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VALLEY — The City of Valley’s audit for 2024 is in and may well be the best one in the city’s 45-year history.

John Boles and Adam Creel of the Auburn accounting firm Himmelwright, Huguley and Boles were present at Monday’s meeting of the city council to review the report their firm prepared.

“We appreciate the opportunity we have to work with the City of Valley,” John Boles told the council. “This is a very good audit. They get a little bit better every year.”

Creel reviewed the details of a report that’s more than 60 pages in length. He told the council that the city’s net position continues to improve with each passing year. Assets exceed liabilities by a ratio of approximately three-to-one, and the net position stands at $44.8 million. Current assets are in the $17 million range with liabilities being around $2 million. “You have ample resources to cover your liabilities,” Creel said. “Your net position improved 3.5 percent in the last year.”

The city’s solid waste fund broke even over the course of the year, and that’s the city’s goal for it.

The city has some long-term debt in the form of bonds of approximately $22 million, which is on par for a city the size of Valley. Over the past year, the general fund collected more than $1.4 million over what was dispersed.

Creel commented City Clerk/Treasurer Cathy Snowden and her staff on having done excellent work with the city’s finances. Last year’s audit listed four suggestions to be followed. This has been taken care of, and there were no material weaknesses listed in this year’s management letter.

“The City of Valley is in a strong financial condition as it approaches its future,” Creel said.

Mayor Leonard Riley told Boles and Creel that he enjoys working with them and their staff. “John spends a couple of weeks here and asks all kinds of questions,” Riley said. “He and the people he works with really know what they are doing.”

“This is the best audit we have ever had,” Riley said. “We are in the best financial condition we have ever been in. We have more money in the bank than we have ever had before.”

Riley commended Snowden and her staff for the work they are doing with the city’s accounting. Snowden has been the city’s treasurer for nearly nine years.

The mayor also thanked council members and department heads for what they do to keep the city on solid financial footing.

In action taken at the Monday meeting, a second reading was held and an ordinance approved to annex approximately 10 acres of land bordering the Chattahoochee River between Langdale and River View. A member of the council, Kendall Andrews, owns the land and is building a house on it that will overlook the river. He abstained from the vote, which was approved 6-0-1.

A three-item consent agenda was approved. The list included accepting some bids for surplus vehicles and the approval of the serving of alcoholic beverages at two upcoming events at Lakeview Cabin. Victor Anthony was the high bidder on three of the vehicles sold and Bryan Poe was the high bidder on a fourth vehicle. Anthony purchased a 2011 Starcraft/Starlite and a 2014 Starcraft/Starlite each for $1,177 and a 2008 Dodge Durango for $2,177. Poe purchased a 2009 Ford pickup truck for $2,525.

A total of 13 people submitted bids for the vehicles.

The events at Lakeview include a class reunion for Saturday, April 5th and a wedding on Saturday, April 12th.

Valley Parks & Recreation Director Laurie Blount told the council that Valley Sportsplex is about to become a very busy place. There will be lots of participation in youth softball and baseball taking place there, and the Sportsplex will also be playing host to weekend tournament play as well.

Council Member Jim Clark thanked the Public Works Department for some needed work they have recently taken care of on Double Drive in his district.

Mayor Riley said that Public Works will be busy this week taking care of some sinkholes in Langdale Meadow. An underground drainage line approximately 120 feet in length will need to be replaced. Parts of the line collapsed following some recent rains. The line drained rain water coming off of Highway 29 at the foot of a hill in Langdale into nearby Moore’s Creek.