By: Jeremy Handel, Staff Writer | jeremy@thewoodrufftimes.com
Once again, the City of Woodruff received good news from its independent auditor who presented the city council with a positive report.
Outside auditor Matt Phillips appeared before the council at their November meeting to present the results of his company’s audit. His review covered all aspects of the city’s finances and came back with a clean and unmodified opinion, which is the best result a municipality can receive.
“The city is in a very health net position,” Philips said. He added that the financial statements were all in good shape, and the city was financially healthy.
According to the audit, the city has a total fund balance of approximately $12.5 million, more than enough to meet the industry standard of three months’ expenditures.
Phillips also noted no compliance issues with any of the city’s federal fund accounts.
The council approved the appointment of Terry Leake to the Woodruff Planning Commission. Leake is replacing the late Rev. Stephen Brown. Leake is a long-time Woodruff resident.
The council also approved several revisions to the city’s comprehensive plan. The city’s most recent plan was approved in 2019, and the state requires plans to be reviewed and revised within five years. City staff conducted the review and recommended several revisions to the plan to incorporate changes made to state law and ordinances as well as updating census information based on the 2020 census.
In other business, the council approved the first reading of an ordinance to rezone a 58-acre parcel at 6228 Highway 101 to industrial. Assistant City Manager Brandon McMahan indicated that a new owner is closing on the property but has not provided a development plan as of yet.
The council also approved the first reading of an ordinance to annex approximately 15 acres at 2060 Old Orchard Road and a request to zone the parcel as industrial. McMahan said the developer does not have a plan for the property yet but indicated that the industrial zoning fits with the city’s comprehensive plan.
The Woodruff City Council meets on the last Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Due to the holiday season, the December meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 17. The meetings are open to the public.
Author: Tracy Sanders
Why is Woodruff hoarding so much cash? That’s roughly $2,400 per resident they have in the bank! They could pay off all their liabilities and bonds, and then cancel the mils for the property tax, and still make enough off of permits, fees, and fines to expand City services. They have enough in the bank to cover over 2 years of expenses without any revenue at all. They have more than enough money to fund a few million to fix City roads, maybe even underground some power lines. Bring some gigabit fiber to Woodruff. Develop civil infrastructure to support our expansion. Surely, they must either use it for our benefit or give it back to us?