New Richland City Council
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
Brad Flor seemed almost sorry to be there, but,since he was at the New Richland City Council’s Dec. 9 meeting, he made the most of it.
Flor and Barb Finseth were the only members of the public present to speak during the budget hearing portion of the meeting — much to the dismay of Flor, a former New Richland Police Chief.
“I was told a lot of people were going to be here,” said Flor before saying what he came to say.
“I was just hoping the expenditures next year will be well spent,” said Flor, who said his taxes/expenditures (including mandated garbage collection) have gone up $800 the last two years.
“I hope things are going to slow down,” he said.
Flor went on to point out at least three things that he said should have been done or repaired this year, including the public warning siren near the bowling alley.
“I just don’t get it, that big of an increase,” said Flor. “It seems like we’ve had some pretty extravagant spending around here. I hope things improve. That’s all I came to say.”
Finseth said she too was curious about where her tax dollars are going.
City clerk Wayne Billing reminded Finseth the tax levy increase of 8.9 percent is actually lower than the preliminary amount of more than 14 percent.
He said the biggest increase is in the police department, whose budget is set to raise from $285,000 to $307,000.
“Auditors, engineers, attorneys all cost more money every time you need one,” said Billing, who said 24 percent of the city’s budget is devoted to police, 23 percent to streets, 18 percent for city hall and 14 percent for the ambulance department.
The council then closed the hearing portion of the meeting before adopting the 2020 city budget calling for an 8.9 percent tax increase. It passed 4-1. Jason Casey cast the dissenting vote, saying his taxes are already high enough.
It was one of several resolutions passed by the council.
The others:
• Resolution 19-12, authorizing the transfer of $32,630 from the General Fund to the city’s TIFF Fund
• Resolution 19-13, okaying the transfer of $56,754 from the Tiff Fund to the Debt Service Fund
• Resolution 19-14, repaying the water and sewer fund the cost of extending water and sewer service to Dollar General
• Resolution 19-15, authorizing all delinquent water bills be forwarded to the county for collection
• Resolution 19-16, designating city hall as the official polling place
Chief Tony Martens gave the police report, stating his department responded to 75 calls in November, down somewhat from previous months but bringing the yearly total to 1,351, up from 1,229 a year ago.
Martens said Officer Bruegger attended DMT training and is now certified to provide breath tests at DWI stops.
Martens said he applied for and received a $3,599 grant for a Scout Alarm System, a portable alarm that should be helpful with solving some of the burglaries and vandalism this year.
Martens also said he’d check on the emergency siren near the bowling alley.
Councilman Chad Neitzel presented a check for $65,000 to the city on behalf of the New Richalnd Fire Department Relief Association.
The council approved the hiring of Amanda Bethke as an EMT, pending background check.
Billing talked about the possibility of Sterling Drug of Owatonna contracting with the care center, whose current prescriptions were transferred to Walgreen Drug following the closure of New Richland Drug.
“They want to see if they’ll put a telepharmacy here,” said Billing, who added that Sterling could add a daily prescription service to New Richland.
“They’re definitely not ruling it out,” said Billing.
Neitzel requested that the Firemen’s Relief Association pension be increased to $1,350 per year per member, though the council took no action on it.
The council adjourned around 7:10 p.m. and went into closed session to discuss a collective bargaining agreement.