Old lines have sprung leaks, Barnett said, and other work is needed.

“We have to do this,” he said. “It is not a matter of if we want to, but we have to.”

Rate increases should go into effect in time to add revenue to the 2010 fiscal year budget, said Robin Holcomb, a town councilor.

“Part of this is to cover what needs to be done to our system,” Holcomb said. “We have to do some updates.”

Holcomb is also serving on a newly-created budget review committee and is working to come up with recommendations for changes which can be made to the town’s upcoming fiscal year 2011 budget, which goes into effect July 1.

Consultants are now wrapping up an audit of the current fiscal year budget, Barnett said, and once that is presented the town board should have a better idea of Stevensville’s current financial standing.

“We may be fine, but we are just fact-finding right now,” Barnett said.

Holcomb said the pre-look at the 2011 budget could identify areas where money can be saved or operations streamlined for efficiency.

“We are going to go over the budget and see if there are any changes we can do early on in the year instead of waiting for the budget to be written,” she said.

In other news from Stevensville:

• Pat Groninger received a unanimous vote to be council president.

• Town council meetings will now start with the Pledge of Allegiance. That was Barnett’s idea. “It was not done before,” he said. “I think all meetings should start with the Pledge of Allegiance.”

• Town departments will supply the board with monthly updates on activities. That’s so the board can report to the public on how residents are being served.

• Board member Clayton Floyd will begin work on a series of council rules. These rules will govern how the council conducts business and streamline government, Barnett said.

• Abandoned cars will be the focus of upcoming town efforts. The town’s code enforcement officer will help identify properties with junked vehicles and assist residents in bringing lots into compliance with town law. The town has had complaints from residents about the presence of junked vehicles and needs to take action, Barnett said. “If you’ve got junked cars on your property, your neighbor does not want to look at that,” he said.

Log on to RavalliRepublic.com to comment on this and other stories.

Reporter Jeff Schmerker can be reached at 363-3300 or jeff.schmerker@ravallirepublic.com.

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Unfair wrote on Feb 3, 2010 5:42 PM:

" How can they consider raising my rates when the system has so many leaks they can't even get an accurate guage of my water usage ?? I am paying for water I don't use.!! Why didn't they use the stimulas money to fix the water lines ?? "

MuskratLove wrote on Feb 3, 2010 5:37 PM:

" I completely agree with Farm Sense, are these giterdone jokers on an hourly wage or salary ? If the town wants to trim the budget, better start by examining all the city employees, and on another note, since the main steet is a state highway, is it legal for the hardware store to park a backhoe on the street with a For Rent sign on it ??? It looks like a traffic hazard to me with its bucket pointed into the street. "

Farm Sense wrote on Feb 3, 2010 7:43 AM:

" Furthermore, most of the things you mention are part of their job description. Spending 2 1/2 hrs a day BSing isn't. "

Farm Sense wrote on Feb 3, 2010 7:39 AM:

" I'm still here and still observing this lack of efficiency on a daily basis.

Open your eyes, Good Ol Boy (or Gal)

Just because that's the way it's been "done" forever doesn't mean thats the way it "should be done."

Thats of the reason this town is in a bind in the first place. "

Reformed Bitterrooter wrote on Feb 2, 2010 6:05 PM:

" (Dear Farm Sense):. I have seen the crew talking with other tax payers in Stevi.How many of those told them to get back to work. I have all so seen them out plowing snow at 4 in the morning,fixing water leaks sewer breaks till way in to the night.I have also seen them go out of there way to help out the senior citizens in town.And if you hired out what these guys do to the private sector it would cost a heck of a lot more.And I am pretty sure that most of the people that new you are glad you had the good sense to leave. "

Farm Sense wrote on Feb 2, 2010 4:02 PM:

" Having been a resident and business owner in Stevensville for over 20 years one observation I have made is many of this towns "workers" (particularly the Field Sanitarian crew) tend to spend the majority of their days visiting/gossiping, on the streets, at the hardware store, at the cafe and other local business, some outside the city limits or running personal errands. Governments would be much more efficient if ran like a private business. I know I wouldn't stand for any of my employees that practiced a work ethic as such. Sue, one can argue, they have their "breaks" and who am I to say when they are on the clock and not (guess) but again, in 20 years of observation I have observed considerably more "BS hours" put in than actually physically doing the work that is so needed. Thats far from efficient and far from what most of us would consider acceptable for the taxes we pay. Add up even a couple hours a day by one employee....over time...thats a big chunk of my change. Is it just me or have any other citizens notice this? "

realist wrote on Feb 2, 2010 7:31 AM:

" Given the recent outcry from a handful of Stevensville-area residents about a proposal to spread septage on private property more than a half mile from the river, it would be useful for citizens to know what happens to the sewage treated at Stevi's sewage treatment plant. The plant is located much closer to the river than the proposed septage field, and by all accounts, the sludge spread by the plant is no less dangerous than stabilized septage. Maybe the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association should look into the matter and take a stand on this issue. After all, the many tons of sewage sludge spread near the river far exceeds the amount of septage proposed to be spread a half mile away! "

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