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Mounds View City Council November 15, 1999
<br />Regular Meeting Page 20
<br />Finance Director Kessel explained the initial $40,000 funding sources included the General
<br />Fund, with $10,000 from Coca Cola, $20,000 from TIF, $10,000 from Special Projects and
<br />$10,000 from General Fund Reserves, which was donated to the City by an organization called
<br />Made to Us, a year and a half prior.
<br />Mayor Coughlin stated it was his understanding the $40,000 was budgeted out of the General
<br />Fund.
<br />Finance Director Kessel clarified there were three funding sources for the sign, with $20,000 to
<br />be from TIF
<br />Mayor Coughlin stated therefore Ms. Olsen was correct in her assertion, however, this money
<br />was budgeted by a previous Council.
<br />Finance Director Kessel stated this was correct. He stated in 1998, the sign was a budget item
<br />for the 1999 Budget.
<br />Planning Commissioner Brian Kaden stated it has come to his attention that in the past couple
<br />of years, several employees have left the City, and morale has been very low. He stated as a
<br />person who at times has been an adversary of City Hall, and now through his involvement as a
<br />Planning Commissioner, and former member of the Streets Policies Committee, staff and
<br />administration work much harder than is realized.
<br />Mr. Kaden stated at a previous City Council meeting, a resident commented that if the City
<br />Administrator did his job, the City would not need to hire an assistant. He stated this resident
<br />has the right to make any .comment he desires, however, he also has the right to state that City
<br />Administrator Whiting puts much effort into his job. He explained that when he was a member
<br />of the Streets Policies Committee, City Administrator Whiting was appointed to act as the
<br />Committee's facilitator, and to assist the group with organizing their ideas into proper format.
<br />He stated City Administrator Whiting often stayed until 9:00 p.m., to assist the Committee. He
<br />added that the City Administrator is a salaried employee, therefore, he was provided no
<br />additional compensation for this effort. He pointed out there are not many people who would do
<br />this.
<br />Mr. Kaden stated Planning Associate, Jim Ericson provides the Planning Commission with their
<br />information packets, sometimes delivering them at 9:00 or 10:00 p.m, at night. He stated these
<br />people are working very hard. He explained that in any organization, there might be some fat
<br />that can be trimmed, however, if you trim too much, you begin to cut away the muscle. He
<br />indicated that a company he had worked for attempted to run a department with temporary
<br />workers, and only two experienced people leading them. He advised that within six months, this
<br />company lost their contract, because the quality was not there. He stated the City could not train
<br />in an entirely new work force every three years, as this would be far too costly. He advised this
<br />would not result in savings on salaries, particularly if you lose your customers, which would not
<br />occur in this case, the residents would just become angry.
<br />Previous Mayor Duane McCarty stated in the far reaches of his memory, a Federal politician
<br />of some national note, upon leaving some office many years ago, was asked if he would stay in
<br />the play. He stated his response, that up until this point, he, himself, endorsed was "No, there is
<br />nothing worse than some old war horse stomping around in the wings." He stated he was going
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