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HomeMy WebLinkAbout#08 Potential Water Assessments MAYOR & COUNCIL COMMUNICATION -- page 1 -- DATE: December 20, 2016 CONSENT ITEM #8 MOTION AGENDA ITEM: Authorize Certification to Washington County Auditor for the Unpaid Water Utility Bills SUBMITTED BY: Cathy Bendel, Finance Director THROUGH: Cathy Bendel, Finance Director REVIEWED BY: Patty Baker, Accountant SUGGESTED ORDER OF BUSINESS: - Introduction of Item .............................................................. City Administrator - Report/Presentation…………………………………………City Administrator - Questions from Council to Staff ............................................. Mayor Facilitates - Call for Motion ............................................................... Mayor & City Council - Discussion ....................................................................... Mayor & City Council - Action on Motion .................................................................... Mayor Facilitates POLICY RECOMMENDER: Finance FISCAL IMPACT: Up to $20,867.54 to be assessed to Washington County for collection via 2017 tax rolls. This amount will be reduced for any payments received on or before December 22, 2016. SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED: As part of its Consent Agenda, the City Council is asked to approve the certification of the delinquent water bills to the Washington County Auditor. No specific motion is needed as this is recommended to be part of the Consent Agenda. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City of Lake Elmo has authority by Minnesota State statute 444.075, subd.3 to assess property owners for unpaid water utilities and services. Affected homeowners with past due balances were sent notification of the proposed assessment. Property owners have until December 22, 2016 to pay the balance due without additional fees. The City operates the water, sewer and surface water under its Enterprise Funds. Enterprise funds account for specific City operations that are financed and operated similar to a private City Council Meeting [Consent Agenda Item 8] December 20, 2016 -- page 2 -- business. Generally, the services are provided to identifiable beneficiaries, as well as the general public, and all or most of the costs come from user fees. The user fees collected are utilized to operate the Cities respective water, sewer and surface water systems. Assessing the property owners listed on Exhibit A (attached) for unpaid water services will assure collection of charged fees. The deadline to certify unpaid water utility bills to Washington County is December 28, 2016. Any payments received before the cutoff of December 22, 2016 will be removed from this list and not reported to Washington County for assessment. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council authorize the certification of the unpaid delinquent water accounts to the Washington County Auditor. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution 2016-106 2. Exhibit A Resolution 2016-106 1 CITY OF LAKE ELMO WASHINGTON COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION 2016-106 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION TO THE WASHINGTON COUNTY AUDITOR FOR UNPAID WATER UTILITY BILLS WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. 444.075, subd. 3, permits certification of unpaid charges to the county auditor for collection with taxes payable; WHEREAS, the Municipal Code for the City of Lake Elmo contains a provision to certify delinquent accounts to the County Auditor for the collection with taxes payable. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELMO, MINNESOTA, THAT: 1. The list of delinquent accounts, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A, and made part hereof, is hereby accepted and shall be certified to the Washington County Auditor for collection with taxes payable. 2. The certified amount shall be payable over a period of one year, with interest as provided in Exhibit A. 3. The owner of the property may, at any time prior to certification to the County Auditor, pay the delinquent amount to the City Finance Director. 4. The City Finance Director shall forthwith transmit a certified duplicate of Exhibit A to the County Auditor to be extended on the property tax lists of Washington County no later than December 28, 2016. Such delinquent accounts shall be collected and paid over in the same manner as other municipal taxes. ADOPTED BY THE LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL ON THE 20th DAY OF DECEMBER, 2016. By: __________________________ Mike Pearson Mayor (Seal) ________________________________ Julie Johnson, City Clerk