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Budget Committee Meeting August 31, 1999 Page 7 water. Mr. Burgin said he has seen the dive team recover a diesel truck out of Pat Mayse Lake that was leaking a ton of diesel fuel into the lake. They have recovered cars out of Lake Crook along with an airplane out of Lake Crook. Mr. Burgin said he has been sitting on the bank of the lake and when someone loses a love one and they are in the water, those people are sitting right there on the edge of the water with you, and it is very distressful for him to go out there with poor tools such as hooks and recover the body. Mr. Burgin said this team is good and they do additional work such as in the city's utility departments. Councilman McWaters said the City Council sets the policy and city staff keeps on and on. Mr. Burgin said he has been asked by several Members of the City Council to put these items back in the budget. Chairman Pfiester said he is one that would like to see the dive team get the equipment, but that does not mean the City Council is going to approve the equipment. Mr. Burgin said he did ask for increases and changes in the budget this year, none of which were approved. Mr. Burgin said he was not saying this in a negative tone, he said there are always questions on these budgets, and he felt that they have to be addressed at some point in time. Mr. Burgin pointed out the Director of the Library just addressed changes at staff level, and the Committee was asking questions as if she has the responsibility and authority to do that, but that is not the case. Anytime there is a change in someone's pay grade, it has to be approved by management. Mr. Burgin said he had some of those in his budget that he has been trying to get approved for some time, and they need to be addressed. Mr. Burgin said the Fire Department has been blessed in the last few years by being allowed to replace equipment and buildings, and that is good, it was needed. Mr. Burgin said that they had not addressed the personnel problem and he still feels it should be addressed. There is a moral factor, and Mr. Burgin pointed out that you have to look at your people as being the best asset that you have. Mr. Burgin said he would like to see some of these things addressed this year. Mr. Burgin said he has a clerk that he has been trying to get an increase for four years. He has a code enforcement officer that has never had what you call a grade change.