HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/18/1976 Council MinutesOctober 6, 1976
Mr. Schneider's concern about the Debt #2. principal payment of $45,000.00 due in
January of 1977 was discussed. Mr. Zelinka moved to direct the Attorney to make
a personal visit for clarification of the availability of the $50,000.00 CD on
deposit at the Drover State Bank. If this matter is not cleared to his satisfact-
iom, to instigate legal action to assure the City's right to use that money to sat-
isfy the bond payment due. Seconded by Mr. McLean. Motion carried unanimously.
There was some discussion on the Attorney fees. This will be discussed at a later
date.
Mr. Schneider asked Mr. Larry Johnson, Chairman of the Personnel Commission, to ex-
plain the process used for the salary recommendations.
Mr. Johnson said he had taken the salaries form comparable communities and averaged
them. The salaries recommended for the City personnel is 5% below the minumum with
the exception of the Police Clerk - the $10.00 per month recommended for that position
puts that salary at the average. Mr. Johnson said the Personnel Commission did not
feel the Police salaries were within the realm of that Commission, but he had been
asked to consider them and had included his findings for informational purposes only.
He had found that departments of the size of this Police Department do not have Sar-
gents and that the work being done by Chief Myhre would fall into that classification;
and that in other departments, sargents are paid $50.00 per month more than the pat-
rolmen - not a percentage.
Mr. McLean was concerned these figures do not have a cushion for tax delinquent pro-
perty.
Mr. Karth said the $2,800.00 expenditure proposed for Aqua Lane can be ommitted
because of Anoka County acquisition of most of that street.
There was discussion of the amounts on the Fire Contracts. There was a suggestion
of setting up a commission to study the possibility of contracting with other fire
departments. Mr. McLean moved to authorize the Mayor to set up a survey commission
to look at alternative fire coverage. Seconded by Mr. Zelinka. Motion carried un-
animously.
Mayor Bohjanen thanked Mr. Johnson and the Personnel Commission on the work that
had been done on the salaries.
Mr. Johnson felt that the raises should be brought up to the minimum, at least.
He said most of the City employees are grossly under paid and this is just the be-
ginning to bring them up to average.
There was discussion on the next date scheduled for a budget hearing. Due to several
conflicts, the Park Board meeting was rescheduled for October 19, 1976 and the budget
hearing will be held at 7:30 P.M. on October 18, 1976. Seconded by Mr. McLean. Mo-
tion carried unanimously. Time: 10:00 P.M.
Mr. Schneider requested the Clerk and Mrs. Anderson meet him at the City Hall at
9:30 A.M. on Saturday, October 16, 1976 to go over some figures with him.
r--- October 18, 197G
The fourth budget hearing was called to order at 8:05 P.M. by Mayor Bohjanen. Coun-
cil members present; Karth, Schneider, Zelinka. Absent: McLean.
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October 18, 1976
Mr. Schneider went through the figures noting there is still approzimately $25,000.00
that must be cut in order to balance the budget. He had computed these salary figures
with the effective date of the salary increase to be March 15, 1977..
On the projected cash flow for 1977, several months in the first half of the year
show deficit amounts. In order to avoid this, Mr. Schneider asked the Clerk to con-
tact Lexington and Centerville and request permission to pay the fire contract in
July and December instead of January and July. This would reduce the amount of cash
needed for the first six months.
Mr. Karth felt that $8,078.00 could be cut from the Road budget and $5,000.00 from
the Park budget. This would cut the purchase of a new tractor from the capital out-
lay for both departments.
There was discussion of the Attorney fees and methods of controlling the use of the
City Attorney by private citizens. The actual costs for 1975 and the projected
costs for 1976 were compared and Mr. Zelinka felt that $6,000.00 could be cut from
the 1977 proposed amount.
Mr. Zelinka requested the Clerk to make copies of the 1975 and 1976 Attorney fees.
He will analyze them for possible areas of control.
Mr. Karth asked Chief Myhre if he had done any work on the cost estimates in regards
to eliminating the part time police personnel and hiring a fourth full time man.
Mr. Karth felt this fourth man could be put on the third shift and during the quiet
hours he could do quite a bit of the paper work done in the office. This is to be
followed through.
The figures as presented this evening are to be changed to reflect the following
re- adjustments:
decrease the Attorney fees by $6,000.00
decrease the Road fund by 8,000.00
decrease the Park fund by 5,000.00
adjust the cash flow to reflect payment of the fire contracts in July and December.
Mr. Schneider moved to continue this meeting until 9:30 A.M. on Saturday, October 23,
1976. Seconded by Mr. Zelinka. Motion carried unanimously.
The Clerk was asked to call Mayor Bohjanen on Friday and remind him and to also not-
ify Mr. McLean.
Time: 10:00 P.M.
October 23, 1976
The fifth budget hearing was called to order at 10:05 A.M. on October 23, 1976 by
Mayor Bohjanen. Council members present: Karth, Schneider, Zelinka. Mr. McLean
will be late. Chief Myhre and Mr. Volk were also present.
Mr. Schneider had prepared a cover sheet compaing 1975, 1976 and the proposed budget
for 1977. Expenses minus Debt #2 totaled $356,706. Mr. Schneider felt the maximum
should be levied in order to build up a carry over into the next year. The monies