As Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the lifting of many restrictions effective at the beginning of next week, the Carroll City Council dove into the impacts and plans for the next phases during the COVID-19 pandemic. City Manager, Mike Pogge-Weaver, stressed it is too early and not enough data is available to determine what will happen to state revenues. City Clerk and Finance Director, Laura Schaefer, updated council members on several key funds. The good news, she says, is the majority of Carroll residents are paying their taxes and that revenue stream is forecast to be at nearly 100 percent. She adds the majority of utility payments are also being made. Areas of concern included the road use and hotel motel taxes that are down as well as revenues from the Carroll Rec Center.
Because Rec Center attendance has been so dramatically impacted, Parks and Rec Director, Jack Wardell, says they will be opening up the currently available areas to another demographic category effective today (Wednesday).
And though many sporting and some swimming activities will be allowed to resume with limitations, Pogge-Weaver says there are other activities that are still prohibited. They will have to monitor to ensure these do not happen.
Wardell and Pogge-Weaver also outlined a plan to open the Carroll Aquatic Center for limited use at this time.
They have not opened swim lessons yet, but are working on ideas to modify these and make them available soon. As Pogge-Weaver points out, this is still a very fluid situation and the governor could make changes that impact their operations, either favorably or unfavorably, at any time. The Carroll Public Library is currently working on an opening plan, but continues to offer limited services and will be transitioning the summer reading program to an online offering. City Council meetings will continue to be held by digital means in order to maintain recommended physical distancing. But as they move forward, Pogge-Weaver says he has asked department heads to provide examples of how they would be able to reduce budgets by 2.5 and 5 percent. This, he says, is a pre-planning effort they certainly hope does not need to be used, but is in place if the economic impact of COVID-19 makes such measures necessary. We will bring you more from that meeting on a discussion on the possibility of moving ahead with a September Rec Center referendum and the outcome of a vicious animal appeal hearing in upcoming broadcasts.
