by Leah Justice

leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

The Town of Tryon had its first budget retreat on Saturday, Feb. 21 and touched on several needs for next year’s budget, including a replacement police vehicle, equipment needs for the public works department, changing town council meetings to town hall and creating an area for sleeping quarters for emergency workers.

Town council first discussed an update to the town’s strategic plan, for which the town is seeking responses from the public. Tryon Town Manager Joey Davis said the town has received 14 responses, with most saying the level of service the town provides is acceptable. On questions regarding sharing services with other communities, most answered that police services could be shared. On water service, responses mostly said if Tryon does not maintain its own system, residents want local control, such as a county-wide system rather than partnering with Inman-Campobello Water District as Polk County is currently in negotiations.

Davis said he will likely recommend any employee salary increases for next January instead of the start of the budget year on July 1.

One of the main items discussed was the need to replace a 2009 police vehicle with over 100,000 miles. Police Chief Jeff Arrowood said he wants a Ford Explorer all-wheel drive.

Other big ticket items for next year’s budget include the town’s voice recorder, which Davis said he is currently awaiting a quote on costs. The current recorder, which records emergency and public works calls is from the 2003-2004 budget year and the town is having issues with it and the town can no longer get replacement parts because of its age.

“So it’s either replace it proactively or wait until it dies and we’ll have to replace it,” said Tryon Mayor Jim Wright.

Council also discussed a possible pay study for employees, with Davis saying employees say from time to time they feel like they are underpaid. Tryon now pays less to its police officers than Polk County road deputies plus other area departments allow take-home vehicles and Tryon does not. Tryon has had issues lately retaining lower paid police officers with them often leaving to take higher paying jobs or to take a job that allows take-home vehicles.

Commissioner George Baker said he’d rather see the town give employees a raise rather than spend money on a pay study. He said Tryon just needs to look at Columbus, Landrum, Saluda and the county.

Arrowood said he’s been looking into incentives to try to get officers to stay in Tryon. He said 10 years ago Tryon was the highest paid department in the county. Now Columbus pays about the same as Tryon but Columbus offers take-home vehicles.

Commissioner Roy Miller said he doesn’t have a problem with take-home vehicles but it causes the vehicles to cycle out faster.

Commissioner Bill Ingham said when Tryon has nine officers and four vehicles, it’s not possible for officers to take home vehicles.

Commissioners briefly discussed offering take-home vehicles to ranking officers to give them an incentive. Arrowood said he’s thought of that as well, but what happens is the ranking officers don’t leave and it leaves officers at the bottom never being able to rank.

Arrowood said he has discussed what a take-home car is worth and offering younger officers the pay equivalent in an attempt to get them to stay longer with the number of $2,000-$3,500 more a year discussed.

Baker said the town may want to consider giving all employees an incentive for being with the town another year.

“Here’s $2,000,” Baker said. No bonus, just an incentive. You made it another year. We’re happy with you. Here’s your check. Maybe if there’s a carrot at the end of the stick they’ll stay a year.”

Miller suggested Arrowood and Davis come back to council with some ideas and budget figures from Columbus, Saluda and Landrum to see what they pay their officers.

Other items discussed at the retreat included council considering moving council meetings to town hall instead of the fire department.

Davis also said he’d like to see the town have sleeping quarters for police, fire and public works employees. He said one employee slept on the couch at the fire department last week during the ice storm.

Other needs included the need to fund phase I and II of a new maintenance shed for the town. Equipment needs for the public works department likely will be a newer model (used) dump truck to replace the town’s oldest one.

Wright said the town also needs to be looking at combining clerical and billing duties with other communities. He asked when was the last time someone walked into Duke Power or another service to pay the bill.

“It’s a nice service but we need to be thinking about shared services,” Wright said.

Baker said he doesn’t disagree but likes the town and that’s why he lives in it. He asked how many are happy with the power or cable company that doesn’t offer that level of customer service.

Tryon plans more budget work shops over the next couple months. The town’s new budget year begins July 1.