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nds View City Council <br />gular Meeting <br />• <br />Page Six <br />November 25, 1991 <br />Vadnais Heights has a park maintenance assessment. Maybe the City <br />should charge a park maintenance fee, or a fee for the janitor <br />because he shovels five feet of the City Hall sidewalk. Mr. <br />Werner stated this could go on and on. Mr. Werner stated these <br />are only ways to get around the problem, but the taxpayers want <br />the problem solved. Mr. Werner commented that the Council has <br />.probably already made up their mind with regard to this issue but <br />he would like to make a last ditch effort, for the sake of the <br />taxpayers, to vote against the utility. Mr. Werner stated that <br />the Council would gain more respect from their voting public if <br />they don't impose the utility and find a more creative way to <br />solve this problem that to tax the residents of Mounds View. <br />Mayor Linke stated that he was very appreciative of Mr. Werner's <br />comments and commended him for the way in which he presented his <br />arguments both at the public hearing and at this meeting. <br />Mayor Linke stated the City has been frugal and has been penalized for <br />doing so. Mayor Linke stated the City is presently understaffed <br />in public works and police and if a poll were taken of the other <br />departments they would also indicate they could use one more <br />person to do the job. stated that the City has a part-time <br />planner. Mayor Linke further stated that due to the cuts in the <br />budget the Council has eliminated employees in the last year and <br />will have to eliminate others. <br />Mayor Linke also stated that he realizes how the taxpayers feel <br />because what comes out of their pockets also comes out of his. <br />Mayor Linke stated that the City will no longer be able to provide the <br />services at the level the public wants them at and further stated <br />that in a recent survey of city services and cooperative efforts, <br />the state was suprised at what we do now to save money. The <br />cities are now looking at other ways to save money county-wide. <br />Mr. Werner, Jr. stated that the legislature has forced efficient <br />and cost effectiveness on some branches of local government. <br />Mayor Linke stated that if the City had some extra staff that could be <br />cut, but it doesn't. Mayor Linke stated that the city is two <br />police officers short and could use one or two more employees in <br />the public works department. Mayor Linke stated that during the <br />last snowstorm the City ran the snowplow drivers longer than it <br />should have. <br />Mr. Werner, Jr. stated that. the utility has a 10~ increase which Mayor <br />Linke confirmed was approximately five lights and a 3~ increase <br />which is approximately two lights. Mr. Werner asked if the City <br />• <br />