HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.06.21December 6, 2021
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Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session
on Monday, December 6, 2021, at 6:00 PM in the St. Joseph Government Center.
Members Present: Mayor Rick Schultz. Kevin Kluesner, Kelly Beniek, Jon Hazen, Bob Loso
City Representatives Present: Administrator Therese Haffner, City Clerk Kayla Klein, Finance Director
Lori Bartlett, Public Works Director Ryan Wensmann, City Engineer Randy Sabart, Community
Development Director Nate Keller, Fire Chief Jeff Taufen, Police Chief Dwight Pfannenstein
Police Officer Oath of Office: Russell Lipinski was sworn in as a St. Joseph Police Officer.
Public Comments: None.
Approve Agenda: Hazen made a motion to approve the agenda; seconded by Kluesner and passed
unanimously.
Consent Agenda: Loso made a motion to approve consent agenda; seconded by Hazen. Motion
passes with Loso abstaining.
Aye: Schultz, Beniek, Kluesner, Hazen Abstain: Loso
a. Minutes — Requested Action: Approve the minutes of November 15, 2021.
b. Bills Payable — Requested Action: Approve Check Numbers 058378-058449; Payroll EFT
#112159-112170; Account Payable EFT #002016-002017 and Regular Pay Period 23, 24,
24.01; City Council PP 12, 12.01, Fire Dept PP 2.02.
c. Polling Place Designation — Requested Action: Adopt Resolution 2021-067 designating the
polling places for the 2022 elections.
d. License Renewals — Requested Action: Approve the following 2022 licenses as presented:
3.2 Malt Liquor, Tobacco, and Amusement.
e. Fire Relief Contribution — Requested Action: Increase the annual contribution from the
current $2300 per year of service per fire fighter to $2400 per year of service per fire fighter
effective January 1, 2022.
f. Fagade Grant, 109 Ash St W — Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2021-069 Approving
Fagade Grant for 109 Ash St W.
g. Transfers — Requested Action: Approve the 2021 transfers as presented.
h. Gambling Reports — Requested Action: Accept the 3rd quarter gambling reports as
presented.
i. ARPA Funding Acceptance — Requested Action: Approve Resolution 2021-070 Accepting
the redistribution of unrequested coronavirus local fiscal recovery fund established under the
American Rescue Plan Act.
j. MN Housing Finance Agency Agreement — Requested Action: Approve the Program
Application Commitment Agreement between the City of St. Joseph and the MN Housing
Finance Agency.
k. 2022 Meeting Calendar — Requested Action: Approve the 2022 meeting calendar as
presented.
I. League of MN Cities Insurance Trust Liability Insurance Waiver — Requested Action:
Authorize the City Administrator to execute the Liability Coverage — Waiver Form indicating
that the City does not waive the tort liability limits for 2022.
m. Resolution Accepting Utility Assistance Grant — Requested Action: Adopt Resolution 2021-
072 accepting the water assistance program grant.
Public Hearing. Truth in Taxation: Bartlett explained the budget process and presented the 2022 budget
for approval.
The levy increased $322,075 overall including annexed parcels. The largest areas impacting the levy
increase include salaries and benefits; property tax sharing with St. Joseph Township from the 2018
annexation; and capital equipment funding. New staff positions are proposed including a mechanic, police
December 6, 2021
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clerk and a planning intern. The budget also includes a 2% general wage increase plus steps as adopted
with the union contracts and personnel policy. For several years, the capital budget was reduced to
compensate for decreases in local government aid and market value adjustments. The City Council opted
to incrementally increase the capital budget to catch up with replacement, additions and upgraded needs.
According to MN Statutes the City must adopt a final budget for payable 2022 and certify its property tax
levy for payable 2022 to the county auditor on or before December 28, 2021.
Schultz opened the public hearing.
Dick Taufen,319 Minnesota Street E, wanted to know why his proposed tax statement had such an
increase. He detailed the amounts proposed from the city, county and school district. He noted that on the
statement for 2022 it listed him as resident non -homestead and that the estimated market value looked to
have increased by $24,600 from last year. He asked if he needed to file his homestead each year. Bartlett
informed him that she did not think he needed to file each year and urged him and any other residents
that see the resident non -homestead classification on the paperwork to check with the county in order to
change that status.
Councilmember Kluesner pointed out that what Mr. Taufen has is the preliminary tax statement. Since it is
his preliminary tax statement, the final amount on the March statement will be lower. As Bartlett
mentioned in her presentation, there were reductions applied and the levy was brought down from the
preliminary amount. The proposal is before the Council is a reduction from the preliminary levy.
As no one else wished to speak, Schultz closed the public hearing.
Council discussion included anticipated dates for final market value figures, LGA amounts, growth of the
community and practices for adopting the final budget.
Loso moved to approve Resolution 2021-071 Adopting the Final 2022 Budget, Five -Year Capital
Plans and Final 2021 Tax Levy, Collectible in 2022; seconded by Hazen and passed unanimously.
Public Hearing. 2022 Fee Schedule: Bartlett highlighted the proposed changes for the 2022 fee
schedule.
Schultz opened the public hearing. As no one wished to speak, Schultz closed the public hearing.
Hazen made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2021-12 Amending the City Fee Schedule; seconded by
Kluesner and passed unanimously.
Loso made a motion to adopt Resolution 2021-068 Authorizing Summary Publication of the
Amendments to the City Fee Schedule; seconded by Beniek and passed unanimously.
En-gineer Reports: None.
Mayor Reports:
• Schultz attended the Collation of Greater MN Cities conference in Wilmar and shard some
feedback.
• Schultz suggested making improvements to Winterwalk. Council agreed that it should be
addressed in the next work session.
Journ: Beniek made a motion to adjourn at 7:03 PM; seconded by Schultz and passed
unanimously.
in
yla Klein
City Clerk