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
