PUBLIC NOTICE
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
Oct. 28, 2009
5:30 PM CITY HALL
AGENDA
1. CALL MEETING TO ORDER
2. DISCUSSION WITH NEW COUNCIL APPLICANTS
3. 2010 BUDGET
4. ADJOURN
AKELEY CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
OCTOBER 28, 2009
5:30 PM CITY HALL
The Akeley City Council met in a work session Wednesday, October 28,
2009 at 5:30 PM. Mayor Jennifer Mitchell called the meeting to
order. Council members present were Troy Hegg, Jon Johnson and
Cliff Johnson. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the Council
and attending audience.
Jennifer Mitchell read a memo from the League of Minnesota Cities
attorney about how work sessions can function. She said it’s common
for councils to address issues at a work session without any formal
action being taken so there will be no motions being made or actions
taken, only discussion. She said it’s also up to the council as to
whether the public can comment at a work session or not. A lot of
people were present and Jennifer reminded those in attendance that
if anyone had comments to make that they needed to be professional
and said if they were going to be bringing up anything that they
would have to have the documentation to back it up so it is usable
to the council, not opinions. Jennifer said that for anyone wishing
to speak there would be a limit of 3 minutes so that the council
could keep moving on the budget.
Jennifer Mitchell asked Tammy Miller and Terry Chalich who are the
citizens who submitted letters of interest to fill the vacant
council position to introduce themselves, state how long they have
lived in Akeley and why they want to be on the council.
Tammy Miller stated that she lived in Akeley for 10 years, moved
away for 8 years and then moved back and has been in Akeley for 3
years. She said she wants to be a part of the solution. Terry
Chalich said he has lived in Akeley for 20 years, is a tax payer and
is concerned. Jennifer Mitchell said the Council will appoint the
new council member at the November 10th meeting.
Jennifer Mitchell stated that due to Maintenance and Police
corrections to the budget, the levy is $233,358 at this time. The
levy approved last year was $208,536 so there is an increase of
$24,822 from last year to this year.
The Council started reviewing the General Fund item by item. All
numbers which had been proposed for the 2010 budget for “General
Government” (100-41400) and “City Council” (100-41110) stayed the
same. Under “City Administrator” (100-41400) “Wages and Salaries”
changed from $52,254 to $51,298; “PERA Employer Contribution”
changed from $3,659 to $3,592; “FICA Employer Contribution” changed
from $3,240 to $3,181; “Medicare Employer Contribution” changed from
$759 to $745 and “Office Equipment” changed from $1,500 to $1,000
for a total decrease under “City Administration” of $1,596. All
numbers which had been proposed for the 2010 budget for “Election”
(100-41410), “Auditing” (100-41540), and “Assessor” (100-41550)
stayed the same. Under “City Office Building” (100-41940),
“Operating Supplies” changed from $2,500 to $2,000 for a total
decrease under “City Office Building” of $500. All numbers which
had been proposed for the 2010 budget under “Fire Protection”
(100-42220), “Pumper Payment” (100-42225), “First Response”
(100-42270) and “Cemetery” (100-49010) stayed the same. A total of
$2,096 was trimmed off from the General Fund.
The Council reviewed the Maintenance Fund item by item. “Wages and
Salaries” changed from $21,389 to $21,036; “PERA Employer
Contribution” changed from $1,498 to $1,474; “FICA Employer
Contribution” changed from $1,329 to $1,307, “Medicare Employer
Contribution” changed from $311 to $306 and “Vehicle Gas & Oil”
changed from $6,000 to $4,000. All other numbers which had been
proposed for the 2010 budget for Maintenance stayed the same. A
total of $2,404 was trimmed off from the Maintenance Fund lowering
it to $89,719.
The Council reviewed the Police Fund item by item. The numbers
which had been proposed for the 2010 budget under “Gas and Oil”
changed from $4,000 to $3,500. The “Maintenance Repairs & Supplies”
and “Operating Expense” object codes will be looked at since the
amounts spent in 2008 were much greater than 2009. Denise Rittgers
said she would see what the expenses in 2008 were to see if the
proposed 2010 amounts could be reduced. All other numbers which had
been proposed for the 2010 budget for the Police Department stayed
the same. A total of $500 was trimmed off the Police Fund lowering
it to $68,724.
Julia Schwartz presented pictures to the Council and expressed her
dissatisfaction in the methods the street department was using to
take care of the pot holes on the road north of the post office.
Frank Thelin stated that gravel money had been spent on that road
and that he had 5 loads of gravel put on it last year. In the
pictures, he said he was trying to remove the water so that class
five could be put down. Jennifer asked Cliff Johnson if he and
Frank would get together to determine how to deal with this in the
future.
Jennifer Mitchell stated that at the last council meeting she had
said that possible options to lower the levy was to leave the police
department as is, cut hours in the police department, disband the
police department completely and look at possible contracting.
One citizen asked what the cost would be to contract with Hubbard
County. Jennifer said she has not spoken with Hubbard County about
coverage or cost yet. The same citizen asked what Nevis is paying
for their contract with the county. Council members replied that
Nevis was at about $72,000 and they had heard Nevis was down to
about $60,000 now since they had cut part-time hours.
Deb Kruse asked what would happen to safety in the City of Akeley
without a police department and said that for what she pays for
taxes, she wanted a policeman here. Jennifer Mitchell replied that
no one would want their safety diminished.
Jennifer Mitchell also stated that the City needs roads, water and
sewer and she would be the first one to say that she likes having a
safe feeling in the City she lives in but right now we (the City)
can’t afford it. Ardelle McAlpine said that she has seen the police
department slowing people down and stopping people for speeding and
stated that she saw two people who were crossing the street almost
get hit. She questioned whether saving one person’s life was worth
the police department’s salary.
Margaret Bond-Vorel asked Jennifer Mitchell how much the levy would
go up if the amount was left at $227,954. Jennifer stated it is
possible that the City could be looking at a 20% increase. Jennifer
said if the police department budget was not included, the levy
would be down to $159,230. Margaret stated she would be willing to
pay a 20% increase in order to keep the police department.
Tom Moore asked at this point in time if the only thing that could
be cut was wages.
Kathy Nagel asked about freezing wages. Cliff Johnson stated that
no raise was given to employees this year and that no raise was
budgeted for next year. Kathy also asked about an alarm system for
the lift stations. Frank Thelin explained that it could cost $3,000
per lift station for the City to have an alarm system in which he or
other part-time workers would be notified by cell phone and it would
cost even more to have their home phones called. Jennifer Mitchell
said that they would be looking at paying a part-time person $1,200
in a year (to monitor the lift stations on weekends).
Cleo Lanning asked if the Council had thought of looking into Green
Thumb to see if they could help (maintenance) with mowing in the
summer.
Denise Crandall asked if the current part-time person’s hours could
be cut back during the week and then he could monitor the lift
stations on the weekends.
Margaret Bond-Vorel asked if it was possible to ask the rest of the
City how they felt about a tax increase to keep the police
department even if it was by putting a survey into the water bills.
Jennifer Mitchell stated she would have to contact the City Attorney
to see what the legal means would be for that.
A suggestion was made by a citizen to have a fund raiser for the
roads. The Council agreed it would be a good idea if someone wanted
to get one set up.
Tom Moore suggested that if the levy % increase from last year was
18% to try to cut it back but to take a little from each area rather
than just one. Jennifer Mitchell replied that it’s not rational to
make everything equal. Tom said if hours were cut in maintenance,
the police department and the office it wouldn’t be such a big bite
to one department since “most people here want to keep the police”.
Jennifer asked Denise Rittgers to see what type of a savings there
would be to drop one of the full time positions in the office to
part time. Cliff Johnson stated that if each department (the
office, police department and maintenance) all went to part-time
employees who would want to work for the City (since there would be
no benefits).
David Grantham asked if the City of Akeley would consider getting
the township to help with maintaining the streets. Cliff Johnson
said that this had been discussed with the township before and they
didn’t want to touch the roads because the City didn’t have enough
gravel on them.
Tammy Miller suggested throwing a fund raiser to get money to help
keep the police department. She said she was concerned about the
response time if Akeley didn’t have a police department.
Denise Crandall was also concerned about the response time from the
Hubbard County Sheriff’s Department.
Tom Moore asked if the commissioner and department head of all
entities could look at their budgets and try to drop them $5,000 or
$6,000 so that just one department wasn’t affected.
Police Chief Eric Klein read an apology to the City Council and
those present at the meeting for things said by him and members of
the police department that were directed towards the Hubbard County
Sheriff’s Department at the October 14th Council
Meeting. He stated that if he would have known that the subject of
possibly disbanding the police department was going to be brought up
at that meeting he would have been more prepared for it and reacted
differently but that it was a shock to him and members of his family
who were present at the meeting.
Motion
by Jon Johnson seconded by Troy Hegg and carried to adjourn at 8:00
PM.
Denise Rittgers
Clerk/Treasurer
City of
Akeley
Wendy
Klein
Deputy
Clerk
City of
Akeley
