After continued gloomy reports about city revenues, especially the decreasing sales tax collections, the Alva City Council received some encouraging news Monday. The last two months, the sales tax collections have actually shown an increase over amounts in 2016.

Alva Business Manager Joe Don Dunham called it a “possibility of good things.” He said the city sales and use tax revenues in July were 11 percent above those received in July 2016, and August of this year was up 14 percent from the previous year. The average increase over the two months is almost 13 percent. It’s a good way to start out the new fiscal year which began July 1.

Sales and use tax provide a major source of revenue for the city budget.

Dunham said city utility collections have remained steady for the last few years. The amount of water pumped from the well field has increased by about ten percent. He said this is because of increases in unmetered water for city-owned facilities. The city plans to add meters at these locations to better monitor usage and improve leak detection.

The city is still watching expenditures very closely and only essential items are being purchased, he said. Capital improvements are being purchased on needs, not just the budget.

Burn House Construction

Construction is continuing on the burn house construction for the Alva Fire Department. Share Trust gave the department a grant of $200,000 for the new building at the training area near Hatfield Park.

The street department has been putting in concrete pads for the building. The water department will need to put in some new hydrants in the area.

The facility improvement will allow the fire department to conduct more specialized training not only for the city but for other departments in the area.

ARC Shade Structure

The city is working on applications for additional funding for shade structures at the Alva Recreation Complex. The budget doesn’t include enough money to complete the project. The ARC received approval for $10,000 from tourism tax funds.

Street Work

The south Noble Street project including the “tree” streets that connect to Noble is finished. Dunham said some of the streets did not require asphalt resurfacing as they were concrete and only required crack seal.

Crews are currently working on Flynn Street from Third to Ninth. The 300, 700 and 800 blocks have been resurfaced. The crews are working on the north side of the square in the 400 and 500 blocks currently. The 600 block (between College and Seventh) will be delayed until the bank construction is finished. That construction will include some drainage work that could affect the street.

The corner of 13th and Flynn has been torn out so the street department can make some needed repairs.

The crews are also working on some overlays in the areas of Washington and Longfellow Elementary Schools.

Dunham said in total the city has spent $110,467 on materials for construction and repair of streets since July 1, 2017.

Upper Payment Limit Program

After the Alva Hospital Authority application was turned down, the city has been working on an application with the federal Upper Payment Limit Supplemental Payment Program. Terra Parten of McAfee and Taft who is assisting the city with the application notified Dunham that the State Plan Amendment has been disapproved. The reasons for this have not been explained. So everything is on hold until that rationale is received.