HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04a] Minutes, September 30th workshop
September 30, 2019
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in workshop
session on Monday, September 30, 2019 at 6:00 PM at the St. Joseph Government Center.
Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz. Councilors Anne Buckvold, Brian Theisen, Bob Loso, Troy
Goracke. Administrator Kris Ambuehl.
City Representatives Present: Police Chief Dwight Pfannenstein, Public Works Director Terry Thene,
Finance Director Lori Bartlett, Deputy Clerk/Administrative Services Coordinator Kayla Klein
2020 Preliminary Budget Discussion: Finance Director Bartlett started by saying staff took the Councils
recommendations and were able to lower the preliminary budget. Bartlett stated the two full time
positions; the CSO and the Recreation Director were taken out. Staff feels there are needs for these
positions but is unsure what the exact needs are at this time. By cutting the Recreation Director, it
reduced the budget by $150,000. Bartlett still budgeted $25,000 which would help fund staffing for open
gym and any additional recreation programs that may be developed.
The savings by removing the full-time CSO position was $63,000. Administartor Ambuehl stated the
Police Department is looking at incorporating Winscribe in the department. Winscribe is software that will
be able to track the number of hours that are spent on transcribing reports. Additionally, it was envisioned
that the Finance Tech could help out the Police Department with answering phones and assisting
residents. After the software is utilized and staff is able to analyze the results, then a determination will be
made if a full-time CSO is warranted.
Bartlett added staff delayed the hiring of a full-time Public Works position until May 2020. This lowered
the budget by $22,000. Due to the City re-posting the custodian position, the pay will be reduced to step 1
on the wage scale. Currently it’s at a step 3.
Discussion was had on possibly having former Park Board Chair John Anderson be a part-time
Recreation Director. John has experience and it was discussed having him work 10 hours a week. Once
the position becomes more established and a full-time person is hired, John will help train in.
Other areas that staff reduced the budget included:
Sealcoating budget didn’t change, but Bartlett proposed to use $20,000 from conduit debt to help
fund
Bartlett indicated that two revenue funds were increased
Debt Service Relief fund is basically a general fund and those funds are not earmarked.
Councilmember Goracke had asked at the last meeting if there were any other debts that could be
refinanced. State statute required there to be a 3% change in the interest to refinance and the bonds.
Bartlett stated there are two funds that two revenues are increased. Police aid came in at 77k. and the
revenue was increased by 10000.
This summer, Stearns County anticipated the market value of the City to increase by 12.25%. The
increase in the tax rate would be from 60.742% to 61.117% from 2019 to 2020. On a $150,000 home, the
increase would be $4.73.
Bartlett also noted the City will have three different tax rates; commercial/industrial park rates, rural
residential rates, and the City rate. If the city’s tax rate goes up .5%, the rural tax percent will increase
.5%. Those properties in the newly annexed commercial/industrial park will be phased into the tax rate
over the next six years.
September 30, 2019
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Schultz asked how solar farm production tax was estimated at $2000. Bartlett stated a payment was just
received that was near $2000 and she is comfortable budgeting in that amount for 2020. The gravel tax
as well was implemented due to the annexation of the gravel pit on the northern end of town.
Bartlett stated the insurance and wage negotiations have yet to take place and the numbers in the budget
include a 3% increase as well as increases to the insurance and HSA contributions.
Discussion was had on the costs of maintaining the community center as it currently sits. Costs include;
hiring of boiler checks, 2 guys $30/day, cost of gas and electric for an older building. Repairs of an older
building are costly. Recreation department staff is also included in the Community Center costs. Public
Works Director Thene stated the walk-in freezers, walk-in coolers have had repeated issues and there
are plumbing issues throughout the building. Additionally, there is Public Works staff there on average 1-2
hours daily.
Loso asked about the status of the maintenance cold storage building. Ambuehl, Then, Loso and Theisen
will meet at the end of October/early November to discuss next steps.
Bartlett noted the major change in EDA budget going from $290,715 to $125,530 was because the money
received from DEED for the housing grant was included in 2019.
General consensus was that the preliminary budget is at a great point and continued discussion can be
had before the final is adopted in December.
Ambuehl asked whether the Council would like to spend $9,800 on a traffic study at the proposed Caribou
Coffee location. Council consensus was to have City Engineer Sabart present his findings at one of the
October meetings. A decision on the matter has to be made by the first meeting in November.
Adjourn: Schultz made a motion to adjourn at 6:50 PM; seconded by Goracke and passed
unanimously.
Rick Schultz
Mayor