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Mounds View City Council August 23, 1999 <br /> Regular Meeting Page 5 <br /> Finance Director Kessel stated once they are aware of the information, they can forward it to the <br /> Council. He explained, however, the City has numerous contracts whose rates consistently <br /> fluctuate, and if the Council desired to know when those rates change the information could be <br /> forwarded. <br /> Council Member Stigney stated he wanted to know whenever rates change which affect what the <br /> residents pay for services in the City. He stated if there is a rate reduction for what is being <br /> charged for actual services, or monies directed to a fund to be maintained, this information <br /> should be conveyed to the Council. He stated the Council should make the decision that this be <br /> passed on to the residents, and in which form. <br /> Finance Director Kessel reiterated that staff receives numerous reports and budgets and inquired <br /> which contracts Council Member Stigney would like to be informed of, in regard to rate changes. <br /> He stated every contract within the City affects taxes. He explained if the Council desired to be <br /> informed when there was a change in gas rates at the gas pumps that information could be <br /> forwarded as well. He remarked that there should be some materiality to this request. <br /> Council Member Stigney reiterated he was very unhappy to have learned about this in a <br /> memorandum he received as a Council Member, and to find out several months after the fact, <br /> that a reduction had been made to the sewer rates, for which they are collecting money from the <br /> residents of the City. He stated as a Council Member, he believed he should be notified of these <br /> matters, and any others that affect the rates being charged to the residents. <br /> Finance Director Kessel stated the reduction was just one component of this matter, and what <br /> they are charged is based upon the water that goes through the system. He explained that if the <br /> usage increases, and the rates decrease, they could still be required to pay the Metropolitan <br /> Council more than they did the previous year. <br /> Council Member Stigney stated he understood this, and this was the reason he would like to see <br /> that the rates are based upon actual metered water usage, rather than flat rates. <br /> Mayor Coughlin stated this was a point well made. He reiterated he had discussed this matter <br /> with the Public Works Director, that date, and suggested Council Member Stigney rely on the <br /> knowledge that this matter would be brought forward, in conjunction with a variety of similar <br /> issues, at the next Work Session. <br /> Finance Director Kessel reported that the City's bulletin board had become inoperable <br /> approximately one month prior. He explained this was an older, computer based system, and <br /> staff had attempted to locate a vendor in the metropolitan area to service the system, and had <br /> found one who indicated the cost to determine the problem would be approximately $600, and <br /> could provide no guarantee that it was repairable. <br /> Finance Director Kessel stated new software could be obtained for less that $1,000, and he <br /> thought this would be a more prudent approach. He explained they had rented a system for two <br /> weeks until the software arrived, and the software was installed last week. He stated the bulletin <br /> board should be operable, and in time, additional pages will be added. He commented this <br /> system provides the capability for a number of pages and pictures, and if there is any information <br />