Centerville Tidbits
New Fee Schedule Reflects Water Rate Changes
At its regular meeting of Dec. 9, the Centerville City Council approved an ordinance updating the city’s fee schedule for 2010.
Under the new fee schedule, water usage rates will vary depending on the amount used.
For residential users, to a quarterly fee of $21 will be added a charge per thousand gallons used. For up to a total of 90,000 gallons used, the rate per thousand is $2.00; for the increment of water used in excess of that amount up to 150,000 gallons, a rate per thousand of $2.20 will apply; and for the amount used in excess of 150,001 gallons, a charge of $2.50 per thousand will apply.
For commercial users, to a quarterly fee of $21 will be added a charge per thousand gallons of $2.00 for up to 500,000 gallons used. For more than 500,001 gallons, the rate per thousand gallons will be $2.50.
The city also instituted changes in the process of charging for background checks and license fees for various adult establishment licenses. License fees will now be prorated for the fi rst year, and background check fees, paid separately, will vary in cost from $80 to $500, depending on how much detail is required.
City Beaches Sand/Salt Road Mixture
In an effort to reduce the effects of road sand on the city’s stormwater ponds and the street sweeping budget, council approved an agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation for shared salt supplies for this winter. “It’s the first time we’ve used just salt,” City Administrator Dallas Larson said. In the past, the city has used a sand/salt mixture.
The move will lead to less sweeping and spraying, less sand deposits in city stormwater piping and ponds and less grit on the roads, Larson explained. It will also be possible to eliminate on-site storage of material within the city, since the salt can be stored at MnDOT’s Forest Lake Truck Station on Everton Ave. N.
Purchases will be made through the State of Minnesota Cooperative Purchasing Program.
Amended 2009 Budget Includes Cost Of State Audit
Council members also amended the city’s 2009 City Budget from $2,042,320 to $2,013,016.
The move formally addresses the loss in Market Value Homestead Credits this year as well as a $40,000 decrease in building activity from that anticipated when the budget was set a year ago. Financial Administration expenses were adjusted by $15,000 to include the charges levied by the Minnesota State Auditor’s Office for the petitioned city audit.
Funds remaining in three inactive debt service funds, closed by council approval later in the meeting, resulted in income to the general fund of $72,935. Overall, Finance Director Mike Jeziorski reported, a net loss of $35,242 for fiscal year 2009 was realized.
In other action, the council:
• Approved continued support of the YMCA’s Park Play Days program for 2010 in an amount not to exceed $1,500.
• Directed staff to communicate with the Centennial Lakes Police Department about a questionable charge on the CLPD November claims expense summary.
• Approved a request by the Parks and Recreation Committee to fund two “Skate Nights” and a horse-drawn hayride as part of one of the events on Jan. 16, 2010, in an amount not to exceed $750 for both events. Hot chocolate and popcorn will be served.
• Approved a request by the Centennial Little League for use of the city ballfi elds and facilities at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park between April 1 and August 15, 2010, Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. until dark.
• Approved the preliminary and final plat for Clearwater Business Park, located on Commerce Drive between Anoka County Road 54 and 21st Avenue.
• Unanimously approved the final draft of the city’s updated Personnel Policies.
• Accepted negotiated changes to the Union Local 49 one-year contract with the city (Public Works employees). According to staff , the contract changes do not increase monetary costs for 2010.
• Agreed to refund approximately $5,500 in remaining recycling SCORE funds to Centerville citizens for 2009.
• Approved the renewal of the city’s tobacco, on-sale and off - sale liquor, and massage therapist/establishment licenses for 2010 contingent upon the applicants meeting all necessary obligations for license issuance.
• Confirmed that all tobacco compliance checks within the city in November were successful.
• Confirmed that Kelly’s Bar & Grill failed a November alcohol compliance check and tentatively scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, Dec. 29.