Lino Lakes Ledger
Mayor, Council Salaries Set At its Jan. 25 meeting, the Lino Lakes City Council set its 2010 salaries at the same levels they were in 2007. The mayor will be compensated in the amount of $6,272; council members will earn $5,018. Council members are paid $40 for special meetings that take place on nights other than regularly scheduled council meetings.
“Lino Lakes employees have been asked to make concessions in the form of furloughs and deferred cost of living adjustments … the Lino Lakes City Council also wishes to be a part of the solution for the 2010 General Fund Budget,” the resolution stated.
Council Approves MOU’s With Police Unions The council unanimously supported changes made to collective bargaining agreements with the Lino Lakes Police Department’s police and sergeant unions.
The two Law Enforcement Labor Services agreements for LELS Local 299 and Local 260 were not due to expire until the end of 2010, however, at the city’s request both unions agreed late last year to open their labor agreements for negotiations.
Union members said they were willing to forgo previously negotiated costof- living adjustments through the first day of the last pay period of 2010.
Members were also willing to eliminate the “no further layoffs” provision that arose out of late-year negotiation sessions, a provision that council members narrowly rejected on Jan. 11. Under the new agreements, the maximum number of compensatory time hours has been increased under the new agreement from 40 to 60, and year-end carryover hours will be increased.
“The Union … understands the uniqueness of the current economic environment and the financial issues facing the City,” each memorandum of understanding (MOU) stated.
Acting City Administrator Dan Tesch told council members at their Jan. 25 work session that mediation has been scheduled with Local 49 of IUOE (the International Union of Operating Engineers, or the city’s public works employees).
Meetings have yet to be scheduled with representatives of AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or the city’s office and clerical staff ), Tesch said.
Council Paves The Way For Pine Street Project Three separate resolutions were passed by council relating to the 2010 Pine Street paving project: a Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Columbus laying out the division of responsibility between the two cities for the project; a Joint Powers Agreement identifying the maintenance responsibilities for each city after construction is complete; and a resolution authorizing the improvements.
The project will be 100% funded by benefiting property owners along the road: those residents in Lino Lakes will pay half of the $$398,500 project.
Bids are anticipated to be taken in early May, with construction commencing in the summer of 2010.
The City of Lino Lakes will be responsible for street sweeping, crack sealing and pothole filling on the new pavement between Lake Drive and 4th Avenue. The City of Columbus will grade the remaining gravel section of Pine Street. Costs for dust control and additional gravel for that section will be shared equally between the cities.
Snow removal and sanding will be performed by “the first city to reach Pine Street,” the agreement states.
In other action, the council:
• Approved an exempt permit from a lawful gambling license for Lino Lakes Elementary School, St. Joseph Catholic Church, and the Centerville Lions Club for various fundraising events.
• Approved a temporary onsale liquor license for the Lino Lakes Lions Club for its annual Prime Rib Dinner.
• Approved Resolution No. 10-11 authorizing the issuance of 2010 Certificates of Indebtedness to help fund a total of $278,100 in capital equipment. A $25,500 police squad car, $69,600 in fire equipment, and $183,000 in public works equipment will be purchased.
• Approved the city’s Pay Equity Report, which Tesch said met the requirements of state statute. The 1984 law is designed to reduce the inequity in pay that was occurring between male and female-dominated job classes.
• Approved a contract with Anoka County for the city’s residential solid waste recycling program.
• Authorized the preparation of plans and specifications for both the city’s 2010 overlay project and sealcoat projects, in the amounts of $230,000 and $192,500, respectively.