HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 [08] Aug 31
Page 2843
August 31, 1995
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City
of St. Joseph met in special session on Thursday, August 31, 1995 at
'7: 0Ø p. m. in the City Hall.
ItEMBJ::llH PRESENT: Mayor Donald Bud Reber; Councilors Ross Rieke, Bob
Loso, Cory Ehlert, Ken Hiemenz; Clerk/Administrator Rachel Stapleton.
OTHERS PRESENT: Judy Weyrens, Dick Tau:fen, Ray Bechtold, Jim Marthaler,
Mary Generous, Art & Edith Hiemenz, Tillie Wasner, Monte Eastvold.
Mayor Reber called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with Councilors
Loso, Rieke, Hiemenz, and Ehlert present and stated that the purpose of
the meeting is to discuss the 1996 budget.
Rieke discussed that he and Ehlert, as the Personnel Committee met with
the non-contract employees at their request to discuss their wage and
bene:fit requests :for 1996. They are requesting only wage adjustments,
without additional bene:fit increases. Their request is to grant a
foundational increase in the wages by the amount the wages that were
de:ficit to the cost of living :from the past five years. Then after
this :foundational adjustment, increase the wages by the cost of living
percentage this year and in :forth coming years. This would eliminate
the need to do yearly wage and bene:fit negotiations. The per centage
amount foundational adjustment o:f 5.8% could be provided over a three
year period.
Rieke recommended that the wage increase would be reviewed for possible
pooling when the City wages are reviewed for pay equity.
Loso felt the :full impact to the City should be included in the wage
adjustment, including the additional city costs of workers camp
insurance, FICA, retirement, and related wage costs.
Mayor Reber stated that he would be uncomfortable locking the City into
an established wage increase :for future years. Additionally he stated
that only merit increases should be considered, rather than automatic
increases.
A:fter further discussion, Loso made a motion to table the decision
until a:fter the Council goes through the budget; seconded by Ehlert.
Ayes: Reber, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert.
Nayes: Rieke. Motion carried.
Rieke :further stated that the employees are an asset to the City and
the decision on wages must be :fair to the employees.
FINANCING CAPITAL IKPROVEKENTS: Monte Eastvold of Juran & Moody
presented the Council with schedules o:f financing improvements and
associated costs. Eastvold further discussed with the Council various
mechanisms o:f financing, and the e:f:fects on properties, and debt
limi ta. He also stated that our City has very low debt. Proposed
projects discussed were the :fire hall, Roske improvements, East
Minnesota Street, Industrial Park Phase I, and Joseph Street. Also
discussed were revenue bonds :for utility improvements.
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August 31, 1995
Loso made a motion to recess for 10 minutes at 8:50 p. m. ; seconded by
Rieke.
Ayes: Reber', Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert.
Nayes: None. Motion carried.
Mayor Reber called the meeting back in session at 9:00 p. m. and opened
t,he meeting to the public. Tillie Wasner stated that Fire Chief" Dave
Theisen approached her questioning if the Seniors would like the plans
for the f"ire hall to accommodate their needs for meetings. On Council
questioning, Mrs. Wasner stated that she would be in favor of
eontinuing to use the City Hall, but will bring it up to the Senior
Citizens at their next meeting.
lYYb BUDGET: The Council reviewed the budget to reduce general fund
expenditures to a minimum levy increase of" approximately $50,000.
Additional cuts were imposed to nearly every budget area.
At 10:00 p. m. Mayor Reber extended the meeting :for 15 minutes.
Further discussion on cutting specif"ic areas continued. The Council
then discussed the amount of increase needed in the salaries budgeted.
Mayor Reber extended the meeting 10 minutes at 10: 15 p.m.
Continued discussion of" allowing the :foundational wage increase
r'esul ted in the Council agreeing to retain $20,753 increase in the
salaries budgeted f"or review purposes. The revised budget will be
recalculated with the revised copies sent to the Council.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p. m. with a motion by Loso~ seconded
by Hiemenz.
Ayes: Reber, Rieke, Loso, Hiemenz, Ehlert.
Nayes: None. Motion carried.
Rachel Staple on
Clerk/Administrator