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October O b 21, 2010 VOL. 6 NUMBER 6
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Huron Fire Department Educates Youth While Observing Fire Prevention Week Every year, the firefighters organize a poster day, Oct. 9. More than 150 people attended the contest for the different grade levels. This year’s event, which was an opportunity for the public contest was sponsored by McDonald’s in Huron. to learn about the local department, have a staThe firefighters selected a winning poster in every classroom and awarded the winners with a HFD T-shirt. A grade-level winner was chosen and was awarded a ride on a fire truck to McDonald’s for lunch. The grade-level winners were also recipients of two passes to Kalahari Resort Waterpark. All of the students were given a goody bag full of valuable information. Local businesses contributed funds to the Fire Department’s Prevention & Education Fund that made these bags possible, said Smith. Fire Prevention Week is a National Program that takes place the week Oct. 9 falls in. The edu- Lieutenant Ken Berlin, Firefighter Jerod Smith, cational week is observed Captain Mike Hohler, Firefighter Nick Thaxton, as National Fire Preven- Shawnee Principal Tanny Vonthron, Lieutenant tion Week in honor of the Paul Hasenmeier, Firefighter Bill Everet and the Great Chicago Fires. This grade-level winners for Shawnee Elementary and tragic 1871 blaze killed Woodlands Intermediate School pose for a quick more than 250 people, photo before venturing off to McDonalds for a celleft 100,000 homeless, de- ebratory lunch. stroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 tion tour, have their household fire extinguisher acres. Fire Prevention Week has been inspected, receive hands-on fire extinguisher observed nationally for more than eight training, learn about smoke & carbon mondecades, while the Huron department oxide detector use and purchase either smoke Firefighter Kevin Bower (#12) and Firefighter has had a fire prevention program in or carbon monoxide detectors. Cookies were Pete Zimmerman (#34) demonstrate their place since 1969. Under the leadership served, compliments of Huron City Schools and fire preventative clothing for the students at of Chief Phil Thomas, Lieutenant Lester Sue Whitaker, director of food services. Baking Brownell began the city’s first fire pre- cookies was a way to show the schools supportShawnee Elementary School. ed the open house and appreciate all the firevention program, Smith said. In conjunction with the week, the Huron Fire fighters do for the students, Whitaker said. lunch then off to the Shawnee and Woodlands Department held a public open house on Saturplaygrounds for a few moments of recess. The week of October 4-9, the elementary schools of Huron and the Huron Fire Department observed Fire Prevention Week. Members of the Huron Fire Department travelled to the different elementary schools throughout Huron to help teach fire safety basics, such as the dangers of playing with matches, what to do if your clothes catch on fire, and crawling to safety in a burning structure, said Huron Firefighter Jerod Smith. Preschool through second-grade students had a special demonstration from the firefighters in which they dressed in full gear as if going to a fire. The third- and fourth-grade students watched age appropriate videos that helped reinforce fire safety basics. The firefighters and students enjoyed time together outside of the classroom over a school
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Rotary Holds Annual Kids’ Halloween Party
Huron Schools to Hold Public Tours The Huron City School District invites the public to attend a District wide Open House tour held next week. The open houses are designed as a means for the public on a pre-registered basis to tour and view all of the buildings and facilities of the Huron City School District. The tours will be guided by Superintendent Fred Fox as he will personally discuss the contents that make up the district as well as explain the many recent facility updates the schools have undergone. The tours will be held on Monday, Oct. 25 and Tuesday, Oct. 26; both will begin at 9 a.m. at Tiger Memorial Stadium. Fox will treat all participants to lunch at the high school after the tours. To register, contact VeeLynn Dover at the Board Office by calling 419-433-1234, Ext. 5.
A longstanding tradition that children in Huron have participated in for many years during the Halloween season will be held on Wednesday Oct. 27. The annual Huron Rotary Halloween Costume Party for kids will be held outside this year at The Huron High School Stadium. If the weather is inclement, then the party will be moved inside to the high school gym. This year’s event starts at 6:45 p.m., with children assembling from 6:30 to 6:45 near the concession stand on the home side of the track at stadium. The Huron High School Band will entertain, and children will parade by age groups in front of the home-side stands. Each will receive bags to be filled with lots of special treats. Children who are pre-school age through sixth-grade are invited to attend, and everyone – including parents and grandparents – will receive cider, doughnuts and cookies. Participants are asked to wear soft-soled shoes, and park in the area west of the high school gym. There is no charge for this annual event as it is meant to be a community service project sponsored by the Huron Rotary Club.
City Did Not Overspend, Manager Says This letter is written as a clarification of fact regarding a recent news story titled “Huron Overspent, State Audit Reveals.” The city did not overspend and cannot overspend. A municipality’s annual appropriations and estimated resources, also known as the annual budget, is a legally binding document which sets forth annual financial priorities as legislatively adopted by the City Council. Once adopted, this document can only be modified with additional legislative action and the creation of new law. What the city did do is utilize savings from Fiscal Year 2008 for use in Fiscal Year 2009. The exact amount of these resources is generally not completely understood until the end of the annual operating cycle, which is a chaotic time. In one specific instance, the City Council encumbered $128,661.00 from the 2008 health care program’s savings for use in 2009. In essence, this action reduced the cost of the next year’s program and permitted the city to accommodate other needs, most notably capital improvements and long term planning.
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In effect, a citation for the timing of this transfer of savings was noted on the audit because it took place during the first week in January 2009 as opposed to the last week in December 2008. Had the order been reversed the available funds would have correctly demonstrated the existing, and compliant, balance between expense and revenue in 2009. This type of citation is vital to ensure public bodies do not spend unavailable resources to the detriment of the community and certainly did not occur in the city last year. The overall fiscal health of the city was omitted from the story but is important to point out. In 2009, during the worst economic period since the Great Depression, the city’s Net Assets increased 52 percent from $9,418,129 in 2008 to $17,132,428 in 2009. In addition, the general fund balance increased for a fifth consecutive year and the city’s bond rating was upgraded. This represents a positive financial trajectory for the city and an opportunity for future progress in the region that would not have been possible without the careful planning, establishment and
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implementation of well thought policy. In conclusion, the city deeply respects its relationship with the press and acknowledges without it the same level of public service is not possible. However, no member of the Council or the Finance Department was interviewed for this story. The Auditor who provided the city’s report was not contacted -- and no member of the press was in attendance on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 when the audit was discussed in open public session. Unfortunately an incomplete story was established and as a result the general public was not completely informed. A copy of the entire audit is available on the city’s Web site and has been since its receipt. In addition, the specific legislation segregating savings from 2008 for use in 2009 is also available for review on the website. Thank you for your time and consideration of this clarification. Sincerely, Andrew D. White, City Manager
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