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Mounds View City Council Page Eleven ~egular Meeting September 13, 1993 sunset provision was put into the utility sa a discussion could take place. This utility has worked and has actually worked to well. It is now time to assess the rates. Naja Werner stated that there is a $50,000 surplus. If the rate isn't changed, the City will continue to build up a surplus in the fund and the Council can take this surplus amount of money in the fund and use it as they choose. Werner stated that projects could be completed such as expanding City Hall more. Werner stated that the taxpayers need to know that-the Council can do what they want with the surplus money even if the taxpayers would be opposed to what is being done. Mayor Linke stated that the rate setting of this utility would be part of the public hearing process for the budget. Ruth White, 2917 County Road I, stated that she is opposed to this utility. Ms. White stated that she doesn't share the same user fee philosophy as the Council likes. Ms. White states these user fees are taxes. Ms. White stated that when she thinks of a user fee she thinks of a fee that she pays, to use the park or the golf course. The needed amount of money should be put on property taxes. Ms. White stated that she doesn't think that the. Council should tell her what is best for her. Ms. White stated that she itemizes and gets money back on her taxes. Ms. White stated that the sunset lause was put on so that the utility would be more acceptable and compatible to the people. Ms. White stated that in the past the general fund was used for City street lights and it should come from that fund .again. Mayor Linke then asked Ms. White if the water and sewer should also come from the. general fund. Ruth White stated that she gets a bill for the water and sewer because she is using the water and sewer. Ms. White stated that she considers the utility fee a maintenance fee. Ms. White also asked if this street light fee was used for County roads. Mayor Linke responded that the County takes care of County roads and this utility is not used on those roads. Duane McCarty stated that the water and sewer charges are the funding mechanism which runs the water and sewer department and are billed separately and that can be monitored by the residents. Mayor Linke stated that the street light utility can also be monitored and it does appear on the same bill as the water and sewer. Duane McCarty stated that it appears on the billing in a-three letter code and that, in his opinion, 80 percent of the residents don't know what the code stands for. McCarty stated that he feels the residents think it is a ~alid charge for sewer and water operations. .McCarty stated that he had to call City hall to have the code deciphered.