Preparing for Bonds

Underwriter Scott Bamman presented a report to Mayor Daniel Sims and the West Blocton Town Council concerning five-year capital improvements project and an upcoming bond issuance for the Water and Sewer system. According to Bamman, the town has been looking into the bond issue since September of 2017, and they are now within a few weeks of sending the information to Standard and Poors (S&P) for rating and issuing the bonds.

Bonds are essentially publicly held debt the town will be taking on to raise funds, instead of a bank loan. It is a common practice by municipalities and other government bodies to issue bonds, which must be paid back with specified interest at the maturity date stated. The rating that will be issued by S&P will help not only to determine the interest rate of the bonds, but the market position they take and likelihood of being purchased.

Bamman said that in order to get a good rating on the bonds, S&P would want to see certain policies in place to give them confidence, as they deem these help insure the town’s ability to pay back the debt. He went over several suggestions for Water Board Management Policies with the Council. These mostly covered debt management, and included:

  • A Drought Management policy. This is already in place, as it is required by ADEM (Alabama Department of Environmental Management).
  • A description of the capital improvement plan for the Water and Sewer (W&S) department and systems. This is also already in place and includes $1,715,351 grant funds for a new pumping system. This project is set to be bid out in the next 120 days.
  • In case the General Manager of the W&S Board is unable to complete duties, the job will fall to the Mayor on a temporary basis until the manager can be replaced or returns to work. This is also already in place, but would be formally adopted as policy.
  • Debt strategies:
    • System debt would only be used for capital improvement and repairs costs, and would not be used for operating costs.
    • Debt would be secured by and payable from operating revenues.
    • Effort would be made to take out only tax exempt debt where possible.
    • All new debt must be approved by resolution of the Town Council and will not be allowed to originate solely from one individual such as the Mayor.
    • Types of new debt will be limited to bank loans, capital equipment leases, and loans from State or Federal systems.
    • The life expectancy of capital improvements or assets paid for by debt will inform the length of terms of the loan. (Such that if a piece of equipment is expected to last 15 years, the loan for it would be similar in length of time, and the town would not be paying for it 30 years later).
    • Debt service (the amount paid out on the loans annually) will maintain a similar level over the long term.
    • Look for fixed rate loans when possible, with very few exceptions for variable rates.
  • Once the bonds are issued, the town will be responsible for posting financial reports annually in a place where investors (bond purchasers) can find them easily to evaluate.
  • S&P also looks for 3-6 months of cash liquidity on hand as reserve. Evaluating the cash and other quick to convert assets on hand, it is estimated that about $273,000 is free, including the ~$94,000 of USDA loans that would be paid off by the bonds. Including a “buffer” to give a goal of $240,000 of liquid assets on hand, this provision would be met.
  • Investment decisions would be delegated to the Mayor, with consultations with the Council. Any investments should be insured by FDIC. This policy is also already in place.

These policy suggestions may be modified, but are general guidelines of items sought by S&P. Mayor Sims encouraged the council to adopt these suggested policies, saying the results could save the town $35,000 or more per year. He added that between this and the new W&S agreement between West Blocton and Woodstock, in which Woodstock now pays about $13,000 instead of $5,500, the sewer system may begin to operate in the black (profitably) for the first time in its existence.

The Council unanimously voted to approve and implement the new policies.

Alabama Power Easement

A modification to a current plan was requested by Alabama Power in the laying of underground lines around town. Mayor Sims requested seeing the map of the new layout to clarify the changes, as well as modifications to the written agreement that would require Alabama Power to get approval before building anything within the agreed upon right of way.

District Reports and Other Items

District 1 – Lynch – Would like to remind citizens of the Burn Ordinance that requires them to notify town hall before burning, since the storms recently have caused so many limbs to be knocked down. He also brought up several potholes, and the issue of the ditches about to be cleaned out, saying he recently saw what appeared to be a lawn mower top clogging a ditch.

District 2 – Johnson – Also commented on the ditch cleaning issue. He brought up an issue of an aggressive dog, which may go to court. (Names could not be mentioned publicly.)

He added that a policy should be adopted requiring residents to post reflective numbering on their houses for 911 locating purposes. Fred Lynch commented on this in agreement, saying that two people including his sister had died because the ambulance could not locate their homes in time.

A discussion was had regarding the rental rate for the Municipal Building, which would go from $100 per day to $150 per day, with $20 to be refunded if the renter cleaned it appropriately after their event.

Johnson also thanked Kathy McCulley for her efforts with the food project that would help to feed several in need in the community.

District 3 – “Rabbit” reported a situation with an abandoned car at someone’s property but it came to light this had already been resolved.

District 4 – No report

District 5 – All districts should build a list of potholes to be filled, as the town will have over twice the revenue to fill these in the coming year thanks to the new gas tax.

Mayor Sims mentioned an idea for a Saturday Easter Egg Hunt that wouldn’t compete with church events, and asked for input regarding this. He also asked the council to compile a list of yards in their districts that need cleanup and give to Glenn Johnson, who will give to Police Chief Jay Cromer to issue tickets. Sims added that with April 22nd being Earth Day, they may rent a dumpster to assist with people cleaning up their properties.

 

SOURCEThe Bibb Voice
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A father, creative professional, and an alumnus of Bibb County High School, Jeremy has found his way back to Centreville after many years away. He studied Finance and Economics at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and almost a decade ago left the "normal" business world for audio and video production. A freelance writer, photographer, sound engineer, and film and video producer/director/editor, his work has appeared online for Southern Living, People, Health, Food & Wine, Sports Illustrated, Cooking Light, It's a Southern Thing, and This Is Alabama, as well as for independent musicians and filmmakers across Alabama.

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