| Richmond
receives belated but big bill from UDOT
By Brigitte England
October 17, 2007 | RICHMOND -- The Utah Department
of Transportation sent a bill for $50,755.54 to Richmond
city that would have been a bit more timely four years
ago.
When Richmond undertook a $90,000 highway expansion
project, an agreement was made that UDOT would pay about
$40,000 and Richmond would make up the difference. This
was over four years ago, but Richmond didn't receive
the invoice to pay up until an hour before City Council
meeting on Tuesday.
"This has just been made aware to us," City Recorder
Justin Lewis said. "This caught everybody off guard
because it's not accounted for anywhere. Until we can
visit with UDOT to verify that this is the correct amount
and everybody agrees to what's on this invoice, all
budgets will be considered frozen."
The money owed is more than the entire yearly budget
for the city library, the fire department, and the EMT
department of Richmond. All records will be scrutinized
and the minutes of previous meetings will be reviewed
since the agreement has become little more than a recollection.
"From everything we've looked into at this point,
it is legit," Lewis said. "We are going to owe it, and
we have a problem."
Although the sum looks ominous, Lewis is optimistic
that the funds will be easily found and the problem
promptly wrapped up.
The council also approved a resolution to reinstate
a sales tax of .0025 percent on some unprepared foods.
The extra tax money will be going toward the Cache Valley
Transit District.
Events in Richmond this week include a mass disaster
drill Saturday at the Richmond fire station at 6 p.m.,
and a City Youth Council meeting on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Residents are invited to come to the drill and get some
emergency training from the fire and EMT departments.
All the youth of Richmond are encouraged to come to
the youth council meeting to see how the council functions,
and consider being involved for the coming year.
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