Steamboat Pilot & Today

Hayden — The Hayden Town Board approved a 2001 budget last week that is weighted down with the red ink of capital improvements.

During the board's Dec. 7 meeting, a budget hearing was held, but no residents showed up to give input on the town's $1.2 million budget.

The town is expecting revenues of $1.18 million in 2001, which leaves it short about $115,000. Trustees are expecting to cover the shortfall by using funds in the town's reserve of $1.5 million.

Expenses expected to break the budget are $50,000 that has been set aside for unforeseen emergencies, $30,000 for water and sewer improvements, and the paving of Crandell Avenue, which will cost $187,000.

The town's water system also will get improvements at the cost of $260,000 with the largest chunk $95,000 earmarked for improvements to the town's plant.

However, what improvements the money will fund is not known at this time. To identify what improvements are needed at the plant, the town is updating an evaluation of the facility that was done in 1995 by Black and Veatch Corp.

Town Manager Rob Straebel is negotiating an agreement with the firm that will update the evaluation in hopes of keeping the costs between $15,000 and $20,000. Straebel said expects the update to be completed by next summer.

Areas of the water treatment plant that need to be updated are service pumps, mechanical processes that relate to water quality and the plant's daily water output. Straebel said he also would like the plant's capacity to increase.

Town officials said they believe it will cost close to $1.5 million to improve the water plant. Straebel would like to use the budgeted money for 2001 as matching funds to get an energy grant to help fund the improvements.

Other water-related projects scheduled for 2001 include an $80,000 expenditure to replace two blocks of water line. An additional $75,000 will fund pump replacement and repairs on Golden Meadows. Also included is $40,000 to replace a sewer line.

About $8,000 is scheduled to be spent on electrical improvements at the water plant. The cost also includes a new coat of paint for the facility.

The budget also calls for $45,000 for mosquito control. The expenditure includes the hiring of two employees to control mosquitoes and four aerial sprays.

Last year, the town had a $15,000 budget for mosquito abatement.

A patrol car for the Hayden Police Department is also included in the budget. Half of the cost of the $40,000 car will be included in the 2001 budget. The other half was included in the 2000 budget.

The town also will conduct a $10,000 traffic study. Trustees want to do the study to help determine problem areas and potential growth impacts.

The Board of Trustees compiled the budget after work sessions held Sept. 28 and Oct. 12 at the Town Hall.