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Mounds View City Council April 22, 2002 <br />Regular Meeting Page 4 <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Fredberg said Council is not hearing the employees and noted there used to be meetings to <br />keep staff informed but the current Administration is intimidated to come down to public works. <br /> <br />Mayor Sonterre welcomed the employees to contact him or any other member of Council to <br />discuss the matter and said the communication could be looked into. <br /> <br />Ed Benson of 5108 Long Lake Road asked when the City was going to stop spending money on <br />litigation and get some work done. <br /> <br />Mayor Sonterre said as soon as possible. <br /> <br />Mr. Benson said that perhaps the change the employees are asking for would come in November. <br /> <br />David Jahnke of 8428 Eastwood Road indicated he likens this situation to when a board of <br />directors hires someone to do a job. The Council does not run the City. The Council hired the <br />Administrator to do that. He then said he is aware that all things come to Council for approval <br />but he is a little worried about why so many people are upset with the Administration and said he <br />thinks the City needs to take a look and see what can be done about the communication issues. <br /> <br />Mr. Jahnke asked if the City was being sued by the state because the state is not happy with the <br />City’s use of TIF districts. He then indicated he had asked for a copy of the report and had not <br />received it. <br /> <br />City Administrator Miller indicated she was familiar with the report but was not aware of the <br />request. <br /> <br />Mr. Jahnke asked for information on the report as to whether or not it was favorable. <br /> <br />Mayor Sonterre indicated the report was somewhat critical and the City is working on resolving <br />issues from the past. <br /> <br />City Administrator Miller indicated the Community Development Department is working with <br />Ehlers to correct some past issues. <br /> <br />Mr. Jahnke commented that the City keeps doing things wrong that end up costing the City <br />money. <br /> <br />Community Development Director Ericson explained there is a matter of a difference in <br />interpretation that will need to be worked out in the courts. He also noted that the City has <br />changed its practices going forward. <br /> <br />Mr. Jahnke commented that this is yet another thing that is in court and it is costing the taxpayers <br />in attorney’s fees. He then said that he agrees some of the issues are justified but asked Council <br />to take the City in the right direction from this point to limit attorney’s fees in the future.