Auditor: City is in 'great shape'
By Ty Johnson
Published in News on January 12, 2012 1:46 PM
City officials received good news Monday night at the Goldsboro City Council meeting as they were informed the city once again received a certificate for excellence in financial reporting during an audit debriefing.
Michelle Kiefer with Pittard, Perry and Crone, delivered an overview of the city's audit, which was mostly good news except for an expected shortfall between revenue and expenditures.
"We know why, though," Ms. Kiefer said, citing additional gasoline costs, worker's compensation payouts and the fact that taxes simply didn't come in as hoped. "The economy is pretty much to blame for this."
Still, she said the city did better than budgeted.
"The city is in great shape," she said.
The council made quick work of the rest of its agenda Monday, approving $9,000 for grinding work to be done at Stoney Creek Park to clear overgrown land owned by the city.
The council also approved continuing its lobbyist contract with Marlowe and Company, which works on behalf of the city to secure federal grants in Washington, D.C., as well as synching up the speed limit zones on Stevens Mill Road.
Conditional use permits were also discussed for Zackell Perry's tattoo parlor on U.S. Highway 117 South and Jerald Huffman's Dizzy Donkey on U.S. Highway 70 in the Little River Shopping Center.
A public hearing was set to allow discussion on the annexation of the Lafevers property on the south side of Lockhaven Drive, and a subdivision request for property on North John Street was approved. The property owner plans to renovate the properties into residential apartments on the first and second levels.
Federal property forfeiture money as well as state-controlled substance tax remittance were approved to be added to the police department's budget as well, although a conditional use permit for a recreational vehicle park on the east side of Bryan Boulevard between Buckhorn Road and Thompson Lane was pulled from the agenda.
An order for denial will be prepared for the next council meeting, as Mayor Pro Tem Chuck Allen expressed concern about the use of a septic tank within an area prone to flooding.
The sole item requiring individual action was approved as well. The long-delayed rezoning request by Franklin Baking was approved through a conditional district rezoning. The land, on the northwest corner of the West Holly Street and North Virginia Street intersection, will be zoned for industry, but any use of the land in the future must be approved by the City Council.
Residents in the area had expressed concern that the business might expand and threaten the neighborhood.