KERMAN, Sept. 20 -  A carnival, with food and entertainment kicked off Kerman’s 62nd Harvest Festival Thursday evening.

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Kerman Harvest Festival Grand Marshal Announced

 

The Kerman Chamber of Commerce has announced that Olen and Lottie White are the Grand Marshal honorees for the 2006 Kerman Harvest Festival.

Olen and Lottie are lifelong residents of Kerman and graduates of Kerman Union High School. Olen furthered his education attending a technical college at night and worked during the day. He also attended night classes in computers. In 1966 Olen was drafted into the Army to serve during the Viet Nam War, where he worked in a hospital. Olen and Lottie (Mercer) White were married on October 14, 1967.

In 1989 Olen became the minister for the Kerman Church of Christ at the comer of 6th and "G" Street. He and Lottie have been on two missionary campaigns to Ghana, West Africa and have also traveled to Nigera, Africa and to the Netherlands (Holland).

Olen worked for the Postal Service for 31 years, retiring in 2001. He had a hobby restoring old photographs which he has turned into a business, "White Rose Enterprises". Olen’s interest in the history of the Kerman Post Office has led to a desire to write the full history of Kerman.

Olen and Lottie volunteered for the Kerman Cultural Arts Council for six and half years working in the office, helping to gather photos and historical information. Even now after leaving the KCAC, Olen continues his quest for historical information, interesting stories and photographs for another much more extensive book on the history of Kerman.

Olen and Lottie have done a terrific job as the Harvest Festival Parade Chairmen since 2003. They helped with Kerman’s 100/60 Year Celebration in April, setting up a small Historical Museum; helped design the Historical Afghan Throw, wrote "The First 100 Years" Book and put together ‘The History DVD’ video.

Olen has a desire to see a permanent historical museum in Kerman.

At its July 5 meeting the Kerman City Council unanimously approved a $14,364,866 budget for fiscal year 2006-07. The formal budget hearing process followed several preliminary budget presentations that have taken place over the last several months at City Council meetings. According to Finance Director/City Treasurer Tim Przybyla, the lengthy budget review process actually began back in December 2005 when City departments brought the list of annual recommended Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) to the Council’s attention.

These projects range from the expansion of City Hall to extensive street improvements and park development. After approval of the 5-year CIP in March, the Council examined Development Impact Fees (DIF) which are charged to new development within the City. Because of the increasing cost of land, equipment and construction, these fees were increased by about 19%, effective on July 1.

City Public Works and Development Director Alan Jacobsen reported that projected 2006-07 capital improvement expenditures amount to $6,969,376, nearly half of this year’s total budget. The major Capital Improvement Projects in the Facilities/Equipment catergory include: nearly $700,000 for new Public Works Department equipment and vehicles, Police Department patrol units, decorative trash containers for Madera Avenue, an additional parking lot at the Community/Teen Center (CTC), partial funding for the expansion of the CTC, and a two story expansion to City Hall that will house the new City Council Chambers and additional offices.

In addition, over $2 million is set aside for City parks, including a six acre expansion of Lions park, the development of Soroptomist Park (next to the North Central Fire Station) and major remodeling at Kerckhoff Park. The Kerckhoff project includes transforming the old pool house into a new youth center, remodeling park booths and replacing the bandstand and dance slab. Volunteers and community donations are expected to be involved in these projects. The City is also exploring the development of a regional park which could be as large as 40 acres.

In 2006-07, Water Facilities Development expenditures in the amount of $1.5 million have been approved. These include the completion of water lines in the industrial areas of the City, construction of a second 750,000 gallon water storage tank, and the completion of Well 17. In Sewer and Wastewater Treatment, approximately $225,000 is earmarked for construction of new lagoons and a new sewer line on Del Norte from "C" to "E" Streets.

Over $1.6 million is budgeted for major street projects, which include the completion of Madera Avenue alley improvements, the safe routes to school project (which will address sidewalks and curb improvements on Del Norte and Whitesbridge), the extension of the Kearney median westward, land improvements at Whitesbridge and Vineland, and an overlay at Sunset and "D" Streets. An Additional $250,000 is programmed for reconstruction and repair of a number of older City streets.

Mayor Ken Moore said that the City’s Capital Improvement Plans for the fiscal year are very ambitious. "While I’m not sure that we can complete all these projects this year, it’s very important to approve the expenditure plan and begin the planning and engineering. The Council, Planning Commission, and staff have worked hard to ensure that the City properly plans, funds, and builds the necessary infrastructure to ensure that we are prepared for the future. This budget addresses the future needs of Kerman."

On the Personnel and Operations side, the City expects to spend in the area of $7.4 million. Przybyla said that the City is in a very strong financial position. "The State is not taking away as much as it has in the recent past and, in fact, it’s restoring some of the funding that it was previously withholding from cities. Our sales tax revenues have substantially increased over the last three years. Property tax has also increased quite a bit and we expect even greater increases in the future, based on the value of property recently developed or soon to be developed in Kerman. Our current financial position is very strong and we are prepared to meet the needs of Kerman for years to come."

The City Council approved five new City staff positions. The Police Department will add one new officer, increasing the force to 19 sworn officers with three non-sworn support positions. Two public works employees will be added. A Secretary position in Community Service/Recreation will be increased from part-time to full-time. The City will also hire a full-time Associate Planner.

According to City Manager Ron Manfredi, housing development should decrease over the next two to three years. In 2005, the City issued 282 building permits for single family houses. "We’ll probably decrease to just over 200 permits in ’06 and maybe 190 for fiscal year 2006/07. That’s a reasonable slow-down and much more manageable than the rate of growth we have experienced over the previous couple of years. However, the most exciting prospect in Kerman is the increased activity in industrial, office, and commercial development. We’ve had more activity in these areas over the past two years than we’ve had over the previous 10 years; and, I think we will have even more activity over the next several years."