Cleburne City Council members plan to discuss city employees’ use of credit cards Tuesday during the council’s workshop session before its regular council meeting.
Mayor Ted Reynolds said he wants council members and residents to have access to detailed reports about the cards. Council members use monthly bill summaries to keep track of expenses. The summaries contain the payment total for several credit cards but not a breakdown of individual expenses, Reynolds said.
He wants a detailed report to be posted online on the city Web site.
“I have a lot of faith and trust in our employees, and I want our citizens to do so too,” Reynolds said. “And one way to make sure that happens is to be as transparent as possible. I don’t want it to be difficult for anyone to look and see where their tax dollars are being spent.
Reynolds said he did not know how many employees had city credit cards, but he said he intended to find out. Reynolds said he didn’t want to guess the average amount of city credit card expense because it varies but said he knows it is enough money to warrant tracking.
Finance Director Greg Wilmore was out of the office Friday and unable to supply exact totals of credit card expenses over the last few months.
No specific problem or incident motivated Reynolds to bring the matter to the council, he said.
“Absolutely not, we have not seen any signs of overspending or abuse,” Reynolds said.
Nor did similar problems in other cities prompt him, Reynolds said.
“We just want to be proactive and transparent,” Reynolds said. “I know some people have a certain perception about city governments, and I don’t want that perception for Cleburne. This way, if someone doesn’t like a certain expense, they can complain about it, which is fine. But at least everyone will see where the money is being spent.”
The council will also hear a presentation on long-range water plans for Cleburne. Public Works Director Russell Schreiber said the study — undertaken by Freese and Nichols last year — provides a comprehensive overview of water challenges and needs for the city through 2050.
Tuesday’s workshop begins at 2:30 p.m., not the usual 4:30 p.m.
In the regular council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., the council will consider authorizing up to $47,500 for emergency sewer-main repairs on Woodard Avenue along McAnear Creek. The line recently ruptured because of river bank erosion.
Council members will also consider filling vacancies on the zoning board of adjustment and the building and standards commission.
Both the workshop and council meeting take place in council chambers at city hall, 10 N. Robinson St.
Matt Smith can be reached at
817-645-2441, ext. 2339,
or msmith@trcle.com.
Local News
Council to discuss credit card use
Long-range water plan also to be presented
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May/June 2012 Community Life magazine
The May/June 2012 edition of Community Life magazine is available for online viewing. Click here to view.
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