New Richland City Council
By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
Roll call showed all members present as the New Richland City Council met in chambers Monday evening, August 8. Following agenda approval, consent agenda items were also approved, notably a $250 payment to the Town and Country Garden Club for 2011 and a request for safety vests for the NR Fire Department at a cost of $660.
There were no public hearings scheduled nor petitions to be heard.
Police Chief Scott Eads reported 95 calls and 68 addtional contacts for the month of July. There were three felonious thefts during the month, one involving property, the other two motor vehicles. One suspect in a vehicle theft has been arrested and the investigation submitted to the county attorney for charges. The council approved the repair of front brakes to the squad car in the amount of $502.90.
Care center Administrator Mikenzi Hebel received approval for bills incurred and paid and the final profit and loss statement for June. She noted census at the facility is 50 for the second month in a row.
The council discussed at length the delay in the funding request with MN Public Funding Authority for the Waster Water Treatment Facility upgrade. Present sewer rates and the ability of the city to meet its debt obligations were the main topics of concern. After debate, the council passed Resolution 11-21, which pledges revenue to repay the PFA loan. Council member Anthony Martens voted no.
Brian Svoboda announced firefighters had participated in two recent vacant house burns for training purposes with no injuries reported. Sunday, August 7, the department was called out to an actual house fire and again there were no injuries to personnel. Svoboda noted a First Responder course will be offered in Waseca this fall and expects three department personnel to attend depending upon work schedules.
City Clerk Billing asked the council to consider holding a special budget meeting prior to mid-September. Several dates were discussed but no date was set.
The city received $47,658 less in Local Government Aid than expected for 2011 due to state budget constraints. Cities rely on LGA when considering and setting their annual budgets.
“We have to watch our spending the rest of this year,” said Billing.
The next NR Council meeting is set for Monday, August 22 starting at 6:30 p.m.
