face and sitting by and doing nothing is not serving the taxpayers or the future residents of our county. I propose that we place $2 million from our general fund, the reserves, in our next budget and begin the work to see what we can legally accomplish to begin improving our drainage problem. I believe it's imperative that an additional $2 million be made available available the next year as well. Hopefully, the future court will continue until this problem is resolved or at a minimum greatly reduce the amount of the flooded roads with just a 3in rain. Years of neglect on our creeks and ditches are now closing more roads. We can't sit by and wait for the state or federal government to save us from

this problem. The old excuses of we are in a floodprone area or we live in a bowl are not cutting it anymore. Yes, I know we live in a flood zone. Everyone knows that. But to sit by and do nothing is not an option. As elected officials, our responsibility is to the taxpayers of Davis County, and we can't use past mindsets as a convenient excuse for inaction. I also propose that we reinstate the drainage commission and bring citizens together to determine where this money could be most effectively spent. We're spending millions on jails and firehouses and other things to protect the citizens of our county. 2 million in the larger picture is not that much money to help alleviate the number one problem in our county and that is flooding. I propose we have a drainage committee with two commissioners that meet monthly to work on this process. I'm willing to personally do the

research and I promise you I will dot every eye and cross every tea in that process. Then we could engage an attorney to look over to doublech checkck the legal part. So when we find a project or solution, we would then have to vote as fiscal court members on each line item project. That way the money will be there when we need it and it will be well accounted for and documented. And I just want to say one more thing again towards what we have been told in the past. Everyone I have spoke to has been a quick easy yes. You can do something about it and these are people that I have contacted from the state. So I would like this court to consider moving funds from the general fund. I'm not asking for any new money, no new taxes for the citizens, but with our surplus, I'm asking you all to please consider that. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. The only thing that I'll say is we've already have a process that's that's in place. Uh Commissioner Castlin, you've seen it in the paper before. Uh the public's aware of it. Uh, Commissioner Castlin is is working uh

with with different entities uh to follow a path that we've been given that is that would create a a permanent revenue stream uh for drainage. And that is the path that the state has created for us to be able to address drainage on a regular basis. And that's the that's the path we're going down right now. And I appreciate that you brought this to my attention yesterday. Uh I think it was yesterday afternoon when you brought it to my attention. Uh that you were going to be making this uh proposal today. Um, I personally, this is this is the budget that I put together with the staff and I'm not prepared to to put $2 million into the budget only with the u in my opinion it would be for show um give false hope when when we have been told and I know you you've had your own conversations. I've had my conversations with over over the last 14 years as an elected county official and I don't know how long you've been doing your research, but I know you've had a couple meetings uh with with people. I've just