NEW MADRID, Mo. — When putting together the budgets for the city of New Madrid and the Municipal Light and Power, City Administrator Aaron Griffin said he and the Council had two goals – to improve infrastructure and to maintain the current infrastructure.
“We have some really great infrastructure right now and we want to maintain it and improve upon what we have in place,” he said. “That will allow us to really start focusing on some other projects for the future whatever those may entail.”
This year’s city budget projects revenues of $2,585,100 and expenditures of $2,583,600. The MLP budget expects revenues totaling $5,362,900 while expenditures are forecast at $5,385,900.
According to Griffin, the coming year will include a major upgrade of the city’s force main which delivers sewage to the wastewater lagoon. This year’s budget has $450,000 set aside for the project.
Additionally upgrades are planned for the water treatment plant to make it more efficient and upgrades to lift stations and stormwater pumps, he said.
Some improvements are planned for the city’s parks. Griffin said this would include new equipment and activities for all ages.
Another major line item in the budget is $750,000 for a new city hall. Griffin said architects are putting designs together for a building which would be smaller than the current city hall but more employee and citizen-friendly.
The Council has set aside $695,500 for land purchases if needed as well as $175,000 for a new digger truck which would be used to set electrical poles.
As far as maintaining current infrastructure Griffin said annual rotational inspections will begin of all electrical poles, substations and stormwater pumps to ensure they are in proper working order. Also annual rotational tree trimming will continue.
Another part of maintaining infrastructure is street paving. The 2024 budget has $500,000 set aside for this.
Proper maintenance of infrastructure makes a difference, Griffin emphasized. He said tree trimming and inspection of electrical poles lends itself to fewer power outages while keeping stormwater pumps in proper working order brings fewer problems during storms.
“Citizens will see some differences but a lot of it is not going to be seen,” he said. “A lot of it is things going on behind the scenes that keeps everything running efficiently but are very important.”
Another thing citizens won’t be seeing is a utility increase. According to Griffin, the Council decided not to increase rates in 2024.
As part of the MLP budget, work will continue on the new substation. During 2023 dirt work and land grading were completed and the area fenced.
In addition upgrades are planned for the city’s water plant.
“A lot of the upgrades we are doing not only have an effect of making our systems more efficient but they also allow for growth of industry too. They are serving a dual purpose,” Griffin said. “We are being very pro-active rather reactive.”
As part of the budgeting process, Griffin and the Council also developed a six-year strategic plan.
“In my opinion, doing it over a six-year time period actually made it easier for the Council, myself and the department heads to prioritize spending because you are looking at in the sense of a bigger picture and you can break it down into bite-size pieces,” Griffin explained. “It also gives you your visions, your goals, and the benchmarks you want to hit.”