COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A public hearing on the City of Coldwater’s proposed fiscal year 2018-2019 budget was held during Monday night’s City Council meeting.
City Manager Keith Baker says the budget as it stands now has a projected deficit of $165,000. The city plans to buy a backhoe at a cost of $130,000 but that purchase will not be considered until later in the fiscal year to better determine the status of the budget at that time and the availability of funds to cover the expense.
He added the proposed budget is conservatively stated and unless something unforeseen occurs, the city staff anticipates that the budget would come in at or better than projected.
The budget is scheduled to be adopted during the Council’s next meeting June 25, 2018.
In other business, the Council approved a request from Baker to have the city petition the Branch County Drain Office to make a ditch near the industrial park on the southwest side of the city a county drain. The city is pursuing this because of past flooding and drainage issues in the area. The tributary includes multiple jurisdictions.
The problem is along a drainage ditch that crosses under Garfield Avenue which begins in Coldwater Township. It drains north in the industrial park before it discharges to South Lake.
