ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Saying that the city “Meets financial standards,” Dennis Sherrin of Hartmann, Blackmon and Kilgore, the city’s auditors, gave the Robertsdale City Council a report on the city’s finances for the past year. All members of the council were present for the meeting.

Sherrin also told the council that “assets still exceed liabilities,” and that the city was “still in a sound financial position.”

“Debt service,” or the amount the city pays to retire a debt takes about 8 cents of every dollar the city has, Mayor Charles Murphy added. the city has recently refinanced some obligation warrants and taken out some warrants (loans) to finance improvements to the city’s wastewater system and water system.

Robertsdale has managed its debt prudently, Sherrin says.

“It’s a compliment to you guys that you recognized the situation (the down economy) a year or two before (some other cities realized the situation.)”

Murphy credited the city council and the city’s department heads for recognizing the approaching problem and finding ways to keep city services coming without needing more revenue.

Murphy brought an unrelated issue to the council during the work session, saying that the developer of Palmer Place II didn’t put streetlights in. The omission got past the city a few years ago, and residents of that subdivision are looking for lights. Murphy said the developer would be contacted about installing the lights, but the city was looking into the expense of installing around 30 lights. The city also has the option of assessing existing homeowners for the lights. Murphy indicated that he did not want to pursue that option until all other avenues were pursued.

The council also heard from city Finance Director Ann Simpson concerning the new utilities statements. According to Simpson, the new bills have a “late payment” date on them, and wanted to eliminate sending “late notices” which will save the city about $12,000 a year.

When asked if discontinuing the notices would be a hardship for rate payers, Simpson replied, “It might be a problem for some, but it’s a $12,000 problem for us.”

The council voted to permit the change and also voted to do away with the “convenience fee” for those who use a credit or debit card to pay their utility bills. Simpson also added that the city is testing on-line payment options, but she wants a little more time to make sure the programs are doing well.

The council also approved a message on the city’s sign along Highway 59 urging people to vote in the school referendum. The message will not be partisan, but simply ask people to vote.

Scott Gilbert, the city’s public works director, said that the second clarifier had been turned on at the waste water treatment plant.

“This just doubled our capacity,” said Gilbert. City Engineer Greg Smith said that other work needed to be done on the system, but that this was a big step to bringing the city into compliance with ADEM regulations.

Smith and Gilbert also told the council that part of the city’s water system had been turned off and technicians from the engineering firm were coming to check on the new water treatment facility. Gilbert expected the entire system to be back up shortly.

Police Chief Brad Kendrick said there had been incidents with Robertsdale High students using the track behind Morgan Ice to get to school. One student flipped his truck on that “road,” and Kendrick wanted city permission to block off that road.

Smith wanted to be sure that the city would still have access to power lines back there. The matter was taken under advisement by the council, and department heads will try to work out a solution.

The council also heard from Jim Arnett of Mayhen Street. Normally Arnett is with the city Planning Commission, but this time, “I get to speak for my own cause.”

A speed bump in his neighborhood is in “horrible repair,” and Arnett suggested improvements to the subdivision’s traffic flow.

In other council action:

— A representative from the Robertsdale Rotary Club came to ask for two of the city’s days at the Coliseum and the use of bleachers for the club’s rodeo event March 12 and 13. The council approved the use of the coliseum and bleachers.

— The council also approved annexation of a parcel from Cindy Salter Schulze on Fairground Road as an R-1 zone. The Planning Commission approved the measure, and the council approved the ordinance.