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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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| | Email this article • Print this article | Center City Council briefs....
BY COLLEEN KASTANEK
Correspondent
Due to the lack of a quorum, the Center City EDA did not officially meet before the regular City Council monthly meeting. County EDA Director Chris Eng, City Engineer Les Mateffy, Mayor Jill Behnke, EDA member Mary O'Reilly and City Clerk Terrie Trudeau informally discussed EDA activities going on around the county, until Council members Will Pennings, Madonna Higgins and Mark Wolcott arrived for the council session.
The minutes for five meetings, assessment hearings and the claims list were on the consent agenda citizen. Sharon Helgestad asked for correction of a statement she made regarding rental unit hookups at the council's August 13 special meeting and working session. The change was noted and the council unanimously approved the consent agenda.
State Representative Jeremy Kalin and Senator Rick Olseen reported to the council on the state's budget challenges in the 2009 legislative session. Center City is receiving $19,000 less in Local Government Aid for 2010. Kalin and Olseen said they understand how difficult these cuts are for cities with small budgets.
Olseen commented that while the governor's "no new taxes" policy sounds good, state aid cuts to cities means that local governments must raise taxes to make up the difference in lost revenue, and then city residents blame the city for tax increases.
The legislators told the council they are working on strategies to end the "feast or famine cycles" of city budgets, and will introduce an amendment next year to cap the unallotment. "It will be a few years before the (budgetary) pressure lets up," both legislators predicted. They reported on their efforts to bring jobs into the county and renewable energy strategies to relieve the local tax burden.
Later in the meeting the council addressed its own budgetary challenge by setting the maximum levy at 4.06 percent above last year's levy. The city will operate on $166,500 from the General Fund (up from $147,000 for last year), and cut its EDA budget to $500 (down from $5,000) and the Capital Improvement budget to $1,000 (down from $8,000). Wolcott's motion passed unanimously.
Engineer Les Mateffy reported that after the rain gardens are installed construction at the Jail House Rock subdivision will be "wrapped up" for the year.
Terrie Trudeau reported that the least expensive postal meter rental she has found is $19.99 per month. She felt the expense will not justify the convenience, and recommended that the council drop the item from the agenda.
Council reviewed the minutes of the Busch Avenue and Court House loop road improvement assessment hearings. The council was to award the bids for the improvements at a special meeting September 8 at 6:30 p.m.
The council directed the clerk to contact the city building inspector to check on the rental compliance of a property to determine correct metering for water billing. The clerk was also directed to set up a payment plan with another property owner who requested forgiveness for a water bill affected by a water leak.
A fallen tree on city right-of-way damaged a resident's fence. The resident has requested the city do repair. After discussing similar situations around the city, the council directed the city clerk to contact The League of Minnesota Cities insurance adjuster to ask what is covered and for advice on how to proceed. The city engineer was directed to give a construction estimate, and check drainage issues regarding another property owner wanting the city to improve the alley in that same neighborhood.
The council followed Planning Commission recommendation and approved four variances for Council member Will Pennings to build a garage. The variances are for the side and front yard setbacks, a firewall between the house and garage, and height of the garage. The approval passed unanimously with Pennings abstaining.
Council member Madonna Higgins reported that the Parks Committee has received a matching grant from playground manufacturer, GameTime. She showed the council members a brochure illustrating the play structure designed for children ages 5-12 that the committee has purchased for $12,000. It will be installed at Water Tower Park.
The play structure will be funded by the Park Committee, which has been actively raising funds for this purchase for several years. The committee intends to host a workday at the park to remove old equipment and install the new structure.
The committee's next fund raiser will be a "trunk" sale at the south end of the Swedish Village Mall parking lot. On October 10 (Fire Safety Open House) participants can bring a carload of items to sell. A $10 set up fee will go to the Park Fund.
The council discussed that the city's depository, Mainstreet Bank, being closed Friday, August 28 by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
The Department of Commerce appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as receiver of the bank that began in 1906 in Center City as County Bank of Center City. The FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with Central Bank, Stillwater.
The council had questioned City Attorney Peter Grundhoefer about the safety of the city's deposits at a previous meeting. Last month Grundhoefer reported to the council that he had received collateral verification for all the city's funds.
Clerk Trudeau said that she expects the change to have minimal impact on the city's bookkeeping. For example, there will be new account routing numbers, but Central Bank has informed her that current staff will be retained, and all accounts and procedures will remain the same.
In other business:
• The council approved the bid from Sogard Electric Inc. to install emergency lights required by OSHA in the city shop. The $625 expenditure is covered by the Safety Grant
• Summit Avenue Improvement preliminary designs will be displayed October 8 at 7 p.m. at the Chisago Lake Lutheran Church.
• The council rescheduled the October monthly meeting from the first Tuesday evening to Sunday afternoon, October 4 at 4:30 p.m.
• The bi-monthly EDA meeting is Tuesday, October 6 at 6 p.m.
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