Laserfiche WebLink
Mounds View City Council September 13, 1999 <br />Regular Meeting Page 5 <br />Council Member Stigney stated this was a matter of communication, and such information <br />should be provided to the Council Members who represent the residents of the City. <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 />