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Planning commissioner questions use of public funds by Laurel Schweigert — PLANNING AND PARK COMMISSION CHRISTMAS PARTY/APPRECIATION DINNER An interesting question was raised by Mrs. LouAnne Leski of the Oakdale City Planning Commission during their November .12the meeting. Each year the Planning and Parks Commissions hold a dinner near the Christmas holidays. It is usually held at one of the city's finer restaurants. This Year the Commission suggested it be held at Toby's on the Lake. The question lay not in the location, but rather in how and just who would be doing the paying. It seems that for a number of years, the Planning and die Parks Commissions have used city funds for this party. One year they tried to hold a potluck at one members house, but the original plan was reinstated later. Mrs. Leski, however, objected to the use of city Inds for the celebrationliShe cited r 1988 article in Minnesota Cities, a publication put out by the Minnesota League of Cities. Author Peter Tripz pointed out that such a use of public funds must meet two criteria in order to be allowed, according to a 1966 ruling by the Minnesota Attorney General's Office. The criteria are that the event must be for a public purpose, and it must also be authorized in the city charter that this specific expense is to be allowed. The Commissions asked City Attorney, Seldon Caswell, to investigate any further ndings on this use of taxpayers money. As yet, he has responded to die Commissions, but says he will do so before the proposed celebration date of December 2, 1992. The original rationale for having the city pay for this celebration is based on another decision from the Attorney General's Office dating from 1977. This decision states that city officials' pay and bonuses should he retroactive. Commission members believe that this celebration would fall into the category of part of their salary and/or bonus. After contacting the Minnesota Attorney General's office around 1:00 p.m. November 25, the Oakdale Clarion received a return call from Melissa Wright in the City Issues Department of the Attorney General's Office. According to Ms. Wright, the 1966 decision still stands. She also stated that very few if any cities use city funds to Pay for these types of events and , in her words, "the state(of Minnesota) certainly does not." Since the Planning Commission and the Parks Commission have not yet heard from the City Attomey, residents are left wondering where their money is going. In the words of Mrs. Leski, "I just can't see my neighbors approving of their (awes being paid so that I could go out to dinner."