Roodhouse looking for ways to reimburse electric department

By Editor | October 18, 2023 |

By Carmen Ensinger

You’ve heard the old saying of robbing Peter to pay Paul – well, now Peter’s funds are getting low and he’s asking Paul for the money he’s owed.
Or, in this case the Roodhouse water department needs to start repaying the funds it has been borrowing from the electric department over the past several years to stay solvent.
Roodhouse Mayor Charlie Huffines explained it at the Wednesday, Oct. 11 council meeting.
“If you look at our financials, you will see that for years and years the electric department has pretty much supported the entire city, but especially the water department,” he said. “The water department has been constantly in debt to them and at one point they were borrowing up to $40,000 at a time.”
But now, the tide has turned.
“The water is doing better now, but the electric is lagging,” Huffines said. “Plus, there is no cushion anymore in the electric department and we need to figure out why. We also need to figure out a resolution that doesn’t impact the customer or if it does, as little as possible.”
Since Huffines was moved up from alderman to Mayor, that left an open seat on the council. Plus after the recent resignation of Alderman Wes Bradford, that left another open seat on the council. Mayor Huffines said that he had found someone to fill his seat on the board – former Alderman Dennis Cumby.
“He is retired and has the time needed to devote to the council,” Huffines said. “There were two committees that both Wes and I were on – finance and utility, so I’m going to assign Cumby those those committees.
Huffines didn’t say if he had anyone in mind to replace Bradford.
Rich Wallis asked the council about the purchase of a gravel bucket for the bobcat. This piece of equipment would be used to pick up brush and move stuff around. The cost of this gravel bucket would be $2,850. The council will take the purchase under consideration at the next council meeting.
Discussion was held as to how much the city would donate to this year’s Santa in the park. The city donates money towards the treat bags. The city decided that, as last year, they would donate up to $400 for this event.
Trick or Treating in Roodhouse will be two nights in Roodhouse – Oct. 30 and 31 from 6 to 9 at houses with porch lights on only.
The Roodhouse Police Department’s Trunk or Treat, in conjunction with the White Hall Drag-O-Way will be held around the Roodhouse Square from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31. There will be free hot dogs and s’mores available in the center of the square.