New Richland City Council
By JESSICA LUTGENS
Staff writer
It was another nearly full house for the New Richland City Council’s last meeting of the year on Monday, Dec. 10, during which discussion again focused mainly on the organized citywide garbage and recycling collection plan. After the agenda and consent agenda items were approved, the public hearing portion of the meeting was opened.
Gail Schmidt, who was prepared with questions and had spoken to City Clerk Wayne Billing before the meeting, acted as spokeswoman for the people of New Richland, first inquiring about the budget.
“Have there been changes [to the budget] since the preliminary?” asked Schmidt, referring to the preliminary budget approved in September.
“The debt levy went up a lot; more than the budget,” said Billing, who explained that this is because of decreased state aid and not keeping up with inflation.
Then the garbage plan was brought up.
“This issue has been a topic of discussion three times in the last six years,” Schmidt said. “Why?”
“In my opinion,” said outgoing Mayor Christine Gislason, “it has to do with truck traffic on streets and saving the city money on recycling and trash hauling. The positives outweigh the negatives for those with collection versus those without.”
Gislason also noted that there are a few residents who do not currently take care of their trash, though this is not a “big” problem. To this, Schmidt noted the city ordinance requiring residents to have trash service, and the fine that may be imposed if the ordinance is not complied with.
“[The plan] is supposed to save $2,000 per month. Who will be saving money under the plan?” was Schmidt’s next question.
“The taxpayers and the city,” replied Gislason. It was explained that the three recycling dumpsters at city hall have not been as successful as was hoped and will be removed, eliminating that monthly bill for the city.
“Why should people who don’t need the service be obligated to pay the cost of others?” Schmidt asked. For example, several town businesses already have a trash collection service that they pay for, and it seems particularly unfair to burden business owners with a second, unnecessary monthly trash bill. There are also many residents who have made their own trash removal arrangements in ways that fit their budget and comply with the city ordinance.
“I think that’s just the cost of living in a community,” said one council member.
The council was then asked if the organized citywide garbage and recycling collection really is a done deal, as the garbage portion won’t go into effect until March 2019. Schmidt noted that at the public hearing in September, despite the low turnout and poor representation, there were still more against the plan than in favor of it.
“The current council has decided to move forward with the plan,” said Gislason, also mentioning that there is currently no possibility for residents to opt out of the service, “but the council can look at it in the future.”
“Will the council consider any of the objections [of the residents]?” asked Schmidt. Gislason said that the future council could amend the contract if they chose to, though the city is still under obligation with the six-year contract with Waste Management and Thompson Sanitation.
When asked why residents weren’t notified via letter of the public hearing on the topic, the mayor said that the council couldn’t send a letter every time they make a decision.
“When it’s something this big, the people should be well notified,” Schmidt said, noting the poor communication between the city government and residents. The last question she had for the council asked what it would take for the new mayor and council to consider amending the contract to allow for residents to opt out of the service.
“If enough people show up to the first meeting in January and ask the council to amend the contract, would you consider it?” Schmidt asked.
“Maybe,” said council member Sarah Sundve, who mentioned that the issue highlights the overwhelming lack of interest by the community in council proceedings—evidenced by the fact that the attendance at the last two council meetings was higher than nearly all the year’s prior meetings combined.
“I’d have to think about it,” said Mike Shurson, who will take Gislason’s seat as mayor in January. “I think there’s a lot of good things in the plan that not everyone sees. It will benefit the environment, encourage recycling, and be better for the city.”
Council member Jessie Shaffer said a petition determining roughly how many people are against the plan would help in deciding whether or not to amend the contract. Despite the unusually vocal nature of this issue, it is currently unknown how many town residents are in favor of the plan and how many are against. It was estimated that about 360 residences in town currently have trash collection service, leaving about 100 residences without service.
After all questions were heard, the public hearing portion of the meeting was closed at 7:09 p.m.
Tony Martens presented the police report, which stated that the NRPD responded to 130 calls for service in November, bringing the total number of calls for 2018 to 1,229, compared to 921 calls in January-November of 2017. The police dept. staff recently participated in annual use of force, taser, firearms, cold-weather and low-light shoots, with a few officers having to reschedule due to scheduling conflicts. On Nov. 29, a pipeline training exercise was held at city hall in which the New Richland Fire Dept., police dept., and ambulance, the Waseca County Sheriff’s Office, fire dept., and emergency management, and the Janesville fire dept. were represented. Martens continues to audit the New Richland Emergency Operations plan and is in the process of updating it.
A request was made to send four officers to a MSCIC conference in Mankato on Jan. 7-8 at a cost of $125/officer ($500 total), which was approved. The cost of the training is included in the 2019 budget and is eligible for P.O.S.T. credits and reimbursement. The report was approved.
Chris Schlaak presented the ambulance report, which stated that the ambulance had 23 runs in Nov. and has had eight so far this month, bringing the total runs for the year to 216. New ambulance members Robin Jeno, Arial Glazier and Mary Collier will begin EMT classes in January, and Schlaak and Monica Schutrop will attend refresher courses in January at a cost of $401.82 each. The report was approved.
Larry Passel, care center administrator, was present with a question for the council regarding the center’s finances. In 2016, the center received a significant reimbursement from the state, which was used to improve the facility and increase incentives for employee retention, among other things. When that income stopped, the problems started, and the center has been running at a fiscal loss for two years. There are reserves available, though running at a deficit is not advised. Cost-cutting options were briefly discussed and will be addressed in the future.
Resolution 18-11, adopting the 2019 budget—set at $995,967 for the general fund budget, $474,140 for the adjusted tax levy—was approved, along with the following resolutions: 18-12, approving increasing the authorized internal loan in connection with TIF district no. 1 to $400,000; 18-13, approving the terms of $53,000 internal loan in connection with TIF district no. 1; 18-14, transfer of $73,800 from TIF fund to TIF debt service fund; 18-15, transfer of $11,271 to various funds; 18-16, certifying $1,277 in delinquent property charges to be collected with 2019 taxes; 18-17, designating polling place for 2019.
A request was made by the school grounds committee to hold a joint meeting regarding uses of Legion Field in 2019. Council members Jessie Shaffer and Sarah Sundve will attend the meeting on Jan. 29 at the school; if more council members wish to attend they must inform Billing, and notice of a special meeting will be given. The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.