Final budget approval expected in 12 days

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
August 27, 2004
Golfers who play at Meridian's only public course, Lakeview, could soon have new restrooms and a place to take shelter from the rain.
Meridian city councilmen are expected to give final approval at their Sept. 7 meeting to the city's $43.9 million spending plan for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Included in the proposed budget: $20,000 for the repair of a restroom at Lakeview Golf Course between holes 16 and 14. The restroom, which includes separate men's and women's rooms and a partial rain shed, is old and has deteriorated the past few years.
Richie Camp, Lakeview's golf course manager, said plans call for tearing down the old restroom and replacing it with a new, larger one. Camp said money left over could be used to add a new restroom for another part of the course.
The restroom repairs are among several changes councilmen made to the city's proposed spending plan last month, including a $750 across-the-board employee pay raise.
Councilmen also included money to add police officers and public works employees. But during a meeting last week with Mayor John Robert Smith, councilmen cut the number of new officers and public works employees from five to three in each department.
At least one of the new police officers will patrol Bonita Lakes Park.
Council President Bobby Smith of Ward 5 said he's happy with the budget.